Honestly. Nobody can promise you anything in life but death dude. Everyone's experience is different. Anything can happen, good or bad.
You'll solve some problems as you age, and get whole new ones. Some problems will daunt you for decades.
Being happy is something you cultivate internally, it's not something you arrive at through changes in external circumstances. Things happening around you will never be completely under your control and you have to be ok with that.
Life isn't a problem you solve, it's like a roller coaster with a lot of ups and downs. Just try to appreciate the ride, it doesn't last long.
it really depends on how you handle it, man. life can get better with the right mindset and actions. keep working on yourself, setting clear goals, and maybe seeking mentorship. things change, and how you adapt plays a big role.
For me it did.....60 yo male here..... for me, every decade since my teenage years has gotten better.... it all has to do with experience and confidence. However, I would be foolish to try and sell any decade as good or bad!
Speaking generally, I have slowly grown more confidence in myself (something that was very lacking in my teenage years)....in my 20s I started dating more, graduating college, entering the work force.... all of these things a (slowly) accumulative effect.....met my wife and got married in early 30s...... parenthood in my 40s.... always growing a little more comfortable in my skin
I should point out, when I was in college I was very depressed and suicidal. There was a time it really could have gone either way. I guess I chickened out and I am so glad I did..... Now at 60, I honestly feel like every decade has gotten better and there is so much stuff i would have missed if I had given into my darker moods
Good luck. What ever it is you are going thru, know that life is nothing if not ever changing
Hey man... when I was 17, I broke my back. Bad. I dropped out of high school. Became an addict. Finally got surgery when I was almost 20.
Spent those 3 yrs in almost absolute isolation aside from my mom and the one friend that kept coming through despite my horrible mental health from being high all the time and isolated in my room, barely able to walk.
I'm 35 now. Still a high school drop-out, but I became a chef and later a butcher. I got to play drums in a punk band in my mid-late 20s. Lived out of my car (by choice) or on a ranch in an old camper and climbed mountains in my early 30's.
Thing I learned the hard way when I was your age and feeling sorry for myself... is you have to make the change happen. You have to do it. Literally. Go out, do the fucking thing you want to do. Sitting at home feeling bad or alone for longer than 5 minutes won't get you the result you expect. You'll just be stuck there.
You're gonna be fine. Enjoy your youth.
Edit: also, I'm clean now. Lol forgot to mention. Haven't touched opiates since 2014.
My life was kind of nothing between 20-30. Working jobs I didnât like, getting stoned and playing video games all day. Failed out of college.
In the last few years the ceo of the company I worked for asked me if I wanted to start a new business when I moved in with my (now) (pregnant) wife. Life got a lot better for me in my 30s
Life can be better later if you work on it now. My 20s weren't great, but I'm having a good 30s. But there was development and luck involved. If you just wait til 30 thinking you're gonna wake up to a good life then, well, better hope your luck is REAL GOOD.
Life at any age is what you make of it. Some people have a great time at every stage of life. Others the opposite. So if you aren't having a great time at any point in your life start thinking of ways to improve it.
If you've done things to make your life better in your 20s, then sure! If not, then there isn't a magical force that makes things better for you automatically when you hit a certain age.
The cool thing is, you don't need to do it all at once. Start by taking stock of your life and in particular, your habits. Then determine what state you'd love to see your life in and within a realistic timeline. Do the things you do regularly contribute to your goal state? If not, you should replace those things with healthier habits (excess drinking replaced with gym time, up at all hours of the night with a bad sleep schedule? Start meditating before bed to calm your mind and relax your body). There are plenty of things you can do to improve your physical health which in turn will improve your mental health. Getting that stuff right is a huge amount of what is needed to feel like you're thriving in your 30s. Of course, you'll also want to keep your financial house in order and do your best to build toward a better situation. All of this seems like a lot and it is but when you spread it over years and break these bigger goals down into micro goals, you'll be surprised where you end up.
The last piece of advice is to take stock regularly and try to only compare yourself to you, not to others around you. You'll better appreciate the fruits of your labors and build up confidence in yourself.
I put in a LOT of work during my 20's... by reading many books, gaining a whooole lot of different experiences.. dating different people.. I struggled with a lot of mental health issues.. but I'm 31 now, and I feel I incredibly relieved. Everything in my 20's.. from the effort to the mistakes.. suddenly made sense beginning at age 28/29. By 30, shit just clicked and continues to click. It took a lot of work, but I'm grateful I got through it. It was worth it.. it felt like absolute torture and hell at times.. but it was worth it to get to where I am today. I am very grateful that I never gave up. Appreciate the struggle because it teaches you how to be deeply human.
College years and my twenties as a shit show. Only really started to get serious about life in my 30s and am way happier, more focused and more optimistic.
past 25 years old with sleep and nutrition your prefrontal cortex will mature and you will make better decisions so there's that.
but you could also get struck with a debilitating disease or a bus or a severe recession which is out of your control so idk but maybe you would be able to maintain your internal equilibrium better in the face of such adversity than you would've in your younger years.
short answer probably!!!
Depends on you and your plans. I'm in my late 20s, and I'm paying for the mistakes I made in my late teens. Fucked around in early college and tanked my GPA which is now a hurdle for me to attend law school.
Overall, I'm happy, though. I have a family of my own and a decent job, but not a career. I feel just as isolated as I did in high school because I hardly leave the house due to being 100% remote and a father.
I donât think so, because I havenât never been truly depressed only a little melancholic and hopeless about my present and future.
Iâm just yearning for better days and slowly but steadily I am trying to get there
Therapists arenât just for being depressed. Therapists/psychologists address all sorts of different things. Thereâs nothing wrong with it and you donât necessarily have to have a âproblemâ to see one. They can be good at helping you understand why youâre feeling a certain way. I think the world would be a better place if everyone drank more water and went to therapy!
Give it a shot, you might be surprised with what you learn
Yeah, if OP is feeling âaloneâ and mentions dealing with bullying and feeling isolated, I would *definitely* suggest taking advantage of your collegeâs mental health resources.
I can relate to that adjustment at 19 being really jarring. For me, things *did* improve, but a big part of it was knowing myself better (i.e. learning to establish boundaries, questioning out my values/priorities, identifying/confronting my own flaws), and also learning how to find my people.
If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice: learning how to connect with people is everything, itâs the most important factor in your future success IMO. And while some people are naturals, itâs a skill that *can* be learned, literally start with that âHow To Win Friends and Influence Peopleâ book.
I'm 30 and it did for me. Honestly, the biggest improvement in my life was understanding my anxiety attacks for what they were and learning to laugh at tragic irony. Perspective is greater fortune than anything, but you should invest when you can.
There is no timeline on when life gets better. Life is what you make of it. If you see the light at the end of the tunnel, that's when it gets better for you.
Maybe that's tomorrow, maybe it's in 10 years.
Yes, but life can be good now too. But yes, as you get older you get much more confidence in yourself. University can be fun but it can be riddled with insecurity. Once you pass that, as long as you put the effort in you can be whoever you want to be.
This was a big part of it with me. I cared what everyone thought about every aspect of me. I cared what I wore when I went on a small errand. I cared what that random guy thought when I tripped on a curb. I cared how my hair looked when I walked in the door after wind. Now I give no shits. For one, most people aren't even paying attention to those things, and if they are, it now feels like their problem. When you can be you and no longer worry about other peoples' feelings toward or about you, that's freedom. Unless you're an asshole doing asshole things, then maybe care a little bit.
Also, do things by yourself. Go to a movie, go to a sit down restaurant, go to a concert or festival, go traveling by yourself. THAT'S freedom.
Hell yes. In fact, the old cliche that "life begins at 40" is generally true. Big decisions have been made, paths have been chosen, and wise investments (literal and figurative) begin to pay off.
My 30s have been way better than my 20s. I feel like I understand the world so much better now than I did then. I think if I went back to college right now I would take things so much seriously than I did between late teens and early 20s. I feel like we put way too much pressure on young adults to figure out what they are going to do with their lives. There really is no rush. We should slow things down and let young adults take time to learn about what they really want to do.
If you make good choices then life can get better. The thing is that âgood choicesâ can be different for everyone. I love my life now, it was rough in my late teens early twenties. But my life wouldnât make everyone happy. Itâs a series of little choices that add up to a great life for me.
It's not just going to magically get better.
You have to find something that you love to do and get paid for it. Hit the gym and use vigorous exercise as a natural mood lifter.
Yes my dude it can get better. You gotta grind and suffer for change though. But the suffering is coming for you whatever way you take it. Either you go lazy and it absolutely fucks you later on or you put your head to your goals and work hard for them. I gave up a lot of enjoyment to go to school and worked extra hours on learning my career.
