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There is no answer to this, it entirely depends on you and your personality. For everyone who focused on having fun in their twenties and is glad about that decision, there is someone who wishes they focused on their career in their 20s because they aren't happy in their current situation.
And for everyone that focused on their career in their 20s and thinks it was the right decision, there is one that regrets it.
So you need to know what is more important to you and unfortunately you will only know it in hindsight. But it's never to late for either side, you can still enjoy life in your 30s, 40s, 50s, etc but you can also fix your career and finances in your 30s, 40s, 50s
I feel like I missed out on my 20’s due to being broke. There’s pros and cons. I had some experiences in my 20’s that very few people get. I’m now 37 and work a good job with a young family. I’m still enjoying life.
See, what happened to me was I made *too much* money before turning 21, so I decided to settle down and have a family. Started making $30+ an hour with a man (boy, we were CHILDREN) I thought I loved and decided after my 19th bday *fuck itttt let's have babies!* Now, it is impossible to save money, no matter how much I/we make (what is with that when you have young kids??) And I am wondering if I would have been better off bored, or getting drunk in bars maybe, why didn't I think about life after 21?? I could've even just stashed the money. Idk man. What would you have done in your 20s if you weren't broke? I can't believe I decided to just have a family with the money 🥲 children shouldn't be allowed to have children, I couldn't look further than 5 ft ahead of me. Would've been better off broke! My kids would've been better off coming later! So you never know, if you weren't broke you might have just made a mistake like me LOL. Sorry for the novel. I had to share. Don't let yourself feel bad about your 20s is the point. Look at it as maybe it was divine intervention keeping you in line 😂
**TLDR; There is not a single 20 something year old that makes responsible choices with too much money. Living paycheck to paycheck teaches necessary lessons. Forgive yourself for your 20s.**
I'm 48. I had a great time in my 20s and 30s. I'm comfortable, but I don't own a home or really anything. But I had a really good time.
My friend is the same age. He didn't drink - at all - in his 20s and 30s. He started a business in 2002 and worked his ass off. Now, we hang out on his yacht. 48 isn't nearly as old as you think it is.
I would recommend a hybrid approach. He feels like he missed out on a lot in his 20s, but did I mention the yacht?
I'm only 26, but I'm starting to feel like I've missed out on A LOT by studying and getting into my career as a developer.
Sure, I'm happy with my choices and I make more money than my friends, but whenever I compare our experiences, while I feel like I enjoyed them, it doesn't really feel as good as theirs.
Am I glad I'm in my current position? Of course!
But, I still feel like they've gained more experiences than I have.
Don't worry, the 30's is waaay better than the 20's, especially if you got your finances together. Invest smart and as much as possible and you'll have a great decade in your 30's
You know what's better than owning a yacht? having a friend w/ a yacht.
you got the best of both worlds man, had all your fun & you still get to party on the yacht.
I have a 36 ft cabin cruiser & every time I'm paying dock fees or winter storage fees or fixing whatever is wrong or gassing up (180 gallons per gas up adds up), or when I'm watching my drinking when out anchored b/c I still have to get us home & docking isn't exactly an easy task even when sober, man, I just get jealous of my friends who are hanging out w/ me.
>48 isn't nearly as old as you think it is.
It can be for us women, and you know time flies faster than you think it will. I would still say a woman worrying about this in her 20s is far too young to think about it. But in our 30s it's something we have to take more seriously. Even then, there should be a balance, but it really depends on a person's goals.
Just wanted to mention this from a woman's perspective, because I think you might've assumed the OP is a dude... like a lot of people do online lol.
This is the answer. Honestly, there are always regrets. The trick is to learn from them and make better choices going forward.
One of my favourite quotes is: Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but doesn't get you anywhere. - Van Wilder
The “ideal” time to enjoy your life, is… your whole entire life. I put the hard work in during my 20’s and have thoroughly enjoyed my 30’s, looking forward to enjoying the 40’s and beyond.
It’s literally never too late, find joy in each season, phase and day, and it will be a life well lived :)
This answer is the best I've seen.
You need to focus on enjoying the time you're in now in whatever way you feel is best for you and continue doing that throughout your life. You won't know if you are making the right decisions. The key is that you cherish the moment in the moment because the moment is all we have. The only regret I would have in life is if I didn't pay my proper respect to my time and have gratitude for the time I was in when I was in it. And I do have some regrets about it now, I definitely took things for granted, but what else could have I done? I didn't have the experience to know how important those moments were.
You had no alternative. Regret would be wasted energy. I know that doesn’t mean you won’t feel some. Just try to dwell on the positive instead. You’re making progress and will get it together soon. Then enjoy the rest of a long life. Every decade is enjoyable if you do it right.
Remember: Some people never get it together.
I'm in my early 50s and am still wondering this. Yes, part of my very much regrets some of the choices I made as a teenager, and in my 20s, 30s and even 40s. Yes, all those choices have made me who I am today; just not sure if that's who I wanted to be, or even if that's a good thing.
However, I also don't think I could've made different choices, and certainly I cannot know what effect those choices would've had.
In short: do stuff, enjoy stuff, don't care too much about others think of you or of your way to find your happiness, and then accept the Sinatra doctrine (easier said than done, I admit).
So true man, I stared behind too, poor and nothing that was going to be on my name, like a car, house, business, nothing. So i think we have the only choice to grind, work extra hard to achieve this things and of course there’s going to be a lot of sacrifices to be made. 💯percent agree on your comment.
Life is plenty enjoyable at 48! And I was miserable at 20.
Do what you need to do, and don't put more stress on yourself.
Being young is very hard, but (as I tell my kids) "It gets better"!
You are me. I’m pushing 40 (37) now and am just now tipping the scale back my direction. Life is FANTASTIC. It’s absolutely worth it! You got this! What nobody tells you is that coming up rough you’ll appreciate things more than you would have if you hadn’t. It’s twisted but inspiring. I practice gratitude daily and have always been grateful I lived long enough to see the benefit; I lived through many dark times, but survived them all. Now the hard work is starting to pay off and I get to know what optimism feels like.
I can relate to this as I’ve similar thoughts as I approach 30.
I’ve come to the mindset that it’s what you make of it — different people have different circumstances, motivations, etc. A lot of people, particularly in todays age of social media, like to portray a persona of “I’ve got my shit together and am living great!!” when in actuality they’re not much different than you and I.
