I would have tried psych meds sooner. I was prescribed them at various points between 16 and 29 (which is now), but I always freaked out about it and never actually took them. Usually it led to me ghosting the medical professionals I had been seeing and then it always took me a couple years to seek any sort of treatment again. Finally started taking them like 2 months ago and surprise, surprise it turned out to not be a big deal. I think the meds I’m on right now aren’t quite right, but I’m willing to try out stuff now. Maybe if I had started sooner I woud have found something that worked well long ago.
I did my absolute best in my early 20s and generally throughout my 20s. The hard work I put in for my education, career, financially, etc, really set me up for life. I have no regrets about anything.
By 24 I had just bought my first car. It was a really nice car too. I was already graduated from college with a diploma in my respective field. I had also gone on to get my comp sci degree at a university and had finished that as well by 24. I also was already working in my field for a few years already, so I had a few years of experience under my belt by then. At 24 I was planning on moving out of my child hood home and by 25 did so. I also at 24 had to pay for an expensive surgery for my dog, so I did that as well at that age.
There is literally nothing I could have done differently or could have done better. I was a young woman, a software developer and had accomplished things I never expected in the first place. I’m really proud of those years and proud of the hard work I put in. The hard work I put in my 20s is still paying off in my 30s. It always pays off and the time to do it is when you’re young, get it out of the way, then reap the rewards and continue to build on it.
Started retinol cream when I was 30, am now 40. But when I was 38, I went to Europe on vacation and a literal teenager tried to pick me up! I did take home a couple of 20-somethings… 😉
I would love to go back to being 24, just for a short little while. I had a 4 year and a newborn, and life was simpler, sort of insulated. It’d be nice to be invisible, and just watch my husband and me cuddle our babies.
But to answer the question, I would have started therapy sooner.
I think I would tell my 24 year old self to be ruthless about not dating people who I don’t align with marriage wise. Even if I didn’t see myself marrying a person, I’d date them because I enjoyed my time with them and saw dating as something to just enjoy while it lasted. The thing is, I’m not wired that way lol. I spent too much time with people who did not deserve me and sure, I had some enjoyable times with, but I honestly look back on dating them with disgust. The only people I don’t regret are my serious long term relationships, and even then, I knew I wasn’t going to marry them!! And yet, I want to be married now! Even if I didn’t want to be married back then, I still shouldn’t have spent time with people I didn’t see a future with. Working on being more ruthless now.
Edit to add: I want to clarify that I should be ruthless about values and lifestyle. Not ruthless about things like looks. I was plenty ruthless about that. lol.
Ladies it’s never too late to start. I started going running a couple months ago & I have been feeling amaaaazing!! Your body will thank you for anything you do for it
Honestly… mostly nothing. That was 2019/2020. It was a bit of a bunk age where I didn’t really do anything important, but blame covid for that. Looking back on it now, I’m glad it was a bunk year because 2021 was the most important year of my life that set the foundation for where I am today. I needed that gap year to collect myself and get my plans figured out, or else I’m not sure that things would have played out the way that they did.
The only thing I can really think of is that I should have kept up with my fitness at that time. I was working a heavy labor farm job up until covid hit and it had me in amazing shape. Then I started working from home from 2021 to present and that went poof 🤣. If I could go back, I’d have tried harder to maintain where I was at back then. That’s my only real regret – which I suppose is the best you can really ask for considering how wonky the 2020s have been for everyone.
Well, it was 2020. I was doing the best I could. Literally I don’t think there’s something I could have told myself to do that was within reach.
I was exercising every day, cooking at home, working full time, about to end a relationship that wasn’t going anywhere, in therapy, on SSRIs, saving as much as si could, constantly applying for higher wage jobs.
My life still sucked. Things are much better now. Thanks for keeping on, 24 year old self.
-built an exercise habit
-broken up with my ex as soon as I realized I didn’t see a future with him (instead of hanging on for almost another 2 years)
-gotten my driver’s license
See a therapist who specialized in SA. I really thought I was ready to be in the world again, but these last few years I’ve just been putting myself in situation after situation, believing that would fix me. I don’t regret anything, but I could have spent my time a lot more intentionally and kindly.