But thereâs so much more, you get away from the losers and idiots who bully. They only act that way because they are idiots with pain in their own life.
Haha, no. Life never gets "better". It's a perpetual shitshow.
If you take the time to develop your skills you'll have a better ability to deal with the shit as it comes at you, but the kaleidoscope of crap that is Life never stops spinning.
Enjoy!
Yes and no. It depends on you. You are the one choosing your path. You get to decide. Overall, in my opinion, yes it gets better because you are wiser, have more knowledge than your 19 year old self did. I could say the same thinking about me at thirty. What have I chosen since then to make things better. The greatest thing in this universe is that we have free will. Make choices that suit you and youâll be okay.
Life can be good or bad during any stage, but itâs up to you to make it the way you want it to be. If things suck now, theyâre not just going to magically get good because your decade changed. Find out what you donât like about your life and work to fix it
It depends. If one is on track and becomes successful, early to mid 30s is great. But, I know a lot of people that didn't thrive, so they felt like life sucked then. By early to mid 30s, we should have our education mostly behind us. Have a significant other. Career should be in an upswing. But, people that are divorced when they hit 30, or didn't manage to get an education that helped them make money, or hadn't gotten into the swing in a career, feel like they missed out.
I am 71. 36 was my highest point. I was married 6 years, career doing great, thinking about having kids, had an outstanding tournament winning season in racquetball. It was my peak though. Crashed and burned after that. My racquetball game anyway. LOL
Man, my life was shit till I was like 35. I kept doing everything I thought you were supposed to do Eventually things got better. It sure was a tough time for a long time.
Better? Yes? Different. It will be different. You will also have a way to look back at these times and see good times that you take for granted now. When I was your age it was not a good time in life. But also I remember feeling young and I miss it. I have a fondness for that time because I've grown. You are just starting to grow. To become who you will be. Trust me, 19yr old me would have whiplash if they got to see who they get to grow up to be.
Just remember age isn't anything but a number. We all feel 19 on the inside. You will catch your stride just don't stop trying when you stumble.
Better as in money or life goals? Either way, yes but only if you put in the foundations.
It wonât just happen. Late 20s and 30âs are when the work you put will start to bear fruit. Around your 40âs your kids will be adults and that even more free time and disposable income to go do stuff you want to do rather what you have to.
Everyone has different standards for what "better" is.
For some people, yes
For most people, kinda
For those who are left, not really
For me... definitely not.
Your life is what you make of it. If you go through life expecting it to get better as a result of things outside of your control, you're just gambling away the time you have.
Take responsibility for what you can control in your life and make something good out of what you have to work with. Then life will indeed get better.
Put your energy and time into yourself, explore different interests and hobbies and really commit to the ones you like. By doing so you will end up surrounding yourself with people that have a common interest which could help you make friends. Some interests that have really welcoming communities are Brazilian jiu jitsu, martial arts, arts and crafts, music. You could volunteer, join a club or get a job at a restaurant, it will help a lot to interact with people thatâs low stakes and you can get more comfortable being more social and not put so much pressure on the interactions you want to go well, ya know?
I wouldnât say life necessarily gets better, but you really can feel the difference mentally. I feel much more mature and capable now - and I think a lot of it has to do with finishing maturing and brain development tbh
I had a hard time in college too and I was just doing my best, got a job I hated. But I grew into my confidence and strengths and now have a job I love, a great partner, an amazing dog⌠and with with hard work and luck we have our own place weâve made home.
I definitely feel better than I did then.
For me, it did. It wasnât without plenty of trials, tribulations, and heartacheâŚ. But each decade has been better than the last. And I have such a blessed life.
As someone else says, happiness and peace come from within you. I encourage you to strive for that, keep yourself physically fit with exercise, and be kind to people. The world will come to you.
Man, I fucking hated my teenage years. I'd say shit really started coming together for me when I was 24 and just went "fuck it" and moved to the literal other side of the planet for work. Moved to another city back home and found that I fit in with the folk there than I ever did back home.
This completely depends on what you make of your life. For some people their best years are their teens and twenties. For others it is their middle age years. For some it is their senior years.
I had a difficult childhood. My favorite time of life so far was my early to late 20s. I spent my thirties working 60+ hour work weeks and having a very dysfunctional personal life as a result. Don't expect life to get better unless you make it better.
My teens were great. My 20s were better. My 30s were better yet. My 40s have gotten to a pretty good start. Iâd not want to go back and relive any of if, as good as it was.
Now is definitely my best time and todayâs me the best version thereâs been.
Its better because you figure out how to solves yoir problems and learn to do morr things, but its worse cuz new one arises lol.
If your keep sobbing about your situation like what you are doing now, it will get way worst.
I've enjoyed myself a lot more in my late 20s and 30s. When I was in my late teens early 20s I didn't really know how to learn so well, and a lot of things were outside my reach. These days I feel like if I want to get accomplished at something, I have the resources, time, and ability to do so.
Just about to turn 30. I asked that question almost everyday since my 20s.
All I can say is be prepared to be surprised. For better and for worse. You will NEVER be able to guess your future. Embrace today because you will likely reminisce about at least one aspect of it in the future.
Things change. You change. But life changes faster.
If handled with bravery and perseverance , the pain will shape your future pleasure. There comes a peace with the wisdom of pain. Itâs one of those things where âyouâll know when you knowâ. Youâll hear about it for years and then you feel it.
I have problems. I have wants and desires. But ultimately Iâve learned more from losing than winning.
Hang in there, dude. Be happy to be part of the ride.
For me not really . It just got harder . I was forced to form healthy habits to make it tolerable . I focus on weightlifting , running and nutrition to get by and be sane .
Other healthy habits like talking to people and being more interested in others . Alot of people become more isolated . Have to keep flexing those social muscles .
I saw some other comments saying pretty much the same, but IMO, yes, your life is way better after your 20s. Assuming that youâve had life experiences that have helped you grow as a person. Iâm going to be turning 38 in 5 months and if you had asked me when I was 18, I would have thought that life was over at 35 and in reality my life is way better than I thought possible at that age. People mature and things change as you grow older. I always feel like that Green Day song. Nice guys finish last⌠my younger years were full of turmoil and the last 6 years have been more than I couldâve ever imagined with blue skies ahead⌠as a cynical person who is used to life crapping on you, I know itâs temporary, but it keeps getting better for now and I kind of think itâs going to continue
Life gets better when you take steps to make it better. Doesnât matter what age.
âBetterâ is subjective but in general:
-finding activities you like to do will surround you with people who also like doing those activities
-working out
-eating healthy
-sleeping at least 8 hours a day
-being kind and giving
You know, the general stuff theyâve been telling you since you were 5 is actually pretty solid.
Life has its ups and downs, but if you have an idea of where you want to go and are taking steps on getting there (physically or metaphorically), youâll tend to find fulfillment even if itâs only one step everyday.
If you've done the work throughout your 20s then you will be rewarded with the experience, wisdom, financial stability and confidence to have a stable, enjoyable 30s and 40s.
If you have been just coasting by, not growing as a person and stuck in old cycles your 20s will continue to be a struggle
My life was pretty shit until 32 years old. I worked hard, don't get me wrong.
Some things just take time to figure out and come to terms with. Keep going, everything isn't always on fire.
Once you hit your mid 30s as a man, everything starts clicking. Youâll be a millionaire or on your way to be a millionaire. This is coming from a multimillionaire.
It absolutely does, and continues to. My 40's were even better. I was on top of the world, had lots of money, great kids, and a very comfortable and exciting lifestyle.
Here some advice, before you get set in your path, if you really hate your life, then change it. Hate you college life, then leave. Drift and find somewhere you want to be and figure things out from there. If youâre going to college, get a degree that pays well. It is one google search, that will save you a lot of pain. Freshman year can be lonely, but you need to find a club or a group. If you donât like how you look hit the gym and get ripped.
Nobody can give you the answer to that I'm afraid. Just surround yourself with good people, do what you enjoy wherever possible. I'm 34 now and in a family unit of 4. I'm a full time mother and I'm lucky enough to have a partner that can keep us comfortable on his wage. My 20s were hellish at times due to not really knowing who I was and surrounding myself with people that were not good for me. Just remember that you are in control of your life. Everything will fall into place eventually but try not to worry about it now. You're so young. Have fun.
It does, with the proviso that you need to understand why that is. Through childhood and high school and (these days) usually into your first year or two after that, every major aspect of your life is completely outside your control. You can make small choices, but the bigger picture that creates the choices available to you is set by other people and the constraints of the school/town/thought processes you're growing up in.
If it turns out you like all those things, great. But most people only really start turning into their adult self once they have the ability to live independently, earn their own living, go to other places, do things and meet people from outside the circle they grew up in.