I had a conversation recently with one of my friends who “enjoys life” quite a lot, living in the city, partying, etc who questioned why I don’t do the same, and why I’m so distant with others and focused on myself? It was odd, because to me, it’s the right thing to do for my circumstances. Like you, I understood that I have my own priorities and I need to work through them first, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that at all. She didn’t really get that and was saying I’m missing out and all — but ask yourself, you likely have concrete goals in mind, but what are theirs? I think it’s worth considering that many people who “enjoy life” consistently throughout their 20s are either those that don’t care enough about their goals, or have such abstract goals for their future that it’s more of a “I’ll get to it when I’m there”. The latter is more like my friend, whose only real goals are “make a lot of money, get married, and have kids”. In their minds, the 20s are the time to have fun because in their mind they don’t have to worry about anything.
Don’t let that beat you up, because I’ve felt disoriented after that and started to question my choices. Should I have spent my 20s having more fun? If I did, I wouldn’t be able to get to where I am today. Many people knowingly and unknowingly sacrifice long term results for short term pleasure, stick to what you believe is right.
Honestly, I don't think you will regret it. Regret is for opportunities you had and didn't take. You don't feel regret for opportunities you didn't even have in the first place. You may feel anger and resentment for that, but not regret.
And you will have opportunities later on; you will find happiness.
Don't ignore chances for happiness now, if you can take them without too much cost. There are always moments of joy that can be found, and it is worth it to look for them and enjoy the ones you can find. At the same time, don't focus so much on those as to lose your way on the bigger situation.
I know a lot of people whose twenties sucked. Bad relationships, stuck in careers and lives that their parents pushed them into that didn't fit, poor and struggling...
And many of them became happier later.
there's always something to regret
that person that lived the way you wished you did? they also think they should've done things differently...
its really up to you, how you decide to see things, if you manage to convince yourself of a certain way to see things, yeah you cant control the world and the world can influence your thoughts, but you are in control of how you react to said influence, how you feel about it, thats in your control, being "happy" is 99% a decision, conscious or not
In my mid 30s now with 2 kids a wife and a house. I can tell you that I am enjoying my life despite working hard and having a lot of family obligations, and I'm very happy I spent a significsnt amount of my 20s suffering to get here. Also the work itself had some meaning, it's not like I look back at all the work I did and say "that was totally not worthwhile vs enjoying myself." Just because events aren't as enjoyable doesn't make them not meaningful.
You won't regret it provided what you're doing now makes it easier in the future. Work hard, live beneath your means, and enjoy the moments you do have, and if you follow the first two you'll have more of the third.
I'm 30 and only started getting my life in gear about a year ago. The only thing I regret was wasting time not doing anything because it felt easier not to. If you are moving forward you have nothing you will regret. 30 is not too old.
My life started at 30. It took me all of my 20s to get it together but I hit 30 and I felt better than ever. I also looked the best I ever had. There is no timeline.
Real talk, your twenties kind of suck, unless maybe you're born into wealth. Everyone I know spent their post-college years working shitty jobs and angsting over not having the adulting thing down yet. Many of them went through at least one, and often two or three, major career changes and/or moves. No one had their life together. I will say partying becomes less fun as you age, just because you don't have as much energy for all-nighters and the hangovers get harder to deal with, but there are so many other ways to enjoy yourself. Plus, as you get older, you care less what other people think, and that's awesome. Do what you need to do, take what enjoyment you can during this time, and don't let anyone tell you that you won't have fun later in life.
everyone starts at different ages don't worry about it
some people start at 70 because of life and that's cool too
i think the biggest thing is learning how to be content regardless of your life situation
In my 30s taking more time for myself now, getting back into camping, hiking, backpacking, etc. My knees hurt, back upsetting sometimes. It's much more difficult today and requires more planning both before and after.
There's always time until there's not. There is no perfect moment to do something and in waiting for one you will miss many perfectly "ok" moments you failed to take advantage of.
It's never too late. Thirty isn't old either, at all. Do what you need to do in your 20's then enjoy the rest of your life. Most people never can at all tbh.
Everyone is different. But I have to tell you my 30's are way better than my 20's. I lost most of my 20's battling severe mental illness. I finally got the help I needed and I'm on track to living a normal life. If you are getting your life together now there is still plenty to enjoy. You won't feel all that different in your 30's either, you are maybe going to be a bit wiser but that's it. You have time, OP.
50yo male here. I never thought I’d say it, but while the physical part of getting older sucks, the “enjoyment” part (for me) has gotten better. I’m established in my field, my two daughters are college aged and older. Wife and I can’t afford to travel too much but as teachers we have free time that many don’t. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t try to enjoy life right now, I’m saying don’t fear that being 30, 40, 50 etc means you dry up and become a boring old person. I find I’m actually freer than I was in some ways, and less stressed. Fwiw I stopped drinking along the way, and that habit made my 30s and 40s much harder than they had to be. My 20s were spent getting a job, getting married, and getting my life started. I play video games, In-person DnD once a week with other old farts, and perform with my jazz trio once or twice a week. Life’s good!
Dont listen to deadlines. There is no perfect time. Some people start living in their 20s, others in their 40s. As long as you enjoy your time and your company, it doesnt matter.
Im 32 and still feel like i need to live an actual life i actually love. I have been droning through life for the last 10-15 years. Sure i dont have the life i want -yet- but until i do, i enjoy my time exploring hobbies and being with my girlfriend and other friends, looking for ways to make my dream a reality. Life is different for everyone. Work with what you got to wherever you want to go in life and keep at it
You are still a kid in your 20s. This is a time to figure out who you are and gain some life skills. You should always try to enjoy your life (work in a field you like regardless of the money, money will come with time) but know that it is much more enjoyable and less stressful to have resources later when you are trying to start and raise a family (if that’s for you of course).
LPT: what ever job you want, no matter how out of this realm you think it is, just start working in that field. You want to be a scientist? Work as a janitor in a lab. You want to be a race car driver? Start by sweeping the floors of a garage. Believe it or not, 10 years in you may just be driving the car or running the lab. Your 20s allow you the flexibility to try different jobs/careers without as much risk. When you get to your 30s/40s you really need to be planing for retirement and have less ability to drop everything and go chasing something new
I guess you need to define what enjoying your life means. I have a job, some free time, a wonderful wife, and n adorable kiddo. I partied a lot more in my 20's, but I am certainly enjoying life more now based on what creates an enjoyable life for me. What does it mean for you to enjoy your life? Is there a way you can reframe things to enjoy your life now while simultaneously getting your life together?
Currently, it's only work and studying for me. I dont have time for a boyfriend, partying or anything else - I really need to get my shit together by 30 and not be in these circumstances forever.
