First, I wish I didn't take my health for granted.
When I was 24 I gained about 40lbs. I had previously been very active, and I quit participating in some physical hobbies that kept me thin & fit.
Without paying it much attention, I gained those 40lbs and on and off have struggled with weight throughout my 30s.
Second, I wish I had also put a lot of thought into assets vs liabilities and focused on owning assets. It's a much better use of your money, and the time you spent earning that money. I "accidentally" purchased an asset (a bar) when I was 26, so I got lucky here, but I could have done much better.
Third, I wish I had been a better partner to some people I dated. I'm good in a lot of ways: I don't lie, cheat, call names, etc. But I'm stingy with my time. I've always been a loner, and it takes a lot of effort for me to act differently. But I believe it could have been worth it.
Fourth, and this isn't for everyone: I wish I had enlisted. I was fresh out of high school when 9/11 happened, and I've always regretted not enlisting. But the military and the activities they're involved with are very interesting to me.
Overall, it's hard to screw it up too badly, especially if you're asking questions like this one. Optimize for health and financial health and you will potentially save yourself much of the drama and suffering life can bring. Good luck!
What experiences made you think that being stingy with your time was a bad thing? There's no assurance that more time spent for the sake of your relationships(s) would, on its own, have prolonged or made your any relationships better (i.e sunken cost fallacy).
I still agree there is no assurance that it would have made the relationships last any longer; however, I'd feel better about my role in those relationships, if nothing else.
To me, sharing your time with others is one important metric for a life well-lived. I'd just like to be a better human, and I think this is one way I can work on it.
Thanks!
My own goals were weight loss and regaining mobility. I played a lot of basketball in high school, college, and then again in my late 20s. By 38, I couldn't go down stairs without pain nor could I jump nor run. I achieved those goals with the help of the trainer and even played some basketball again, which I had completely written off as a possibility. In terms of weight loss, I lost 50 lbs and gained about 10-15 lbs of muscle.
Find something that is exhausting but you'd rather not do anything else. For me, my sweet spot is in business growth, startups, user flow, modeling the real world into data, training (which melded well with working with NLP/AI).
It involves software a lot, especially being able to build things, but there's a lot of jobs that pay well but would be ultimately unfulfilling for me. Yours is probably different.
Some people call it passion, but the misconception is you won't be entirely passionate or dispassionate about a whole field. Rather there will be patches of interest that you hook on, like a mountain climber and handholds.
Really great way of describing it
One thing I agree with about others is exercise, just do it, make it routine. It will pay you back tenfold in years to come
This. I am gonna have as much fun as possible before getting married
I recently turned 40. I realized I was not the same person I was at 20. But because of who I was at 20, and the decisions I made, I created who I am now. Just like you might wish your parents were different people, not abusive, or didn’t have certain behaviors. Or maybe wish your mom had met another person. But then you wouldn’t be you?
So there is not a current “me” that I feel can really answer these kind of questions IMO
There are things I wish I did, but if I had done them my life may have been very different. I think once you have children it is hard to regret anything because that would have changed who they were entirely, either by having a different partner or a different egg/sperm.
The one thing I am glad I did was travel and work around the world for 3 years. I learnt more about life during that time than any other education or work could have given me.
A very viable route is to spend the next 5 years maximizing your money and career. At 28 it is unlikely you'll regret options. (On that note, if you come from money, taking risks is the way to maximize your options).
I don't know if you have people (to talk to, rely upon, etc.). Most humans need to have people, if you don't have them then you should find some. In my experience this requires low level engagement over a long period of time, so there's no reason not to start early.
Really glad I stayed in good shape. Maffetone, heart rate monitor, nutrition.
Really glad I kept eating omelettes when I could afford champagne.
Fitting in isn't cool anymore, now boundaries and niches are cool. Everything I regret is related to not getting that sooner.
This made me aware of something I'm very grateful for: I've always gotten along very well with older people. I think it's been a great advantage for me.
I've been able to pick their brains, if nothing else. Their wisdom becomes distilled over time and is uncannily similar across diverse origins.
I was also lucky to have people who were outstanding examples of something: educators, musicians, mechanics, homesteaders, etc--that all had a lifetime of wisdom to share about those topics. And additionally were truly some of the best people I've met.
Make friends with old people! For both your sakes!
I wish I would’ve developed a more consistent exercise routine. It is easier to stay in shape than it is to get into shape.
I wish I would’ve invested much more than I did in index funds.
I wish I would’ve gotten over my materialism earlier in life. I never needed the latest phone or computer. Or the nicest monitor.
I wish I would’ve taken more risks.
That said, I ended up with a great life anyway.
You will also find yourself feeling a little less ambitious in another 23 years time. Relationships will become more important. Don't lose friends in your 20/30s you will need later in life.
Finally, as well as the who you often look back at the wheres of your life. Travel, go on holidays, and visit other parts of the world.
Financially?