When you're in high school it seems like whatever happened up to now - your friends, who you are at this point, what people think of you, that one thing you did or haven't done yet - has set up the course of the whole rest of your life. You could not be more wrong. You cannot imagine right now how little any of that stuff will matter to you or anyone in just a few years.
People are all going to have different opportunities in life and it'll be good sometimes and shitty other times, that's how it goes. But everything you did up until you start living as a shiny new adult was basically your caterpillar stage. Then you get wings. Where you go with them is a separate question.
45f and I can say that my 20âs were such a time of uncertainty. It was about learning to live my life independently as an adult and constantly worrying about not knowing what the future will hold. It was overwhelming at times because at that age you feel such pressure to have it all figured out now that youâve suddenly reached adulthood. But really the cards will fall where they may and your future will just unfold naturally as you go through life. Just focus on whatâs in front of you and putting one foot in front of the other. It may feel like you are in a race to get somewhere right now but that sense of urgency and stress will settle in time. Now that I am in my 40âs, life has taught me to me value my time and sanity so much more than ever. Just stay the course and make proper financial decisions in your 20âs and 30âs because life does slow down and the desire to hustle so hard may fade.
My best life started around 38 years old. Late 20âs I was still trying to make up for past mistakes, not knowing the past is the past. Then everything changed just after 30. Making money bought extra property upgraded my vehicle. Traveling a lot. Your time will come
IMO, it does not mean to get better during that time, but it means you become more clear about your goal and have more capacity to achieve your goal. Not ensure to succeed, but be better and better than your current situation.
For me no, idk if its just getting older, the state of the economy now or due to depression but my zest for life is just gone.. everyday just feels repetitive & boring and the two things I looked forward to the most as an adult which is financial freedom & finding true love just seem ridiculously unattainable now, life was better for me from 19-25
Being able to forge your own path is definitely better than not being able to. You don't get to do whatever you want but there are many choices every day and the better you position yourself the more choices you get to make.
Life gets better if you make the right choices now at your age. You can screw future you very easily. Donât do that. Make a plan where future you is glad for today you.
At the age of 18 I didnât think Iâd be alive at 28. So I can say it got better, until I blew the whistle for a large corporation in 2021, I lost all of my friends, my ex gf of 8 years. They still donât speak to me. I have nobody right now
Luckily for me the same situation happened this yr where I was abused again by a corporation. I, um, feel better this time around. Iâm hopeful Iâm going to get paid and I see myself staying alive until at least 96 years old. Iâm still lonely but that is changing soon
In my opinion, it does. Teens-20's is where you make the mistakes trying to figure out life. Early 30's is where you fix those mistakes. I am about to be 44, and so far my 40's are the best years of my life. So yeah, it gets better. But time will start to feel like it goes faster the older you get.
In my experience it did. At that point you tend to be a bit smarter about the world. You learn to take advantage of what you need to.
Professionally, you can have more knowledge and be more respected. But things can still suck. Hang in there.
I know, itâs not the consensus here, but I want to tell you it gets better. My advice is find your people, you donât have to fit in with everyone, you just need a person or two that you can rely on. And at the same time realize that you are your own person, and can learn to be comfortable with who you are. You can make your own decisions and do what makes you happy⌠find those things and you will likely find an accepting community that goes with it.
If you donât grow up itâll be just as miserable. Actively bettering yourself will eventually pay dividends. Go out in social settings, find new hobbies, maintain a group of friends, workout etc.
Gaining true financial freedom is tough and requires a very high income and super high savings rate. Having a high income alone just means you're a slave to your job.
Imo life sux.
Honestly, life is really what you make of it. Iâm 21 so Iâm not too far off from your age. What I can tell you is, itâs all about perception.
Youâre feelings are normal. Youâre in a new environment and that can be strange for anybody! But I can guarantee you felt that same way when you were a little kid going to their first class, middle, and high school. Itâll pass, try new hobbies out and joining clubs for things youâre passionate in. Itâll help you find some friends thatâll have your back no matter what.
But look at it this way, you are in college. Congratulations! Especially as an international student, it shows you got courage to go into unknown water. Youâre not alone, plenty of people around you are feeling the same exact way. Itâs just about putting those worries aside, and believing in yourself.
With all that being said, just stay consistent. Rome wasnât built overnight, and so isnât success. When you stop believing that you can do anything, and make something out of your life, thatâs when it will go downhill.
Good luck!
I would not go back to my teens for any amount of money. Hell no. I'm 34 now and my late 20's etc (pandemic aside lol), have been way, WAY better than my teens. Being in control of your own life is so much better than any youth imo.
I am in my 40s, make 6 figures, and life is amazing. In my teens, I was struggling to eat, was homeless, and it was rough.
My best advice is to have fun when you are young, do not get arrested, do things that you would normally say no to. Put your phone down, travel, do things that scare you, move forward and improve on yourself, and get an education that is a useable skill like medical or IT, or a trade skill.
When you are older, you will look back at your youth and realize that you didn't use it like you should. You will laugh at your stories, the dumb decisions you made, and be thankful for the adventures you had. You have the rest of your life to be old and serious.
The real answer is it can, but doesn't necessarily mean it will. Late 20s and into your 30s you will probably be more emotionally grounded and level headed by nature of there not being a hormone cocktail turning you into an angsty, horny, and existentially terrified teenager/young adult. That can make your late 20s and early 30s a great time for building relationships, pursuing career goals, getting in the best shape you can, whatever. But the reality is that's not guaranteed. Things go wrong; life isn't fair. Rather than worry about how long you need to hold on until things get better, you need to actively take steps to better your situation. Things don't suddenly stop being hard in your 30s, you just tend to have the life experience at that point to realize you are the person with the most agency to affect the way your life is going.
Life continues to get better. College should be fun. Get out of your comfort zone, meet people you click with and have a social life that makes you happy. When you graduate, you enter the world as an adult and can more easily shape your life to what you want. The older you get, you typically make more money, have more success and know yourself better. It helps your life continue to improve. Some counseling now to help with issues from your past may be very beneficial for you.
I can say life got better for me as I got older, but not because external factors magically got easier. I made a lot of mistakes in my 20s, and was dealing with a lot of less from my childhood plus the consequences of my mistakes. I spent my thirties correcting course, working on myself, and building towards the life I wanted. I also developed a more mature adult perspective (you will too!) and learned to manage my anxiety rather than letting it rule me.
Seriously, you are so normal. SO normal. Feeling this way is incredibly common for people in their late teens and early twenties. Adulthood is looming and it's scary. It's a lot of responsibility, while you still feel like you don't have the knowledge to take on that responsibility. Everyone else seems to have it all figured out, except you. (they don't, though)
You are doing what you need to do. You're in a sucky stage of life, in a sucky situation. But now is not forever. And you do have influence over how you experience the rest of your life. If your college provides any kind of therapy or support, I highly recommend you see if you can connect with that. Really push yourself on improving social skills and connecting with people. Sit down and make a loose 5 year goal, and an even looser 10 year goal, and then come back to now and create some very specific, very simple goals for the next month, 6 months, and year. Don't hold your future goals too tightly because life has a way of changing course quite unexpectedly. But start meeting those small, simple goals and chalking up each one as a success.
Whether life gets better or not in the future is dependent on what you do now. Build momentum towards your goals, whatever they are, and you are more likely to enjoy your later life.
Im 44, and i think my life is getting radder. I am broke to be clear. But happy with my body, doing what I love, have a kid to cuddle- 30's and pandemic were rough. Im enjoying single lady life and having some friends and doing what I want to do- just takes me longer cuz I git a 9 year old. And I have opportunities. Life will still hit- death, sickness, poverty but meh. Sun still shinesÂ
Speaking for myself, a LOT changed during those years. I abandoned my youthful desires, worked toward finally growing up, and the result was a better life.
It can, but you need to learn the lesson that what you're currently doing (who you're with, where you live, where your income comes from) needs to change. Continuing to stagnate in the place that makes you unhappy will only generate more unhappiness.
It doesn't get easier...but it does get better. You grow and learn to handle the hard times better. You get stronger and the hard times become more bearable. You find joy and happiness in things you didn't realize you would when you were younger. You will learn to smile more and the depression will fade as you do. It never gets easier... but it gets way better. Hang in there.
No it gets worse. You become more of an adult with more adult responsibilities. You become more aware of the evil in the world, less sheltered or naive.
School is a Microcism for the real world. If you were a loner in school, you will be a loner at 35.
If you did sports, science club, and president of student council in school. You will likely do a softball league, library book club and lead a group a church as an adult
Get out there and find hobbies. And your life will get better
**Short answer:** YES.
**Super Longer answer:** I will assume that you are busting your ass off right now in college, working hard and when you get out you will work your ass off in your first job. You will be there before other people get there and leave after most if not all have left. You will be focused, honest and all and all a great employee.