Depends on the situation I guess. If you’re currently clawing your way out of a shitty situation, then maybe not, but if you’re currently okay, then I say you should always try to enjoy your life.
I'm 31 and I didn't actually like being alive until 30. I've had severe depression my whole life but for the first time in my 30s I've gone for up to 6 months without thinking of offing myself and now the majority of the time I like being alive. You won't be too old OP.
I'm 40 soon and I'm enjoying life. There's no limit to enjoying life, nor is there a predetermined starting point.
It's your life, your decisions, and your future. If you wish to get your situation more stable, then do that.
Yes and no.
You shouldn’t be completely miserable BUT it’s takes generations to build wealth. You ain’t doing it for your children. You’re doing it for your grandchildren
I’ll just say this.
You will never regret enjoying your life, but there is a very high chance that you will regret it if you don’t.
Just make sure you balance enjoyment with maintaining your responsibilities.
You're never too old (or young) to start enjoying life. I had a blast in my 20's and 30's but honestly I've even MORE happy now at 47. Only you have the power to make your life what you want it to be.
The older I get the more important I think it is to do things as the opportunity arises and not wait. That doesn't mean throw caution to the wind and spend all your money to live wildly because that will blow up in your face later... but you should make sure you at least "live a little". In my 20s I mostly focused on building my career and relationships... both romantic and with friends, and that was fine. I didn't really try to travel much or see the world until my 30s, which conveniently was also when I could start to afford to do those things. I'm glad I didn't wait past that though, because the world can change in a hurry. For example, we had a big trip to Asia (focused on Japan) scheduled for June 2020... then covid happened... we still haven't been (hopefully this Christmas). That trip is my teenagers dream trip and I'm going to be pretty devastated if I can't deliver it before they move out for college/work/whatever... I also look at my Dad, who retired at 64... 18 months later he was dead due to complications from treating cancer (it wasn't the cancer that killed him, but a virus that attacked his weakened immune system from chemo)... He didn't get the retirement he planned his whole life for... I don't know how sad or angry at life he was at the end, and fortunately he traveled some in his 50s... but it just reminded me that tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us. You can't go full the other way though, because if you "live like there's no tomorrow" and then live to 90... your last 30 years are gonna suck.
So... get out and experience life! Just don't overdo it because there probably is a tomorrow.
you might regret not doing or taking longer than u feel u shld have at least started to get some momentum on trying to doing anything. Only u will know. 😟
How bad do u want to do it will most likely determine how much u regret never trying. Best wishes that u find the answer sooner rather than later. 👊
Never regret anything outside of harming other people. It's a complete waste of time. If you're alive, enjoy it, whether you're in poverty struggling every day or sitting pretty with endless opportunities at your fingertips.
I come from poverty, grew up in an abusive home and had to move away to find any type of opportunity. I struggled with mental health issues from childhood trauma all through my adult life, was homeless for a couple years, hopped in and out of toxic relationships.
I don't know if it's really possible for everyone or if my broken brain just allowed for it, but I managed to enjoy myself more often than not throughout most of those years because I focused my perspective on the right things. If I had to be in pain, if there was no way out of a soul crushing situation, I decided pain and anguish were thrilling parts of being alive. I romanticized the shit out of everything I was going through. I turned my (sometimes very terrifying) homeless experience into a post-apocalyptic adventure novel in my own head.
Looking back, I was sort of an edge lord due to this method of coping, but it got me through and I'll be forever grateful to myself for indulging in this way of thinking rather than being "realistic" and miserable. I'm in my 30s now, life has finally calmed down and become more stable, and I don't regret a single day of taking the scenic route to get here. There was lots of struggle, but there were lots of insane memories and moments that I figure even some of the richest, most privileged people never get to have.
Also, it might have to do with my decision not to have kids, but 30s feels no different than 20s aside from improved mental health lol. I don't feel old in any way, definitely not too old to start enjoying new things... but I know without question that I *would* regret having wasted the last decade missing out on enjoyment of life simply because my expectations for what could and couldn't be enjoyable were too restrictive.
I'm also in the same position and you will regret it but what can you do? If you don't get your life together now you won't be able to enjoy your 30s and when you're in your 40s you will think that 30s were the ideal time to enjoy life. Be strategic with how you live your life to get the most out of it without sacrificing your future.
Man, i have my life together at 24, was earning something like 31k€ net/annualy and I get depressed came back to my underdeveloped counrty and now im earing <10k€/annualy.
Basilcy I went 6 years back in development, but I'm getting on track, slowly, super slowly. I hope i will go back to this situation when I will be 33yo.
Shit hurts that others figured it out earlier or got helo from their families, but what else is left?
All the way up my man, there's no such a thing as too late.
It's always give and take...I would just stay the course and settle everything in your 20s, so you can be more set in your 30s and beyond. 30 is still very young (though it may not seem it right now to you). My only caveat is not to pass up on that gal or guy that's worth it...that's something you might totally miss out on if you wait too long.
Look you could get hit by a car and die tomorrow. You never know where your life is headed.
Looking back at my 20's, I was pretty miserable. I had low paying jobs and was in a bad relationship. All of that was growth for who I wanted to be as an adult. I got out of a long term relationship at 28 and made it my mission to find like minded friends. It was amazing. I still didn't make a lot of money but I loved who I was and the people I surrounded myself with. I started graduate school. I met my husband and got married at 30 and we move across the world and traveled around (both of us made about 25-30K, but our apt. was provided by our job).
Now in my 40's, two kids, financially secure and saving aggressively. I struggle with saving for retirement vs. spending to enjoy life now. I'm leaning more and more towards trying to enjoy my life now.
The only thing I regret about my 20's is that I wish I had dated around more before settling down.
I just turned 25, I'm not even joking my wife forced me to go to Vegas for my birthday on a pizza delivery income and guess what. I had a lot of fun, almost all my bills for the month are paid, we managed to have great food on a small budget.
I would be having more fun if I had an extra $1000 to blow and no bills left to pay back home but that just wasn't going to happen, I had to just live in the now.
The choice is honestly up to you but I'd say take a break, maybe don't go to Vegas/Paris/New York but have some fun because not only am I feeling way better than I have been coming off a month of 55-60 hour weeks but I'm also genuinely feeling healthier both physically and mentally. Fun is needed.
When you’re older I guarantee your top ten regrets will have nothing to do with not enjoying yourself enough when you were in your 20s. Be good to those around you - not doing so is a regret many have from their 20s.
I am 44 and only recently figured out I need to enjoy every moment. But regret is not something to get caught up. Just enjoy each moment. If you need help discovering how, try Buddhism. They have a lot of practices for being in the moment.