Okay actually? Party. I was SO rigorous about working out, eating right, getting my work done, that I really regret not having more drunken escapades. I can count on one hand how many times I had well and truly fun nights out (not even drunk, just tipsy, or even sober). I lived in nyc. I was single. I was hot! What was I so worried about? 10 years on, responsibilities have piled up and it’s not in the cards anymore. Love my life now, but I wish I had relaxeddddd more in my 20s.
Getting into a regular exercise routine, eat more responsibly, going to the doctor to get more answers for my stomach issues, started a good skincare routine, SAVING MORE MONEY
Bipolar medication. My life would’ve been so much better if I had been diagnosed earlier. Wasn’t diagnosed and medicated till I turned 24. Life has made so much more sense since then.
Comments
I’d have gone back and married the woman I should have married in the first place.
to live life better🥲
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I would have tried psych meds sooner. I was prescribed them at various points between 16 and 29 (which is now), but I always freaked out about it and never actually took them. Usually it led to me ghosting the medical professionals I had been seeing and then it always took me a couple years to seek any sort of treatment again. Finally started taking them like 2 months ago and surprise, surprise it turned out to not be a big deal. I think the meds I’m on right now aren’t quite right, but I’m willing to try out stuff now. Maybe if I had started sooner I woud have found something that worked well long ago.
Buying stock. Start early and hold. Brokerage account, IRA, 401(k). Max out the matching from your job. Do the most you possible can.
Sobriety. What a wonderful world it is without alcohol.
Exercise – EVERY DAY. Eat and drink healthier. Being choosier about men.
Leaving my ex! I stayed with that man for 10 years.
Nothing.
I did my absolute best in my early 20s and generally throughout my 20s. The hard work I put in for my education, career, financially, etc, really set me up for life. I have no regrets about anything.
By 24 I had just bought my first car. It was a really nice car too. I was already graduated from college with a diploma in my respective field. I had also gone on to get my comp sci degree at a university and had finished that as well by 24. I also was already working in my field for a few years already, so I had a few years of experience under my belt by then. At 24 I was planning on moving out of my child hood home and by 25 did so. I also at 24 had to pay for an expensive surgery for my dog, so I did that as well at that age.
There is literally nothing I could have done differently or could have done better. I was a young woman, a software developer and had accomplished things I never expected in the first place. I’m really proud of those years and proud of the hard work I put in. The hard work I put in my 20s is still paying off in my 30s. It always pays off and the time to do it is when you’re young, get it out of the way, then reap the rewards and continue to build on it.
Therapy
Moisturizing my neck.
Those crease lines in my neck give away my age before my face does.
Telling people to fuck off
24 was last year. I should have started wedding planning sooner!
Not hating myself 🥰
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Not settling for the wrong relationships, waiting for the right person, and taking it slowly.
However, the mistakes I have made so far have taught me a lot of lessons, although difficult ones. That’s just life.
Retirement savings and wrinkle cream!
Started retinol cream when I was 30, am now 40. But when I was 38, I went to Europe on vacation and a literal teenager tried to pick me up! I did take home a couple of 20-somethings… 😉
I would love to go back to being 24, just for a short little while. I had a 4 year and a newborn, and life was simpler, sort of insulated. It’d be nice to be invisible, and just watch my husband and me cuddle our babies.
But to answer the question, I would have started therapy sooner.
Dating intentionally.
Sobriety
Save money and take care of myself. I poured so much of myself to others to validate my self worth.
I think I would tell my 24 year old self to be ruthless about not dating people who I don’t align with marriage wise. Even if I didn’t see myself marrying a person, I’d date them because I enjoyed my time with them and saw dating as something to just enjoy while it lasted. The thing is, I’m not wired that way lol. I spent too much time with people who did not deserve me and sure, I had some enjoyable times with, but I honestly look back on dating them with disgust. The only people I don’t regret are my serious long term relationships, and even then, I knew I wasn’t going to marry them!! And yet, I want to be married now! Even if I didn’t want to be married back then, I still shouldn’t have spent time with people I didn’t see a future with. Working on being more ruthless now.
Edit to add: I want to clarify that I should be ruthless about values and lifestyle. Not ruthless about things like looks. I was plenty ruthless about that. lol.