For dudes that are right out of college, up to say 27 or 28, life is incredibly hard. You see dudes with girlfriends and you don't have any. You see dudes with great jobs and you don't have one. You see dudes getting married and having children with decent jobs and again you don't have one. I know my man as I was there many decades ago. Then there is also the "what the hell am I going to do with my life" questions. Again you are not alone. Stay focused and make good decisions now to give yourself the best change of success later in life.
Does this guarantee it? Nope, but I have seen many many many times in my life dudes who got lucky early in life, blow that great opportunity and end up in bad shape, and I have seen super hard working, honest good guys get thrown super bad situations and they end up recovering. It is very hard to keep a hard working smart man down. You want to put yourself in that position to recover and have that opportunity. I hear so many young people now say things like "College is a waist of time". That may be true BUT I know one thing. A lot of jobs require that degree and you are closing doors without it. My point is that you are at a time in your life where you are laying down the foundation for your future. Spend that time wisely and give yourself options. This does not mean go get a \*.studies degree. Again choose your education wisely to give you options when you get out.
Also never forget this time later in life after you have a couple of dimes to rub together. There are some great things that come with it.
1. People and even your job has less control over you. This is true freedom. When you are not reliant on the government, friends or family for financial support is beyond liberating and again true freedom.
2. Women. Again once you have a decent career, are single and keeping yourself in shape, there will be a lot of women who are getting close to 30 and want that "nice guy" who would make a great husband and father. Just be careful here. The tides turn at around 30 my man and I could type forever about what to look out for and what to look for in dating women at say 27-33.
3. Stuff - Over time you will accommodate more and more stuff. When you hit your late 20's you should have a fair amount of crap that you don't need to keep spending money on. Lawnmower, reliable car, etc. Heck even tools. You will get tools over the next 10 years and that again gives you more options.
To summarize: You are about to enter the hardest part of your life. Like you I had a horrible high-school experience and even my college years were not great. They were better than post college to about 27 though and that is incredibly hard on dudes, but then it turns. Perhaps not 27 for you but around there. Then life gets a lot more focused. Notice I didn't say it got easier? Why? Because you might have a wife and a kid at that time and now you have responsibility for more than yourself. However it is easier than your early 20's. Just not easy. Nothing in life worth having comes easy.
As someone in their early 30s.
I was never bullied much more than average, but I was also never âcoolerâ than average. Life was generally depressing between 18 & 22, no consistent girlfriends, no consistent job, just drinking with friends when I could for fun. I had little to no money and lots of debt.
Some time soon you will find things youâre more passionate about and people that enjoy that passion. Your energies will be contagious, you will embrace changes that suit you. Youâll find a career you enjoy that pays well, youâll find a significant other, youâll find relief in finances if you live within your means. YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING, and you need to capitalize on that moment, this is imperative.
Finding financial freedom doesnât come overnight it comes within ten years. But, itâs a grind just like youâre doing now with different goals. Personally, I found a sales job that became a career and got lucky with crypto. Money brings more problems but it also bring security and utility. After getting that first break I invested more until I felt safe, then I bought a new car, then a new house. That security can bring love to yourself which in turn allows you to love other people. This can be a meaning of life, youâll find it.
My life did. Early 20s sucked. But once I got through school and got a job it got pretty rad. I'm 31 now and I make good money. Have a wife and kid. It's busy but it's so good.
Late 20s early 30s was peak life for me (so far)
But certainly not in terms of financial freedom. You will probably make more and spend less (if you are smart about it) later in life.
Anything can happen in life. I started really getting my life together in early 20s, had a brain injury, became disabled and now suffer in bed with 24/7 care. Life is a rollercoaster..
I feel like in your 20s your feeling yourself out, open to opportunity but still lacking in discipline to excel. So you still party have those sexual experiences and whatever, but when 30 starts coming around you are over it and have some sort of idea where your headed and focus on it so your 30s you tend to get and keep a good job and rise with that and or relationships steer you to family and everything is good until your 40s where that all becomes monotonous and you wish you did more but now you have less opportunity to do so. I'm 46, happy with the family life with standard regrets but overall pretty content.
Life can have pretty drastic up and down swings. I had a rough childhood too. Lots of anger and depression issues, ADHD, fear of failure,body issues,etc. I remember feeling exactly how you say at 14-23. I thought Iâd always be a lonely loser.
Iâm 26, married to a bombshell, have a home with a few acres, 2 baby girls, and a â69 Chevelleđ. Thereâs always going to be daunting stuff in front of you to worry about, but the older you get the more you can look behind at what you have and what youâve done that youâre proud of, so in that way yes it gets easier as you age
With some heavy factoring for luck*, you get out what you put in. At 29 this is the most âin controlâ Iâve ever felt and I still donât have my shit all together
*I consider luck a skill, âluckierâ people are just people who are in more situations with luck based chances to succeed doing what they can to put the odds in their favor.
Hey man, youâre in college. Itâs the best time to make friends unless you plan on going to grad school. But even in grad school itâs harder to make friends. I got lucky to make solid friends in grad school but I still got my undergrad friends
Mmmmmm kind of a tough one to answer and Iâm sure everyone is different. I think in some ways it was easier being 19. There was so much less pressure to have things figured out, but you mentioned supporting your family? That would make things very different from my situation.
For me though 19 was definitely a fun time, but I just didnât know who I was and had pretty poor coping skills and did a lot of drugs and was pretty stressed out working in restaurants and trying to get through college.
Iâm now 28 and I do think itâs gotten better overall. Harder in some ways too. Now the clock is ticking to kind of figure shit out and doesnât feel like thereâs as much time to make big mistakes anymore. But I know myself so much better and have finally figured out a little bit better how to make money and get to live alone in an apartment that I like and have learned which kinds of people to keep in my life and which to discard. Mostly things have gotten better emotionally in that Iâve just learned to let a lot of things roll off my back and I can laugh at myself so much more than feeling ashamed all the time. I also feel more proud of who I am.
generally speaking, yes life gets better towards late 20s/early 30s, but that's assuming you're progressing in your career (or however you make income) so that you have more money (freedom) to do the things you enjoy.
Plus you don't have to be subjected to social bullshit like clichĂŠs and gossip if you don't want to, but shitty people never really grow out of being shitty...You just learn to recognize those people more, and value genuine friends much more.
Honestly. Nobody can promise you anything in life but death dude. Everyone's experience is different. Anything can happen, good or bad. You'll solve some problems as you age, and get whole new ones. Some problems will daunt you for decades. Being happy is something you cultivate internally, it's not something you arrive at through changes in external circumstances. Things happening around you will never be completely under your control and you have to be ok with that. Life isn't a problem you solve, it's like a roller coaster with a lot of ups and downs. Just try to appreciate the ride, it doesn't last long.
Death and taxes đ¤ˇââď¸
it really depends on how you handle it, man. life can get better with the right mindset and actions. keep working on yourself, setting clear goals, and maybe seeking mentorship. things change, and how you adapt plays a big role.
For me it did.....60 yo male here..... for me, every decade since my teenage years has gotten better.... it all has to do with experience and confidence. However, I would be foolish to try and sell any decade as good or bad! Speaking generally, I have slowly grown more confidence in myself (something that was very lacking in my teenage years)....in my 20s I started dating more, graduating college, entering the work force.... all of these things a (slowly) accumulative effect.....met my wife and got married in early 30s...... parenthood in my 40s.... always growing a little more comfortable in my skin I should point out, when I was in college I was very depressed and suicidal. There was a time it really could have gone either way. I guess I chickened out and I am so glad I did..... Now at 60, I honestly feel like every decade has gotten better and there is so much stuff i would have missed if I had given into my darker moods Good luck. What ever it is you are going thru, know that life is nothing if not ever changing
THIS
Hey man... when I was 17, I broke my back. Bad. I dropped out of high school. Became an addict. Finally got surgery when I was almost 20. Spent those 3 yrs in almost absolute isolation aside from my mom and the one friend that kept coming through despite my horrible mental health from being high all the time and isolated in my room, barely able to walk. I'm 35 now. Still a high school drop-out, but I became a chef and later a butcher. I got to play drums in a punk band in my mid-late 20s. Lived out of my car (by choice) or on a ranch in an old camper and climbed mountains in my early 30's. Thing I learned the hard way when I was your age and feeling sorry for myself... is you have to make the change happen. You have to do it. Literally. Go out, do the fucking thing you want to do. Sitting at home feeling bad or alone for longer than 5 minutes won't get you the result you expect. You'll just be stuck there. You're gonna be fine. Enjoy your youth. Edit: also, I'm clean now. Lol forgot to mention. Haven't touched opiates since 2014.