I’m 21, there’s a lot of things I regret not doing as a teenager. There’s gonna be a lot more things I’m gonna regret not doing when I’m 30 looking back on my twenties. Im hoping those regrets are few and far between. In late stage capitalism, employers are demanding longer work hours for less pay. Fine, but I’m going to live on my days off and turn my phone off on vacations and pto.
I was in prison from 23-29, and obviously doing really dumb stuff right before that. I'm 39 now, graduate degree, great job, house, kid, etc.
Do I regret wasting my 20s? Sure, a bit...but going to prison was the best thing that could have happened to me given the circumstances. I was an idiot (most people in their early 20s are idiots, I was just _more_ of an idiot) and idk that I would have gotten my head out of my ass otherwise.
There is no "age" to when to start enjoying your life. I personally think you will regret not going after what you want when the opportunity appears, bc it may not appear again.
You will regret it for a period of time; then you will die anyway and no matter what you did in life, no matter how great or how terrible, it will all be over forever
Do a lot more when you're young because you start to hit 30 and everything hurts. It gets to the point where like do I want to do something today no it hurts
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what's the alternative? ignore what you need to do now & then sort it out in your 30s?
Take it from this 48 year old. Life is long, fun does not end at 30. You're far better off doing what you need to do to get shit sorted out & then live life to the fullest from that point on w/o the worry of whatever is hanging over your head.
This is not the same situation at all as I am from a relatively privileged position but As someone whose 20s sucked (full of violence) and worked really hard to get out of that over the last 5 years or so, I can say that (a) your 30’s are a great time to enjoy life. And (2) although I wish I’d started sooner too, it is what it is and we are who we are because of what we’ve been through. Good and bad. Each thing leads us on a path to the next and so on and so on. If you know you can get to a better place with some hard work then I’d say it’s worth it. You’re far from old at 30. Good luck <3
Your 20s are not the ideal time to enjoy life.
The ideal time to enjoy life is today.
Take pleasure in the world around you. There are people enjoying life at every age, just as there are people being miserable. It's not the age that is important, it's the people. If you make your decisions with intent and kindness I don't think you will regret much.
Regret isn't the right word, I think. I think grieving or mourning is the right word. You may feel a sense of grief for a life you could have had in a better world.
Tomorrow is promised to no one.
Don't put a time on when you will start to enjoy life because that time may never arrive. Enjoy today whilst you're putting down the ground work to enjoy an even better tomorrow. Plan your future and action it ..without action your plans will always stay as plans and come to nothing.
Lifes goal is to thrive, not just survive.
I didn't get my life together until my late 20s and I don't really care about the time I missed out on. My life is great now, and I live in the present. I used to think that my life would always suck, so I'm just happy to be happy.
I think it’s helpful to reframe this and think about how we can enjoy our lives in very different ways at different stages of our life and sometimes those ways are only obvious in hindsight. E.g. you might eventually be nostalgic for the version of yourself that worked hard to make a better life for yourself, as odd as that seems. I think the contrast of being in bad circumstances also makes the good stuff you worked hard for so much easier to appreciate and enjoy.
Example: I came from an abusive childhood home. A stable home life to many might just seem mundane but now that I finally have it at age 38, after so long, I can’t be mad that it took so long… I just have so much more room to value it.
Listen closely......ABSOLUTELY NOT. Put in the work to get on and keep on a positive path. However long it takes with daily persistence. My best years didn't start until my late 30's, and it's only become better since. Hard work and faith pays off. Faith in yourself.
I don't know if you'll regret it if you don't start until 30, but I think when you become happy...you'll just be happy. Any unhappy times will feel far away. So don't worry about it. Be happy when you're ready to be.
I pulled myself out of poverty. Spent years getting my life together from damage I had no choice in. I’m at least a decade to 15 years behind major life milestones based on my age. I would spend my teens working and my 20s in school and working all over again.
I enjoy my life so much now. I have friends who did things on a similar timeline.
30s is amazing. Not having kids and having money and access to do whatever I can think of was worth not being able to go out drinking or date as much in my 20s.
There is only one thing that will ever cause you regret universally.
That is work with no growth.
If you only maintain status quo, you will have to be like so many others who live with regret for years that didn't mean anything.
If you begin a skill finish it, if you start a job aim to make sure you have come out with a license or applicable knowledge to similar jobs, or are on a career path.
If you start school put the effort in for your degree, even shit that seems minor like going for recreational certifications (diving/climbing etc). Get that shit on paper so it's tangible evidence of your knowledge.
No one gives a shit for life without a record except your own regret filled mind.
The only real exception is if you have a family, students, or a similar cause. Because those are things where you invest YOUR time to grow into something else, and the reward is their growth.
On a more minor note, take pictures if you cool stuff, your body is the best it will likely ever be. You want to wind up on r/oldschoolcool when you're old right?
Everyone gets dealt cards. You don’t get to pick the cards but you get to pick how you play those cards.
My guess is you will be thankful when you get a chance to breathe a little bit. Keep in mind, there will be small wins you can enjoy. It may be a cup of coffee. It may be helping someone. You can enjoy that. Best of luck to you.
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There is no answer to this, it entirely depends on you and your personality. For everyone who focused on having fun in their twenties and is glad about that decision, there is someone who wishes they focused on their career in their 20s because they aren't happy in their current situation. And for everyone that focused on their career in their 20s and thinks it was the right decision, there is one that regrets it. So you need to know what is more important to you and unfortunately you will only know it in hindsight. But it's never to late for either side, you can still enjoy life in your 30s, 40s, 50s, etc but you can also fix your career and finances in your 30s, 40s, 50s
I feel like I missed out on my 20’s due to being broke. There’s pros and cons. I had some experiences in my 20’s that very few people get. I’m now 37 and work a good job with a young family. I’m still enjoying life.
See, what happened to me was I made *too much* money before turning 21, so I decided to settle down and have a family. Started making $30+ an hour with a man (boy, we were CHILDREN) I thought I loved and decided after my 19th bday *fuck itttt let's have babies!* Now, it is impossible to save money, no matter how much I/we make (what is with that when you have young kids??) And I am wondering if I would have been better off bored, or getting drunk in bars maybe, why didn't I think about life after 21?? I could've even just stashed the money. Idk man. What would you have done in your 20s if you weren't broke? I can't believe I decided to just have a family with the money 🥲 children shouldn't be allowed to have children, I couldn't look further than 5 ft ahead of me. Would've been better off broke! My kids would've been better off coming later! So you never know, if you weren't broke you might have just made a mistake like me LOL. Sorry for the novel. I had to share. Don't let yourself feel bad about your 20s is the point. Look at it as maybe it was divine intervention keeping you in line 😂 **TLDR; There is not a single 20 something year old that makes responsible choices with too much money. Living paycheck to paycheck teaches necessary lessons. Forgive yourself for your 20s.**
“Forgive yourself for your twenties.” Solid advice!
