What do you wish you’d done differently in your 20s

[JKDcot]

Random one. I wish I’d listened to my parents and seen a dentist and hygienist between ages 18- early 30s. I left it too long and have gum disease, bone loss etc. spent a lot of money trying to sort it now. But the story is always “the damage has been done”.

what does everyone else wish they’d done differently?

I wish I had worked less hard. My first proper job was as a graduate management trainee in the hospitality industry. In theory, it was a great opportunity. In practice, the hours were completely ridiculous. Regular double shifts & 1 day off a week if you’re lucky. And the pay was crap.
The job destroyed my mid 20s & wrecked a good relationship. I stuck it out for 5 years, believing that it would get better as I progressed, but it never did. Eventually, I walked out with no notice, which created a very difficult situation for the company. It was stupid & unprofessional, and they could have sued me but by that point I was past caring. When I left, I said ‘never again’ and I meant it.

I don’t regret my clubbing and drinking days for a second but I do regret the debt! Luckily I got inheritances which cleared the debt but I wish I’d been savvier around money.

To be honest, you can be full of regret now about what you didn’t do in your twenties. Then five years down the line you might start to appreciate how things worked out. I didn’t focus enough on financial stability in my twenties. I have sometimes regretted it but I also realise now that it’s better that I didn’t put the fun off until later life.

This sounds vain but… realised just how very beautiful my hair was and that I had a great figure. I often felt “fat” and not good enough and had “bad hair” days!

Wish I has more self-esteem and self-worth to not stay in a dreadful relationship (DV) and to have been open to having a relationship with a decent guy rather than an utter twat.

I really wish I hadn’t married my ex…..

Stayed single for at least some of it. Had more fun.

Travelled
Had some boyfriends / sex in my early twenties and not settled for/down with exH
Lived somewhere other than my small town

I wish I’d had more self confidence to actually do what I wanted. I look back at periods of time were i was just following the crowd! I also wish I’d dropped a few fair weather friends a lot sooner!

I wish I hadn't married my current...

Learnt to lift weights and strength train

Wish I had just had a short term relationship with DH and moved on to someone more suitable.

Appreciated them more!! Loved my 20s

Not got married, stayed separated from my xh instead of going back to him because we were married.

To say no to first husband

saved more less debt
bought that house as it would be paid of now

Wish I'd been thinner. Maybe that's shallow but I was so beautiful, but all the chub ruined the lines
What's the point of being thin in your 40s.

Not ditched my life for knobhead.
Worked a tiny bit harder and got a first. See above.
Bought a flat in 2003.
Not rushed into a career- but then, see above.
Travelled more and shagged more foreign men.

Married a different man - but no regrets because I'm in the happiest place I've been for a long time ....

Broke up with my ex much sooner
Become a chartered accountant

Not got into debt.

Believed in myself more.

Took the offer of a deposit for a house from then boyfriends parents. Houses were £150,000 then. Still Stuck in the rent trap 20 years later.

I wish I hadn't reconciled with my parents after becoming estranged from them in my teens. Finally went NC again in my 40s, but I regret the poison from them that I allowed in for 20 years.

I wish I appreciated how genuinely happy I felt good I looked back then. Before mental health problems took hold and before a traumatic event at age 27 which changed me forever.

**genuinely happy I felt AND how good I looked back then

Accessed therapy

left my parents home and set up some boundaries

Not smoked
Worn more sunscreen
Worked harder at uni…..