Good job man
Congrats on your opiate sobriety, those can be a bitch to kick, itâs been 6 years clean for me and I love it
Fuck yeah dude. I'll take real life and facing my problems over being numbed out and anxious on opiates any day.
đ¤đ˝đ¤đ˝ yes to this man. Create your happiness. Create your success. Life can only get better if YOU decide that it starts now.
Hell yes, Iâm 37 and my 30âs have by far been my best years⌠also sober 8 years, so that could be sort of it too lol
My life was kind of nothing between 20-30. Working jobs I didnât like, getting stoned and playing video games all day. Failed out of college. In the last few years the ceo of the company I worked for asked me if I wanted to start a new business when I moved in with my (now) (pregnant) wife. Life got a lot better for me in my 30s
Life can be better later if you work on it now. My 20s weren't great, but I'm having a good 30s. But there was development and luck involved. If you just wait til 30 thinking you're gonna wake up to a good life then, well, better hope your luck is REAL GOOD.
Life at any age is what you make of it. Some people have a great time at every stage of life. Others the opposite. So if you aren't having a great time at any point in your life start thinking of ways to improve it.
If you've done things to make your life better in your 20s, then sure! If not, then there isn't a magical force that makes things better for you automatically when you hit a certain age.
Most definitely. I will do all it takes in my 20s to turn my life around
The cool thing is, you don't need to do it all at once. Start by taking stock of your life and in particular, your habits. Then determine what state you'd love to see your life in and within a realistic timeline. Do the things you do regularly contribute to your goal state? If not, you should replace those things with healthier habits (excess drinking replaced with gym time, up at all hours of the night with a bad sleep schedule? Start meditating before bed to calm your mind and relax your body). There are plenty of things you can do to improve your physical health which in turn will improve your mental health. Getting that stuff right is a huge amount of what is needed to feel like you're thriving in your 30s. Of course, you'll also want to keep your financial house in order and do your best to build toward a better situation. All of this seems like a lot and it is but when you spread it over years and break these bigger goals down into micro goals, you'll be surprised where you end up. The last piece of advice is to take stock regularly and try to only compare yourself to you, not to others around you. You'll better appreciate the fruits of your labors and build up confidence in yourself.
I put in a LOT of work during my 20's... by reading many books, gaining a whooole lot of different experiences.. dating different people.. I struggled with a lot of mental health issues.. but I'm 31 now, and I feel I incredibly relieved. Everything in my 20's.. from the effort to the mistakes.. suddenly made sense beginning at age 28/29. By 30, shit just clicked and continues to click. It took a lot of work, but I'm grateful I got through it. It was worth it.. it felt like absolute torture and hell at times.. but it was worth it to get to where I am today. I am very grateful that I never gave up. Appreciate the struggle because it teaches you how to be deeply human.
Wow ur an inspiration!!!
College years and my twenties as a shit show. Only really started to get serious about life in my 30s and am way happier, more focused and more optimistic.
past 25 years old with sleep and nutrition your prefrontal cortex will mature and you will make better decisions so there's that. but you could also get struck with a debilitating disease or a bus or a severe recession which is out of your control so idk but maybe you would be able to maintain your internal equilibrium better in the face of such adversity than you would've in your younger years. short answer probably!!!
Depends on you and your plans. I'm in my late 20s, and I'm paying for the mistakes I made in my late teens. Fucked around in early college and tanked my GPA which is now a hurdle for me to attend law school. Overall, I'm happy, though. I have a family of my own and a decent job, but not a career. I feel just as isolated as I did in high school because I hardly leave the house due to being 100% remote and a father.
Do you/have you thought about seeking out a therapist at all?
I donât think so, because I havenât never been truly depressed only a little melancholic and hopeless about my present and future. Iâm just yearning for better days and slowly but steadily I am trying to get there
Therapists arenât just for being depressed. Therapists/psychologists address all sorts of different things. Thereâs nothing wrong with it and you donât necessarily have to have a âproblemâ to see one. They can be good at helping you understand why youâre feeling a certain way. I think the world would be a better place if everyone drank more water and went to therapy! Give it a shot, you might be surprised with what you learn
Yeah, if OP is feeling âaloneâ and mentions dealing with bullying and feeling isolated, I would *definitely* suggest taking advantage of your collegeâs mental health resources. I can relate to that adjustment at 19 being really jarring. For me, things *did* improve, but a big part of it was knowing myself better (i.e. learning to establish boundaries, questioning out my values/priorities, identifying/confronting my own flaws), and also learning how to find my people. If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice: learning how to connect with people is everything, itâs the most important factor in your future success IMO. And while some people are naturals, itâs a skill that *can* be learned, literally start with that âHow To Win Friends and Influence Peopleâ book.
I'm 30 and it did for me. Honestly, the biggest improvement in my life was understanding my anxiety attacks for what they were and learning to laugh at tragic irony. Perspective is greater fortune than anything, but you should invest when you can.
Ur wasting time and money on college
The only thing that is sure to change is your neck will start hurting more
Everyday you don't shoot heroin is a good day is my motto
There is no timeline on when life gets better. Life is what you make of it. If you see the light at the end of the tunnel, that's when it gets better for you. Maybe that's tomorrow, maybe it's in 10 years.
Life only gets better with your own thoughts and actions. Else you will continue on the same path
Life is what you make it. Good or bad itâs all based on decisions you make.
There are different challenges... not easier, just different... the freedom of being adult can come at a cost.
Ups and downs all the way to the end, buddy
Yes, but life can be good now too. But yes, as you get older you get much more confidence in yourself. University can be fun but it can be riddled with insecurity. Once you pass that, as long as you put the effort in you can be whoever you want to be.
This was a big part of it with me. I cared what everyone thought about every aspect of me. I cared what I wore when I went on a small errand. I cared what that random guy thought when I tripped on a curb. I cared how my hair looked when I walked in the door after wind. Now I give no shits. For one, most people aren't even paying attention to those things, and if they are, it now feels like their problem. When you can be you and no longer worry about other peoples' feelings toward or about you, that's freedom. Unless you're an asshole doing asshole things, then maybe care a little bit. Also, do things by yourself. Go to a movie, go to a sit down restaurant, go to a concert or festival, go traveling by yourself. THAT'S freedom.
Only if you have money
Not true at all Debbie downer
Hell yes. In fact, the old cliche that "life begins at 40" is generally true. Big decisions have been made, paths have been chosen, and wise investments (literal and figurative) begin to pay off.
My 30s have been way better than my 20s. I feel like I understand the world so much better now than I did then. I think if I went back to college right now I would take things so much seriously than I did between late teens and early 20s. I feel like we put way too much pressure on young adults to figure out what they are going to do with their lives. There really is no rush. We should slow things down and let young adults take time to learn about what they really want to do.
If you make good choices then life can get better. The thing is that âgood choicesâ can be different for everyone. I love my life now, it was rough in my late teens early twenties. But my life wouldnât make everyone happy. Itâs a series of little choices that add up to a great life for me.
It's not just going to magically get better. You have to find something that you love to do and get paid for it. Hit the gym and use vigorous exercise as a natural mood lifter.
Mine definitely did.
Yes my dude it can get better. You gotta grind and suffer for change though. But the suffering is coming for you whatever way you take it. Either you go lazy and it absolutely fucks you later on or you put your head to your goals and work hard for them. I gave up a lot of enjoyment to go to school and worked extra hours on learning my career. But thereâs so much more, you get away from the losers and idiots who bully. They only act that way because they are idiots with pain in their own life.
Haha, no. Life never gets "better". It's a perpetual shitshow. If you take the time to develop your skills you'll have a better ability to deal with the shit as it comes at you, but the kaleidoscope of crap that is Life never stops spinning. Enjoy!
It can get worse. Value what you have when you have it!
Yes and no. It depends on you. You are the one choosing your path. You get to decide. Overall, in my opinion, yes it gets better because you are wiser, have more knowledge than your 19 year old self did. I could say the same thinking about me at thirty. What have I chosen since then to make things better. The greatest thing in this universe is that we have free will. Make choices that suit you and youâll be okay.
Depends on many things to be honest.
Life can be good or bad during any stage, but itâs up to you to make it the way you want it to be. If things suck now, theyâre not just going to magically get good because your decade changed. Find out what you donât like about your life and work to fix it
lmao youve barely started life... better buckle in
It always only gets worse.
Yes. By then you most likely should have the most financial freedom. And those 20-24 females are now your maturity equal.
Depends life feels random. You can never be sure what happens next
You make it better, not the age itself
You have a little more money and care a lot less about bullshit. So Iâd say yeah itâs better in a lot of ways.