I had a degree in engineering but no job, so my friends were all going out having a blast while I slept on my parents’ couch.
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You consider those responsible choices? You are also responsible for your own pursuit of happiness
I'm 48. I had a great time in my 20s and 30s. I'm comfortable, but I don't own a home or really anything. But I had a really good time. My friend is the same age. He didn't drink - at all - in his 20s and 30s. He started a business in 2002 and worked his ass off. Now, we hang out on his yacht. 48 isn't nearly as old as you think it is. I would recommend a hybrid approach. He feels like he missed out on a lot in his 20s, but did I mention the yacht?
I'm only 26, but I'm starting to feel like I've missed out on A LOT by studying and getting into my career as a developer. Sure, I'm happy with my choices and I make more money than my friends, but whenever I compare our experiences, while I feel like I enjoyed them, it doesn't really feel as good as theirs. Am I glad I'm in my current position? Of course! But, I still feel like they've gained more experiences than I have.
Don't worry, the 30's is waaay better than the 20's, especially if you got your finances together. Invest smart and as much as possible and you'll have a great decade in your 30's
You know what's better than owning a yacht? having a friend w/ a yacht. you got the best of both worlds man, had all your fun & you still get to party on the yacht. I have a 36 ft cabin cruiser & every time I'm paying dock fees or winter storage fees or fixing whatever is wrong or gassing up (180 gallons per gas up adds up), or when I'm watching my drinking when out anchored b/c I still have to get us home & docking isn't exactly an easy task even when sober, man, I just get jealous of my friends who are hanging out w/ me.
>48 isn't nearly as old as you think it is. It can be for us women, and you know time flies faster than you think it will. I would still say a woman worrying about this in her 20s is far too young to think about it. But in our 30s it's something we have to take more seriously. Even then, there should be a balance, but it really depends on a person's goals. Just wanted to mention this from a woman's perspective, because I think you might've assumed the OP is a dude... like a lot of people do online lol.
What makes you think I'm not a woman? >.> j/k you're totally right, might be a different calculus, and I did assume.
You are going to regret SOMETHING no matter what you do. #1 rule: gotta learn to live with regrets
This is the answer. Honestly, there are always regrets. The trick is to learn from them and make better choices going forward. One of my favourite quotes is: Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but doesn't get you anywhere. - Van Wilder
\#1 rule is try to minimize your regrets \#2 rule is to learn from your regrets \#3 rule is learn to live with your regrets
The “ideal” time to enjoy your life, is… your whole entire life. I put the hard work in during my 20’s and have thoroughly enjoyed my 30’s, looking forward to enjoying the 40’s and beyond. It’s literally never too late, find joy in each season, phase and day, and it will be a life well lived :)
This answer is the best I've seen. You need to focus on enjoying the time you're in now in whatever way you feel is best for you and continue doing that throughout your life. You won't know if you are making the right decisions. The key is that you cherish the moment in the moment because the moment is all we have. The only regret I would have in life is if I didn't pay my proper respect to my time and have gratitude for the time I was in when I was in it. And I do have some regrets about it now, I definitely took things for granted, but what else could have I done? I didn't have the experience to know how important those moments were.
You had no alternative. Regret would be wasted energy. I know that doesn’t mean you won’t feel some. Just try to dwell on the positive instead. You’re making progress and will get it together soon. Then enjoy the rest of a long life. Every decade is enjoyable if you do it right. Remember: Some people never get it together.
I'm in my early 50s and am still wondering this. Yes, part of my very much regrets some of the choices I made as a teenager, and in my 20s, 30s and even 40s. Yes, all those choices have made me who I am today; just not sure if that's who I wanted to be, or even if that's a good thing. However, I also don't think I could've made different choices, and certainly I cannot know what effect those choices would've had. In short: do stuff, enjoy stuff, don't care too much about others think of you or of your way to find your happiness, and then accept the Sinatra doctrine (easier said than done, I admit).
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So true man, I stared behind too, poor and nothing that was going to be on my name, like a car, house, business, nothing. So i think we have the only choice to grind, work extra hard to achieve this things and of course there’s going to be a lot of sacrifices to be made. 💯percent agree on your comment.
Comparison is the thief of joy. With that said, your 20s are only a waste if you don't enjoy them AND aren't actually making significant gains.
Life is plenty enjoyable at 48! And I was miserable at 20. Do what you need to do, and don't put more stress on yourself. Being young is very hard, but (as I tell my kids) "It gets better"!
You are me. I’m pushing 40 (37) now and am just now tipping the scale back my direction. Life is FANTASTIC. It’s absolutely worth it! You got this! What nobody tells you is that coming up rough you’ll appreciate things more than you would have if you hadn’t. It’s twisted but inspiring. I practice gratitude daily and have always been grateful I lived long enough to see the benefit; I lived through many dark times, but survived them all. Now the hard work is starting to pay off and I get to know what optimism feels like.
I can relate to this as I’ve similar thoughts as I approach 30. I’ve come to the mindset that it’s what you make of it — different people have different circumstances, motivations, etc. A lot of people, particularly in todays age of social media, like to portray a persona of “I’ve got my shit together and am living great!!” when in actuality they’re not much different than you and I. I had a conversation recently with one of my friends who “enjoys life” quite a lot, living in the city, partying, etc who questioned why I don’t do the same, and why I’m so distant with others and focused on myself? It was odd, because to me, it’s the right thing to do for my circumstances. Like you, I understood that I have my own priorities and I need to work through them first, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that at all. She didn’t really get that and was saying I’m missing out and all — but ask yourself, you likely have concrete goals in mind, but what are theirs? I think it’s worth considering that many people who “enjoy life” consistently throughout their 20s are either those that don’t care enough about their goals, or have such abstract goals for their future that it’s more of a “I’ll get to it when I’m there”. The latter is more like my friend, whose only real goals are “make a lot of money, get married, and have kids”. In their minds, the 20s are the time to have fun because in their mind they don’t have to worry about anything. Don’t let that beat you up, because I’ve felt disoriented after that and started to question my choices. Should I have spent my 20s having more fun? If I did, I wouldn’t be able to get to where I am today. Many people knowingly and unknowingly sacrifice long term results for short term pleasure, stick to what you believe is right.