Trying to get pregnant. Not at 24 but as soon as I got married.
Loving myself ❤️🔥
Ladies it’s never too late to start. I started going running a couple months ago & I have been feeling amaaaazing!! Your body will thank you for anything you do for it
Standing up for myself.
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hrt
I’m only 25 so I’d have to say the cages from my garden. Would’ve saved me a bit of heartbreak with the rabbits utterly destroying my garden last year
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Honestly… mostly nothing. That was 2019/2020. It was a bit of a bunk age where I didn’t really do anything important, but blame covid for that. Looking back on it now, I’m glad it was a bunk year because 2021 was the most important year of my life that set the foundation for where I am today. I needed that gap year to collect myself and get my plans figured out, or else I’m not sure that things would have played out the way that they did.
The only thing I can really think of is that I should have kept up with my fitness at that time. I was working a heavy labor farm job up until covid hit and it had me in amazing shape. Then I started working from home from 2021 to present and that went poof 🤣. If I could go back, I’d have tried harder to maintain where I was at back then. That’s my only real regret – which I suppose is the best you can really ask for considering how wonky the 2020s have been for everyone.
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I would get a divorce
Skincare, investing, eating less sweets, dating women.
Well, it was 2020. I was doing the best I could. Literally I don’t think there’s something I could have told myself to do that was within reach.
I was exercising every day, cooking at home, working full time, about to end a relationship that wasn’t going anywhere, in therapy, on SSRIs, saving as much as si could, constantly applying for higher wage jobs.
My life still sucked. Things are much better now. Thanks for keeping on, 24 year old self.
-built an exercise habit
-broken up with my ex as soon as I realized I didn’t see a future with him (instead of hanging on for almost another 2 years)
-gotten my driver’s license
Saving for pension, not taking up debt, going into recovery so I have a life to lead, studies
A savings account that I do. Not. Touch.
Suboxone
An IRA! And heavy Amazon investments. And practically any degree other than the journalism one I got.
Using sunscreen on my hands.
Being patient/learning patience
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Working out and eating healthier. Also taking better care of mental health.
I wish I’d started saving and investing earlier. Even small steps toward financial independence would’ve made a huge difference.
stop giving fuck. learning more and saving money
i say that but i would probably be too depressed to do these things anyway….
See a therapist who specialized in SA. I really thought I was ready to be in the world again, but these last few years I’ve just been putting myself in situation after situation, believing that would fix me. I don’t regret anything, but I could have spent my time a lot more intentionally and kindly.
I would have stopped smoking if I knew what position I would be in now, and also not be in a rush to get married.
Okay actually? Party. I was SO rigorous about working out, eating right, getting my work done, that I really regret not having more drunken escapades. I can count on one hand how many times I had well and truly fun nights out (not even drunk, just tipsy, or even sober). I lived in nyc. I was single. I was hot! What was I so worried about? 10 years on, responsibilities have piled up and it’s not in the cards anymore. Love my life now, but I wish I had relaxeddddd more in my 20s.
Getting into a regular exercise routine, eat more responsibly, going to the doctor to get more answers for my stomach issues, started a good skincare routine, SAVING MORE MONEY
Cutting out toxic friends and people, choosing myself with more ferocity.
Saving money. And exercising.
Setting stronger boundaries with my alcoholic father sooner so it didn’t take me another 10 years and an aneurysm to cut contact all together
I would have invested in VTSAX and started a RothIRA.
A job that wasn’t working at a mall or any other store.
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Would’ve moved to Omaha.
I’m pretty content with how I lived my 20’s.
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Prioritize my health, quit my nicotine addiction, try to get a handle on my alcohol intake
IRA and Roth IRA accounts.
Exercise, being pickier about men, learn self-love, and go back to school.
Bipolar medication. My life would’ve been so much better if I had been diagnosed earlier. Wasn’t diagnosed and medicated till I turned 24. Life has made so much more sense since then.
Putting money into a 401k or IRA.
opening a roth IRA
I wouldn’t have dated that drunk punk dude!
Giving way fewer fucks.
Doing more things by myself (which is related to giving fewer fucks).
Reading this on my 24th birthday 😁