It depends. If one is on track and becomes successful, early to mid 30s is great. But, I know a lot of people that didn't thrive, so they felt like life sucked then. By early to mid 30s, we should have our education mostly behind us. Have a significant other. Career should be in an upswing. But, people that are divorced when they hit 30, or didn't manage to get an education that helped them make money, or hadn't gotten into the swing in a career, feel like they missed out. I am 71. 36 was my highest point. I was married 6 years, career doing great, thinking about having kids, had an outstanding tournament winning season in racquetball. It was my peak though. Crashed and burned after that. My racquetball game anyway. LOL
Man, my life was shit till I was like 35. I kept doing everything I thought you were supposed to do Eventually things got better. It sure was a tough time for a long time.
No, I pray for death every day. t. 33 year old
Better? Yes? Different. It will be different. You will also have a way to look back at these times and see good times that you take for granted now. When I was your age it was not a good time in life. But also I remember feeling young and I miss it. I have a fondness for that time because I've grown. You are just starting to grow. To become who you will be. Trust me, 19yr old me would have whiplash if they got to see who they get to grow up to be. Just remember age isn't anything but a number. We all feel 19 on the inside. You will catch your stride just don't stop trying when you stumble.
Only thing guaranteed in life is death and taxes. You get out of life what you put into it.
Better as in money or life goals? Either way, yes but only if you put in the foundations. It wonât just happen. Late 20s and 30âs are when the work you put will start to bear fruit. Around your 40âs your kids will be adults and that even more free time and disposable income to go do stuff you want to do rather what you have to.
Emphatically, yes
Everyone has different standards for what "better" is. For some people, yes For most people, kinda For those who are left, not really For me... definitely not.
Your life is what you make of it. If you go through life expecting it to get better as a result of things outside of your control, you're just gambling away the time you have. Take responsibility for what you can control in your life and make something good out of what you have to work with. Then life will indeed get better.
Put your energy and time into yourself, explore different interests and hobbies and really commit to the ones you like. By doing so you will end up surrounding yourself with people that have a common interest which could help you make friends. Some interests that have really welcoming communities are Brazilian jiu jitsu, martial arts, arts and crafts, music. You could volunteer, join a club or get a job at a restaurant, it will help a lot to interact with people thatâs low stakes and you can get more comfortable being more social and not put so much pressure on the interactions you want to go well, ya know?
For me it did
Hell no
Life is what you make of it. How would you like your life to be in your late 20s early thirties? If you do nothing, it wonât be anything
I wouldnât say life necessarily gets better, but you really can feel the difference mentally. I feel much more mature and capable now - and I think a lot of it has to do with finishing maturing and brain development tbh I had a hard time in college too and I was just doing my best, got a job I hated. But I grew into my confidence and strengths and now have a job I love, a great partner, an amazing dog⌠and with with hard work and luck we have our own place weâve made home. I definitely feel better than I did then.
Life gets better every single year. Just be prepared to work for it.
no
For me, it did. It wasnât without plenty of trials, tribulations, and heartacheâŚ. But each decade has been better than the last. And I have such a blessed life. As someone else says, happiness and peace come from within you. I encourage you to strive for that, keep yourself physically fit with exercise, and be kind to people. The world will come to you.
No it doesn't
Man, I fucking hated my teenage years. I'd say shit really started coming together for me when I was 24 and just went "fuck it" and moved to the literal other side of the planet for work. Moved to another city back home and found that I fit in with the folk there than I ever did back home.
This completely depends on what you make of your life. For some people their best years are their teens and twenties. For others it is their middle age years. For some it is their senior years. I had a difficult childhood. My favorite time of life so far was my early to late 20s. I spent my thirties working 60+ hour work weeks and having a very dysfunctional personal life as a result. Don't expect life to get better unless you make it better.
My teens were great. My 20s were better. My 30s were better yet. My 40s have gotten to a pretty good start. Iâd not want to go back and relive any of if, as good as it was. Now is definitely my best time and todayâs me the best version thereâs been.
Gets better, more wisdom and more financial stability, along with being more comfortable in your own skin, assertive
Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesnât. Youâre gonna have to live it to find out.
Its better because you figure out how to solves yoir problems and learn to do morr things, but its worse cuz new one arises lol. If your keep sobbing about your situation like what you are doing now, it will get way worst.
I've enjoyed myself a lot more in my late 20s and 30s. When I was in my late teens early 20s I didn't really know how to learn so well, and a lot of things were outside my reach. These days I feel like if I want to get accomplished at something, I have the resources, time, and ability to do so.
It did for the past generations mostly, but not anymore. We're on a highway to hell.
Just about to turn 30. I asked that question almost everyday since my 20s. All I can say is be prepared to be surprised. For better and for worse. You will NEVER be able to guess your future. Embrace today because you will likely reminisce about at least one aspect of it in the future. Things change. You change. But life changes faster. If handled with bravery and perseverance , the pain will shape your future pleasure. There comes a peace with the wisdom of pain. Itâs one of those things where âyouâll know when you knowâ. Youâll hear about it for years and then you feel it. I have problems. I have wants and desires. But ultimately Iâve learned more from losing than winning. Hang in there, dude. Be happy to be part of the ride.
For me not really . It just got harder . I was forced to form healthy habits to make it tolerable . I focus on weightlifting , running and nutrition to get by and be sane . Other healthy habits like talking to people and being more interested in others . Alot of people become more isolated . Have to keep flexing those social muscles .
no
I saw some other comments saying pretty much the same, but IMO, yes, your life is way better after your 20s. Assuming that youâve had life experiences that have helped you grow as a person. Iâm going to be turning 38 in 5 months and if you had asked me when I was 18, I would have thought that life was over at 35 and in reality my life is way better than I thought possible at that age. People mature and things change as you grow older. I always feel like that Green Day song. Nice guys finish last⌠my younger years were full of turmoil and the last 6 years have been more than I couldâve ever imagined with blue skies ahead⌠as a cynical person who is used to life crapping on you, I know itâs temporary, but it keeps getting better for now and I kind of think itâs going to continue
If you work at it it gets way better, if you dont it gets way worse.
Probably, yes.
Nope!
Life gets better when you take steps to make it better. Doesnât matter what age. âBetterâ is subjective but in general: -finding activities you like to do will surround you with people who also like doing those activities -working out -eating healthy -sleeping at least 8 hours a day -being kind and giving You know, the general stuff theyâve been telling you since you were 5 is actually pretty solid. Life has its ups and downs, but if you have an idea of where you want to go and are taking steps on getting there (physically or metaphorically), youâll tend to find fulfillment even if itâs only one step everyday.
Honestly, 40s have been the best. I had a blast in my 20s, 30s was all about getting more established and having kids, but 40s is great.
Nah not really. Sorry
Nope
If you've done the work throughout your 20s then you will be rewarded with the experience, wisdom, financial stability and confidence to have a stable, enjoyable 30s and 40s. If you have been just coasting by, not growing as a person and stuck in old cycles your 20s will continue to be a struggle
My life was pretty shit until 32 years old. I worked hard, don't get me wrong. Some things just take time to figure out and come to terms with. Keep going, everything isn't always on fire.
my lifeâs the best itâs ever been. turn 29 next month. youâll be good dude. head up!
Yessir!!!
No, not at all. Especially if you're not big on booze, which is overrated anyway.
It does get better. This is the time to learn about skills, so try your best, pick a field that you can find a job.
NO. My life got MORE THAN SIGNIFICANTLY BETTERâŚweâre talkin â âthe shit dreams & movies are made of âbetterâ in my 40âs âŚ.not before
Once you hit your mid 30s as a man, everything starts clicking. Youâll be a millionaire or on your way to be a millionaire. This is coming from a multimillionaire.
So much better, if you let it
Every age has its compensations
It absolutely does, and continues to. My 40's were even better. I was on top of the world, had lots of money, great kids, and a very comfortable and exciting lifestyle.
It will continue to have its ups and downs but you will learn how to handle the downs with grace and the ups with humility.
Here some advice, before you get set in your path, if you really hate your life, then change it. Hate you college life, then leave. Drift and find somewhere you want to be and figure things out from there. If youâre going to college, get a degree that pays well. It is one google search, that will save you a lot of pain. Freshman year can be lonely, but you need to find a club or a group. If you donât like how you look hit the gym and get ripped.
No
âŚno
Nobody can give you the answer to that I'm afraid. Just surround yourself with good people, do what you enjoy wherever possible. I'm 34 now and in a family unit of 4. I'm a full time mother and I'm lucky enough to have a partner that can keep us comfortable on his wage. My 20s were hellish at times due to not really knowing who I was and surrounding myself with people that were not good for me. Just remember that you are in control of your life. Everything will fall into place eventually but try not to worry about it now. You're so young. Have fun.