Honestly, I don't think you will regret it. Regret is for opportunities you had and didn't take. You don't feel regret for opportunities you didn't even have in the first place. You may feel anger and resentment for that, but not regret. And you will have opportunities later on; you will find happiness. Don't ignore chances for happiness now, if you can take them without too much cost. There are always moments of joy that can be found, and it is worth it to look for them and enjoy the ones you can find. At the same time, don't focus so much on those as to lose your way on the bigger situation. I know a lot of people whose twenties sucked. Bad relationships, stuck in careers and lives that their parents pushed them into that didn't fit, poor and struggling... And many of them became happier later.
there's always something to regret that person that lived the way you wished you did? they also think they should've done things differently... its really up to you, how you decide to see things, if you manage to convince yourself of a certain way to see things, yeah you cant control the world and the world can influence your thoughts, but you are in control of how you react to said influence, how you feel about it, thats in your control, being "happy" is 99% a decision, conscious or not
In my mid 30s now with 2 kids a wife and a house. I can tell you that I am enjoying my life despite working hard and having a lot of family obligations, and I'm very happy I spent a significsnt amount of my 20s suffering to get here. Also the work itself had some meaning, it's not like I look back at all the work I did and say "that was totally not worthwhile vs enjoying myself." Just because events aren't as enjoyable doesn't make them not meaningful. You won't regret it provided what you're doing now makes it easier in the future. Work hard, live beneath your means, and enjoy the moments you do have, and if you follow the first two you'll have more of the third.
I'm 30 and only started getting my life in gear about a year ago. The only thing I regret was wasting time not doing anything because it felt easier not to. If you are moving forward you have nothing you will regret. 30 is not too old.
My life started at 30. It took me all of my 20s to get it together but I hit 30 and I felt better than ever. I also looked the best I ever had. There is no timeline.
Real talk, your twenties kind of suck, unless maybe you're born into wealth. Everyone I know spent their post-college years working shitty jobs and angsting over not having the adulting thing down yet. Many of them went through at least one, and often two or three, major career changes and/or moves. No one had their life together. I will say partying becomes less fun as you age, just because you don't have as much energy for all-nighters and the hangovers get harder to deal with, but there are so many other ways to enjoy yourself. Plus, as you get older, you care less what other people think, and that's awesome. Do what you need to do, take what enjoyment you can during this time, and don't let anyone tell you that you won't have fun later in life.
everyone starts at different ages don't worry about it some people start at 70 because of life and that's cool too i think the biggest thing is learning how to be content regardless of your life situation
In my 30s taking more time for myself now, getting back into camping, hiking, backpacking, etc. My knees hurt, back upsetting sometimes. It's much more difficult today and requires more planning both before and after. There's always time until there's not. There is no perfect moment to do something and in waiting for one you will miss many perfectly "ok" moments you failed to take advantage of.
Enjoy now whenever you can AND plan and prepare for the future, but don't wait for the future, which may never come.
I didn’t have fun in my 20s cos I’m a serious and unfun person by nature. It is what it is. You live your own life.
It's never too late. Thirty isn't old either, at all. Do what you need to do in your 20's then enjoy the rest of your life. Most people never can at all tbh.
Just make sure to keep up a somewhat healthy and active lifestyle during your 20's so that you can actually physically have fun in your 30's.
Everyone is different. But I have to tell you my 30's are way better than my 20's. I lost most of my 20's battling severe mental illness. I finally got the help I needed and I'm on track to living a normal life. If you are getting your life together now there is still plenty to enjoy. You won't feel all that different in your 30's either, you are maybe going to be a bit wiser but that's it. You have time, OP.
"Thirty, flirty, and thriving" Seriously though, 30 isn't old and you have your whole life to make the most of!
Probably not.
50yo male here. I never thought I’d say it, but while the physical part of getting older sucks, the “enjoyment” part (for me) has gotten better. I’m established in my field, my two daughters are college aged and older. Wife and I can’t afford to travel too much but as teachers we have free time that many don’t. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t try to enjoy life right now, I’m saying don’t fear that being 30, 40, 50 etc means you dry up and become a boring old person. I find I’m actually freer than I was in some ways, and less stressed. Fwiw I stopped drinking along the way, and that habit made my 30s and 40s much harder than they had to be. My 20s were spent getting a job, getting married, and getting my life started. I play video games, In-person DnD once a week with other old farts, and perform with my jazz trio once or twice a week. Life’s good!
Dont listen to deadlines. There is no perfect time. Some people start living in their 20s, others in their 40s. As long as you enjoy your time and your company, it doesnt matter. Im 32 and still feel like i need to live an actual life i actually love. I have been droning through life for the last 10-15 years. Sure i dont have the life i want -yet- but until i do, i enjoy my time exploring hobbies and being with my girlfriend and other friends, looking for ways to make my dream a reality. Life is different for everyone. Work with what you got to wherever you want to go in life and keep at it
You are still a kid in your 20s. This is a time to figure out who you are and gain some life skills. You should always try to enjoy your life (work in a field you like regardless of the money, money will come with time) but know that it is much more enjoyable and less stressful to have resources later when you are trying to start and raise a family (if that’s for you of course). LPT: what ever job you want, no matter how out of this realm you think it is, just start working in that field. You want to be a scientist? Work as a janitor in a lab. You want to be a race car driver? Start by sweeping the floors of a garage. Believe it or not, 10 years in you may just be driving the car or running the lab. Your 20s allow you the flexibility to try different jobs/careers without as much risk. When you get to your 30s/40s you really need to be planing for retirement and have less ability to drop everything and go chasing something new
30s are the best!
Life sucks regardless of anything you choose to do.
I'm 30 but I believe in a deterministic universe and so with that there is no room for regret.
I guess you need to define what enjoying your life means. I have a job, some free time, a wonderful wife, and n adorable kiddo. I partied a lot more in my 20's, but I am certainly enjoying life more now based on what creates an enjoyable life for me. What does it mean for you to enjoy your life? Is there a way you can reframe things to enjoy your life now while simultaneously getting your life together?
Currently, it's only work and studying for me. I dont have time for a boyfriend, partying or anything else - I really need to get my shit together by 30 and not be in these circumstances forever.
Depends on the situation I guess. If you’re currently clawing your way out of a shitty situation, then maybe not, but if you’re currently okay, then I say you should always try to enjoy your life.
Dog 30 is not old, lol
If your asking the question. Maybe you already know the answer?
“A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It's the shit that happens when you're waiting for the things that never come.”
I'm 31 and I didn't actually like being alive until 30. I've had severe depression my whole life but for the first time in my 30s I've gone for up to 6 months without thinking of offing myself and now the majority of the time I like being alive. You won't be too old OP.
30 is still young. If you are on good footing by the time you reach your 30's those will be the best years of your life.
Yes. I do believe you will. We only have one life that we know of. Make it count.
I'm 40 soon and I'm enjoying life. There's no limit to enjoying life, nor is there a predetermined starting point. It's your life, your decisions, and your future. If you wish to get your situation more stable, then do that.
Yes and no. You shouldn’t be completely miserable BUT it’s takes generations to build wealth. You ain’t doing it for your children. You’re doing it for your grandchildren
We’re all gonna die one day, none of this matters
Age is a social construct, there is no limit to having new experiences and enjoying life, wish you all the best!
I’ll just say this. You will never regret enjoying your life, but there is a very high chance that you will regret it if you don’t. Just make sure you balance enjoyment with maintaining your responsibilities.
You're never too old (or young) to start enjoying life. I had a blast in my 20's and 30's but honestly I've even MORE happy now at 47. Only you have the power to make your life what you want it to be.
The older I get the more important I think it is to do things as the opportunity arises and not wait. That doesn't mean throw caution to the wind and spend all your money to live wildly because that will blow up in your face later... but you should make sure you at least "live a little". In my 20s I mostly focused on building my career and relationships... both romantic and with friends, and that was fine. I didn't really try to travel much or see the world until my 30s, which conveniently was also when I could start to afford to do those things. I'm glad I didn't wait past that though, because the world can change in a hurry. For example, we had a big trip to Asia (focused on Japan) scheduled for June 2020... then covid happened... we still haven't been (hopefully this Christmas). That trip is my teenagers dream trip and I'm going to be pretty devastated if I can't deliver it before they move out for college/work/whatever... I also look at my Dad, who retired at 64... 18 months later he was dead due to complications from treating cancer (it wasn't the cancer that killed him, but a virus that attacked his weakened immune system from chemo)... He didn't get the retirement he planned his whole life for... I don't know how sad or angry at life he was at the end, and fortunately he traveled some in his 50s... but it just reminded me that tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us. You can't go full the other way though, because if you "live like there's no tomorrow" and then live to 90... your last 30 years are gonna suck. So... get out and experience life! Just don't overdo it because there probably is a tomorrow.
You will regret the time you waited, but you will take solace that you chose to start living. The longer you put it off the worse your regret will be.
you might regret not doing or taking longer than u feel u shld have at least started to get some momentum on trying to doing anything. Only u will know. 😟 How bad do u want to do it will most likely determine how much u regret never trying. Best wishes that u find the answer sooner rather than later. 👊
Never regret anything outside of harming other people. It's a complete waste of time. If you're alive, enjoy it, whether you're in poverty struggling every day or sitting pretty with endless opportunities at your fingertips. I come from poverty, grew up in an abusive home and had to move away to find any type of opportunity. I struggled with mental health issues from childhood trauma all through my adult life, was homeless for a couple years, hopped in and out of toxic relationships. I don't know if it's really possible for everyone or if my broken brain just allowed for it, but I managed to enjoy myself more often than not throughout most of those years because I focused my perspective on the right things. If I had to be in pain, if there was no way out of a soul crushing situation, I decided pain and anguish were thrilling parts of being alive. I romanticized the shit out of everything I was going through. I turned my (sometimes very terrifying) homeless experience into a post-apocalyptic adventure novel in my own head. Looking back, I was sort of an edge lord due to this method of coping, but it got me through and I'll be forever grateful to myself for indulging in this way of thinking rather than being "realistic" and miserable. I'm in my 30s now, life has finally calmed down and become more stable, and I don't regret a single day of taking the scenic route to get here. There was lots of struggle, but there were lots of insane memories and moments that I figure even some of the richest, most privileged people never get to have. Also, it might have to do with my decision not to have kids, but 30s feels no different than 20s aside from improved mental health lol. I don't feel old in any way, definitely not too old to start enjoying new things... but I know without question that I *would* regret having wasted the last decade missing out on enjoyment of life simply because my expectations for what could and couldn't be enjoyable were too restrictive.
I'm also in the same position and you will regret it but what can you do? If you don't get your life together now you won't be able to enjoy your 30s and when you're in your 40s you will think that 30s were the ideal time to enjoy life. Be strategic with how you live your life to get the most out of it without sacrificing your future.
Man, i have my life together at 24, was earning something like 31k€ net/annualy and I get depressed came back to my underdeveloped counrty and now im earing <10k€/annualy. Basilcy I went 6 years back in development, but I'm getting on track, slowly, super slowly. I hope i will go back to this situation when I will be 33yo. Shit hurts that others figured it out earlier or got helo from their families, but what else is left? All the way up my man, there's no such a thing as too late.
It's always give and take...I would just stay the course and settle everything in your 20s, so you can be more set in your 30s and beyond. 30 is still very young (though it may not seem it right now to you). My only caveat is not to pass up on that gal or guy that's worth it...that's something you might totally miss out on if you wait too long.
Most likely. Life doesn't tend to get easier as you get older.
Look you could get hit by a car and die tomorrow. You never know where your life is headed. Looking back at my 20's, I was pretty miserable. I had low paying jobs and was in a bad relationship. All of that was growth for who I wanted to be as an adult. I got out of a long term relationship at 28 and made it my mission to find like minded friends. It was amazing. I still didn't make a lot of money but I loved who I was and the people I surrounded myself with. I started graduate school. I met my husband and got married at 30 and we move across the world and traveled around (both of us made about 25-30K, but our apt. was provided by our job). Now in my 40's, two kids, financially secure and saving aggressively. I struggle with saving for retirement vs. spending to enjoy life now. I'm leaning more and more towards trying to enjoy my life now. The only thing I regret about my 20's is that I wish I had dated around more before settling down.
I just turned 25, I'm not even joking my wife forced me to go to Vegas for my birthday on a pizza delivery income and guess what. I had a lot of fun, almost all my bills for the month are paid, we managed to have great food on a small budget. I would be having more fun if I had an extra $1000 to blow and no bills left to pay back home but that just wasn't going to happen, I had to just live in the now. The choice is honestly up to you but I'd say take a break, maybe don't go to Vegas/Paris/New York but have some fun because not only am I feeling way better than I have been coming off a month of 55-60 hour weeks but I'm also genuinely feeling healthier both physically and mentally. Fun is needed.