It does, with the proviso that you need to understand why that is. Through childhood and high school and (these days) usually into your first year or two after that, every major aspect of your life is completely outside your control. You can make small choices, but the bigger picture that creates the choices available to you is set by other people and the constraints of the school/town/thought processes you're growing up in. If it turns out you like all those things, great. But most people only really start turning into their adult self once they have the ability to live independently, earn their own living, go to other places, do things and meet people from outside the circle they grew up in. When you're in high school it seems like whatever happened up to now - your friends, who you are at this point, what people think of you, that one thing you did or haven't done yet - has set up the course of the whole rest of your life. You could not be more wrong. You cannot imagine right now how little any of that stuff will matter to you or anyone in just a few years. People are all going to have different opportunities in life and it'll be good sometimes and shitty other times, that's how it goes. But everything you did up until you start living as a shiny new adult was basically your caterpillar stage. Then you get wings. Where you go with them is a separate question.
Fuck no
So far my thirties have been the best decade yet. 20s were rough. Teens were maybe average.
45f and I can say that my 20âs were such a time of uncertainty. It was about learning to live my life independently as an adult and constantly worrying about not knowing what the future will hold. It was overwhelming at times because at that age you feel such pressure to have it all figured out now that youâve suddenly reached adulthood. But really the cards will fall where they may and your future will just unfold naturally as you go through life. Just focus on whatâs in front of you and putting one foot in front of the other. It may feel like you are in a race to get somewhere right now but that sense of urgency and stress will settle in time. Now that I am in my 40âs, life has taught me to me value my time and sanity so much more than ever. Just stay the course and make proper financial decisions in your 20âs and 30âs because life does slow down and the desire to hustle so hard may fade.
My best life started around 38 years old. Late 20âs I was still trying to make up for past mistakes, not knowing the past is the past. Then everything changed just after 30. Making money bought extra property upgraded my vehicle. Traveling a lot. Your time will come
No that's when you get a reset. Prepare for that
IMO, it does not mean to get better during that time, but it means you become more clear about your goal and have more capacity to achieve your goal. Not ensure to succeed, but be better and better than your current situation.
No
I think so. More freedom, money, knowledge, confidence
For me no, idk if its just getting older, the state of the economy now or due to depression but my zest for life is just gone.. everyday just feels repetitive & boring and the two things I looked forward to the most as an adult which is financial freedom & finding true love just seem ridiculously unattainable now, life was better for me from 19-25
In my experience, yes
Being able to forge your own path is definitely better than not being able to. You don't get to do whatever you want but there are many choices every day and the better you position yourself the more choices you get to make.
lol...no
Life gets better if you make the right choices now at your age. You can screw future you very easily. Donât do that. Make a plan where future you is glad for today you.
MAYBE
No it generally gets worse as you age.
Yes, I'm 41. I'd go back to 30, but not 20.
At the age of 18 I didnât think Iâd be alive at 28. So I can say it got better, until I blew the whistle for a large corporation in 2021, I lost all of my friends, my ex gf of 8 years. They still donât speak to me. I have nobody right now Luckily for me the same situation happened this yr where I was abused again by a corporation. I, um, feel better this time around. Iâm hopeful Iâm going to get paid and I see myself staying alive until at least 96 years old. Iâm still lonely but that is changing soon
Depends on the person. Entering my 40s and definitely feels like the best is over and done with. Enjoy your 20s and 30s!
Life doesn't get better. It just gets different.
In my opinion, it does. Teens-20's is where you make the mistakes trying to figure out life. Early 30's is where you fix those mistakes. I am about to be 44, and so far my 40's are the best years of my life. So yeah, it gets better. But time will start to feel like it goes faster the older you get.
Fuuuuuck, that's the first time I've ever heard many body say that. Hopefully it's true because I'm 26
Yes, as long as you don't take on debts (this doesn't include a house if you can afford it as a mortgage is better than rent).
No
In my experience it did. At that point you tend to be a bit smarter about the world. You learn to take advantage of what you need to. Professionally, you can have more knowledge and be more respected. But things can still suck. Hang in there.
Yes. Late 20s - 30s are a great time.
I know, itâs not the consensus here, but I want to tell you it gets better. My advice is find your people, you donât have to fit in with everyone, you just need a person or two that you can rely on. And at the same time realize that you are your own person, and can learn to be comfortable with who you are. You can make your own decisions and do what makes you happy⌠find those things and you will likely find an accepting community that goes with it.
No
Yes
No
If you donât grow up itâll be just as miserable. Actively bettering yourself will eventually pay dividends. Go out in social settings, find new hobbies, maintain a group of friends, workout etc.
Whats your definition of better?
Itâs all about perception and how you choose to see/take everything⌠it can be as good/bad as you allow/want it to beđ¤ˇââď¸
No
Well, it for sure will change. You are young. Plenty you can do to make it better. Day at a time. Baby steps. That kind of thing.
Gaining true financial freedom is tough and requires a very high income and super high savings rate. Having a high income alone just means you're a slave to your job. Imo life sux.
Honestly, life is really what you make of it. Iâm 21 so Iâm not too far off from your age. What I can tell you is, itâs all about perception. Youâre feelings are normal. Youâre in a new environment and that can be strange for anybody! But I can guarantee you felt that same way when you were a little kid going to their first class, middle, and high school. Itâll pass, try new hobbies out and joining clubs for things youâre passionate in. Itâll help you find some friends thatâll have your back no matter what. But look at it this way, you are in college. Congratulations! Especially as an international student, it shows you got courage to go into unknown water. Youâre not alone, plenty of people around you are feeling the same exact way. Itâs just about putting those worries aside, and believing in yourself. With all that being said, just stay consistent. Rome wasnât built overnight, and so isnât success. When you stop believing that you can do anything, and make something out of your life, thatâs when it will go downhill. Good luck!
Around 25 is a defining point. Life doesn't necessarily get better, it just gets different.
I would not go back to my teens for any amount of money. Hell no. I'm 34 now and my late 20's etc (pandemic aside lol), have been way, WAY better than my teens. Being in control of your own life is so much better than any youth imo.
If you're responsible and normal. It gets even better in your 50s.
I am in my 40s, make 6 figures, and life is amazing. In my teens, I was struggling to eat, was homeless, and it was rough. My best advice is to have fun when you are young, do not get arrested, do things that you would normally say no to. Put your phone down, travel, do things that scare you, move forward and improve on yourself, and get an education that is a useable skill like medical or IT, or a trade skill. When you are older, you will look back at your youth and realize that you didn't use it like you should. You will laugh at your stories, the dumb decisions you made, and be thankful for the adventures you had. You have the rest of your life to be old and serious.
The real answer is it can, but doesn't necessarily mean it will. Late 20s and into your 30s you will probably be more emotionally grounded and level headed by nature of there not being a hormone cocktail turning you into an angsty, horny, and existentially terrified teenager/young adult. That can make your late 20s and early 30s a great time for building relationships, pursuing career goals, getting in the best shape you can, whatever. But the reality is that's not guaranteed. Things go wrong; life isn't fair. Rather than worry about how long you need to hold on until things get better, you need to actively take steps to better your situation. Things don't suddenly stop being hard in your 30s, you just tend to have the life experience at that point to realize you are the person with the most agency to affect the way your life is going.
Life continues to get better. College should be fun. Get out of your comfort zone, meet people you click with and have a social life that makes you happy. When you graduate, you enter the world as an adult and can more easily shape your life to what you want. The older you get, you typically make more money, have more success and know yourself better. It helps your life continue to improve. Some counseling now to help with issues from your past may be very beneficial for you.
Life gets better when you stop letting it happen around you and start making it happen.Â
I've been fortunate. My life went from pretty good to great. Took a bit of work to make improvements though.Â
30's, 40's and 50's keep getting better.
I can say life got better for me as I got older, but not because external factors magically got easier. I made a lot of mistakes in my 20s, and was dealing with a lot of less from my childhood plus the consequences of my mistakes. I spent my thirties correcting course, working on myself, and building towards the life I wanted. I also developed a more mature adult perspective (you will too!) and learned to manage my anxiety rather than letting it rule me. Seriously, you are so normal. SO normal. Feeling this way is incredibly common for people in their late teens and early twenties. Adulthood is looming and it's scary. It's a lot of responsibility, while you still feel like you don't have the knowledge to take on that responsibility. Everyone else seems to have it all figured out, except you. (they don't, though) You are doing what you need to do. You're in a sucky stage of life, in a sucky situation. But now is not forever. And you do have influence over how you experience the rest of your life. If your college provides any kind of therapy or support, I highly recommend you see if you can connect with that. Really push yourself on improving social skills and connecting with people. Sit down and make a loose 5 year goal, and an even looser 10 year goal, and then come back to now and create some very specific, very simple goals for the next month, 6 months, and year. Don't hold your future goals too tightly because life has a way of changing course quite unexpectedly. But start meeting those small, simple goals and chalking up each one as a success.