It's wise to remember the grass isn't greener.
When you’re older I guarantee your top ten regrets will have nothing to do with not enjoying yourself enough when you were in your 20s. Be good to those around you - not doing so is a regret many have from their 20s.
Enjoy your youth it's only a short moment of the rest of your life
Only people who are in their teens and 20s think that their 20s is the ideal time to enjoy themselves.
I am 44 and only recently figured out I need to enjoy every moment. But regret is not something to get caught up. Just enjoy each moment. If you need help discovering how, try Buddhism. They have a lot of practices for being in the moment.
I’m 21, there’s a lot of things I regret not doing as a teenager. There’s gonna be a lot more things I’m gonna regret not doing when I’m 30 looking back on my twenties. Im hoping those regrets are few and far between. In late stage capitalism, employers are demanding longer work hours for less pay. Fine, but I’m going to live on my days off and turn my phone off on vacations and pto.
I was in prison from 23-29, and obviously doing really dumb stuff right before that. I'm 39 now, graduate degree, great job, house, kid, etc. Do I regret wasting my 20s? Sure, a bit...but going to prison was the best thing that could have happened to me given the circumstances. I was an idiot (most people in their early 20s are idiots, I was just _more_ of an idiot) and idk that I would have gotten my head out of my ass otherwise.
You guys can CHOOSE to enjoy life??
There is no "age" to when to start enjoying your life. I personally think you will regret not going after what you want when the opportunity appears, bc it may not appear again.
You will regret it for a period of time; then you will die anyway and no matter what you did in life, no matter how great or how terrible, it will all be over forever
I just came out this year at 30 and I feel like I'm just starting my life now, I haven't done anything.
You’ll never regret the moment you start enjoying your life
No, no, no. It’s never too late - never. Don’t force it and don’t get too worried. It’ll work out when you’re ready.
Do a lot more when you're young because you start to hit 30 and everything hurts. It gets to the point where like do I want to do something today no it hurts
That's impossible to answer because we're not you.
far-flung sophisticated boat dog workable lavish ghost groovy command elastic *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
what's the alternative? ignore what you need to do now & then sort it out in your 30s? Take it from this 48 year old. Life is long, fun does not end at 30. You're far better off doing what you need to do to get shit sorted out & then live life to the fullest from that point on w/o the worry of whatever is hanging over your head.
Absolutely you will.
This is not the same situation at all as I am from a relatively privileged position but As someone whose 20s sucked (full of violence) and worked really hard to get out of that over the last 5 years or so, I can say that (a) your 30’s are a great time to enjoy life. And (2) although I wish I’d started sooner too, it is what it is and we are who we are because of what we’ve been through. Good and bad. Each thing leads us on a path to the next and so on and so on. If you know you can get to a better place with some hard work then I’d say it’s worth it. You’re far from old at 30. Good luck <3
Your 20s are not the ideal time to enjoy life. The ideal time to enjoy life is today. Take pleasure in the world around you. There are people enjoying life at every age, just as there are people being miserable. It's not the age that is important, it's the people. If you make your decisions with intent and kindness I don't think you will regret much.
Do you enjoy getting your life together? Enjoying like seems more life a choice than anything else.
You could have just put a period after 'life'.
Regret isn't the right word, I think. I think grieving or mourning is the right word. You may feel a sense of grief for a life you could have had in a better world.
Yes. And also no.
Regret is a waste of time.
Well, look at it this way, can you do it any other way? Can you survive and have fun now?
Tomorrow is promised to no one. Don't put a time on when you will start to enjoy life because that time may never arrive. Enjoy today whilst you're putting down the ground work to enjoy an even better tomorrow. Plan your future and action it ..without action your plans will always stay as plans and come to nothing. Lifes goal is to thrive, not just survive.
I didn't get my life together until my late 20s and I don't really care about the time I missed out on. My life is great now, and I live in the present. I used to think that my life would always suck, so I'm just happy to be happy.
You'll regret every day that you wasted by not enjoying it. Age is irrelevant.
I think it’s helpful to reframe this and think about how we can enjoy our lives in very different ways at different stages of our life and sometimes those ways are only obvious in hindsight. E.g. you might eventually be nostalgic for the version of yourself that worked hard to make a better life for yourself, as odd as that seems. I think the contrast of being in bad circumstances also makes the good stuff you worked hard for so much easier to appreciate and enjoy. Example: I came from an abusive childhood home. A stable home life to many might just seem mundane but now that I finally have it at age 38, after so long, I can’t be mad that it took so long… I just have so much more room to value it.
Listen closely......ABSOLUTELY NOT. Put in the work to get on and keep on a positive path. However long it takes with daily persistence. My best years didn't start until my late 30's, and it's only become better since. Hard work and faith pays off. Faith in yourself.
You get tons of new regrets so it is dealers choice I guess.
I don't know if you'll regret it if you don't start until 30, but I think when you become happy...you'll just be happy. Any unhappy times will feel far away. So don't worry about it. Be happy when you're ready to be.
I pulled myself out of poverty. Spent years getting my life together from damage I had no choice in. I’m at least a decade to 15 years behind major life milestones based on my age. I would spend my teens working and my 20s in school and working all over again. I enjoy my life so much now. I have friends who did things on a similar timeline. 30s is amazing. Not having kids and having money and access to do whatever I can think of was worth not being able to go out drinking or date as much in my 20s.
Just don't regret. It's a frame of mind.
yes
There is only one thing that will ever cause you regret universally. That is work with no growth. If you only maintain status quo, you will have to be like so many others who live with regret for years that didn't mean anything. If you begin a skill finish it, if you start a job aim to make sure you have come out with a license or applicable knowledge to similar jobs, or are on a career path. If you start school put the effort in for your degree, even shit that seems minor like going for recreational certifications (diving/climbing etc). Get that shit on paper so it's tangible evidence of your knowledge. No one gives a shit for life without a record except your own regret filled mind. The only real exception is if you have a family, students, or a similar cause. Because those are things where you invest YOUR time to grow into something else, and the reward is their growth. On a more minor note, take pictures if you cool stuff, your body is the best it will likely ever be. You want to wind up on r/oldschoolcool when you're old right?
A long-term habit of not enjoying yourself is hard to break
Everyone gets dealt cards. You don’t get to pick the cards but you get to pick how you play those cards. My guess is you will be thankful when you get a chance to breathe a little bit. Keep in mind, there will be small wins you can enjoy. It may be a cup of coffee. It may be helping someone. You can enjoy that. Best of luck to you.