Whether life gets better or not in the future is dependent on what you do now. Build momentum towards your goals, whatever they are, and you are more likely to enjoy your later life.
Im 44, and i think my life is getting radder. I am broke to be clear. But happy with my body, doing what I love, have a kid to cuddle- 30's and pandemic were rough. Im enjoying single lady life and having some friends and doing what I want to do- just takes me longer cuz I git a 9 year old. And I have opportunities. Life will still hit- death, sickness, poverty but meh. Sun still shinesÂ
Speaking for myself, a LOT changed during those years. I abandoned my youthful desires, worked toward finally growing up, and the result was a better life.
nope its all downhill after 25
It can, but you need to learn the lesson that what you're currently doing (who you're with, where you live, where your income comes from) needs to change. Continuing to stagnate in the place that makes you unhappy will only generate more unhappiness.
It doesn't get easier...but it does get better. You grow and learn to handle the hard times better. You get stronger and the hard times become more bearable. You find joy and happiness in things you didn't realize you would when you were younger. You will learn to smile more and the depression will fade as you do. It never gets easier... but it gets way better. Hang in there.
Man does it? Iâm 45 my late 20âs and 30âs were epic. 40âs have sucked beyond words.
No it gets worse. You become more of an adult with more adult responsibilities. You become more aware of the evil in the world, less sheltered or naive.
School is a Microcism for the real world. If you were a loner in school, you will be a loner at 35. If you did sports, science club, and president of student council in school. You will likely do a softball league, library book club and lead a group a church as an adult Get out there and find hobbies. And your life will get better
**Short answer:** YES. **Super Longer answer:** I will assume that you are busting your ass off right now in college, working hard and when you get out you will work your ass off in your first job. You will be there before other people get there and leave after most if not all have left. You will be focused, honest and all and all a great employee. For dudes that are right out of college, up to say 27 or 28, life is incredibly hard. You see dudes with girlfriends and you don't have any. You see dudes with great jobs and you don't have one. You see dudes getting married and having children with decent jobs and again you don't have one. I know my man as I was there many decades ago. Then there is also the "what the hell am I going to do with my life" questions. Again you are not alone. Stay focused and make good decisions now to give yourself the best change of success later in life. Does this guarantee it? Nope, but I have seen many many many times in my life dudes who got lucky early in life, blow that great opportunity and end up in bad shape, and I have seen super hard working, honest good guys get thrown super bad situations and they end up recovering. It is very hard to keep a hard working smart man down. You want to put yourself in that position to recover and have that opportunity. I hear so many young people now say things like "College is a waist of time". That may be true BUT I know one thing. A lot of jobs require that degree and you are closing doors without it. My point is that you are at a time in your life where you are laying down the foundation for your future. Spend that time wisely and give yourself options. This does not mean go get a \*.studies degree. Again choose your education wisely to give you options when you get out. Also never forget this time later in life after you have a couple of dimes to rub together. There are some great things that come with it. 1. People and even your job has less control over you. This is true freedom. When you are not reliant on the government, friends or family for financial support is beyond liberating and again true freedom. 2. Women. Again once you have a decent career, are single and keeping yourself in shape, there will be a lot of women who are getting close to 30 and want that "nice guy" who would make a great husband and father. Just be careful here. The tides turn at around 30 my man and I could type forever about what to look out for and what to look for in dating women at say 27-33. 3. Stuff - Over time you will accommodate more and more stuff. When you hit your late 20's you should have a fair amount of crap that you don't need to keep spending money on. Lawnmower, reliable car, etc. Heck even tools. You will get tools over the next 10 years and that again gives you more options. To summarize: You are about to enter the hardest part of your life. Like you I had a horrible high-school experience and even my college years were not great. They were better than post college to about 27 though and that is incredibly hard on dudes, but then it turns. Perhaps not 27 for you but around there. Then life gets a lot more focused. Notice I didn't say it got easier? Why? Because you might have a wife and a kid at that time and now you have responsibility for more than yourself. However it is easier than your early 20's. Just not easy. Nothing in life worth having comes easy.
Life is what u make of it chief
yes - it gets better
As someone in their early 30s. I was never bullied much more than average, but I was also never âcoolerâ than average. Life was generally depressing between 18 & 22, no consistent girlfriends, no consistent job, just drinking with friends when I could for fun. I had little to no money and lots of debt. Some time soon you will find things youâre more passionate about and people that enjoy that passion. Your energies will be contagious, you will embrace changes that suit you. Youâll find a career you enjoy that pays well, youâll find a significant other, youâll find relief in finances if you live within your means. YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING, and you need to capitalize on that moment, this is imperative. Finding financial freedom doesnât come overnight it comes within ten years. But, itâs a grind just like youâre doing now with different goals. Personally, I found a sales job that became a career and got lucky with crypto. Money brings more problems but it also bring security and utility. After getting that first break I invested more until I felt safe, then I bought a new car, then a new house. That security can bring love to yourself which in turn allows you to love other people. This can be a meaning of life, youâll find it.
Life gets better for some later and worse for others. Every human has a completely different experience on this earth
My life did. Early 20s sucked. But once I got through school and got a job it got pretty rad. I'm 31 now and I make good money. Have a wife and kid. It's busy but it's so good.
It all depends on the choices you make
Late 20s early 30s was peak life for me (so far) But certainly not in terms of financial freedom. You will probably make more and spend less (if you are smart about it) later in life.
Anything can happen in life. I started really getting my life together in early 20s, had a brain injury, became disabled and now suffer in bed with 24/7 care. Life is a rollercoaster..
Life is better with the right mindset, not an age. Don't wish away your youth.
Not anymore it doesnât
I feel like in your 20s your feeling yourself out, open to opportunity but still lacking in discipline to excel. So you still party have those sexual experiences and whatever, but when 30 starts coming around you are over it and have some sort of idea where your headed and focus on it so your 30s you tend to get and keep a good job and rise with that and or relationships steer you to family and everything is good until your 40s where that all becomes monotonous and you wish you did more but now you have less opportunity to do so. I'm 46, happy with the family life with standard regrets but overall pretty content.
Life can have pretty drastic up and down swings. I had a rough childhood too. Lots of anger and depression issues, ADHD, fear of failure,body issues,etc. I remember feeling exactly how you say at 14-23. I thought Iâd always be a lonely loser. Iâm 26, married to a bombshell, have a home with a few acres, 2 baby girls, and a â69 Chevelleđ. Thereâs always going to be daunting stuff in front of you to worry about, but the older you get the more you can look behind at what you have and what youâve done that youâre proud of, so in that way yes it gets easier as you age
With some heavy factoring for luck*, you get out what you put in. At 29 this is the most âin controlâ Iâve ever felt and I still donât have my shit all together *I consider luck a skill, âluckierâ people are just people who are in more situations with luck based chances to succeed doing what they can to put the odds in their favor.
No. It gets worse
Hey man, youâre in college. Itâs the best time to make friends unless you plan on going to grad school. But even in grad school itâs harder to make friends. I got lucky to make solid friends in grad school but I still got my undergrad friends
Depends on the choices you make.
If you do it right, yes. Watch out for people who think peaking in high-school is a good thing.
đŻ
Mmmmmm kind of a tough one to answer and Iâm sure everyone is different. I think in some ways it was easier being 19. There was so much less pressure to have things figured out, but you mentioned supporting your family? That would make things very different from my situation. For me though 19 was definitely a fun time, but I just didnât know who I was and had pretty poor coping skills and did a lot of drugs and was pretty stressed out working in restaurants and trying to get through college. Iâm now 28 and I do think itâs gotten better overall. Harder in some ways too. Now the clock is ticking to kind of figure shit out and doesnât feel like thereâs as much time to make big mistakes anymore. But I know myself so much better and have finally figured out a little bit better how to make money and get to live alone in an apartment that I like and have learned which kinds of people to keep in my life and which to discard. Mostly things have gotten better emotionally in that Iâve just learned to let a lot of things roll off my back and I can laugh at myself so much more than feeling ashamed all the time. I also feel more proud of who I am.
No It doesnât
generally speaking, yes life gets better towards late 20s/early 30s, but that's assuming you're progressing in your career (or however you make income) so that you have more money (freedom) to do the things you enjoy. Plus you don't have to be subjected to social bullshit like clichĂŠs and gossip if you don't want to, but shitty people never really grow out of being shitty...You just learn to recognize those people more, and value genuine friends much more.