Sure, everything that we do makes sense to us now but what about in 60 years when we’re wrinkly and complaining about arthritis and dentures? Here are 15 life decisions we’ll probably (most likely) regret once we’re 80 years old:
1. Never understanding the concept of financial literacy
Financial literacy is about understanding how money works. This involves understanding the concepts of earning, investing, and spending. In our early years, most of us will spend too much and neglect the importance of saving. While living in the moment is what life is about, it pays off to be financially smart. You don’t need to go out and spend a ton of money every weekend when you could potentially have just as much fun (or even more) during a Saturday night in.
2. 89.9% of your tattoos
Everyone is all about their thigh tattoos and half-sleeves in their 20s—but what will they look like when we’re 80 and wrinkly?
3. Staying within your safety net
Settling. Not dreaming big enough. Only ever doing what you’re comfortable with. These are all circumstances where we force ourselves to stay within our safety zone. When we only ever do what we’re comfortable with, sure, we remain comfortable, but we never end up bettering ourselves. How can we learn new things if we’re always in the same restrictive place, doing what we already know? How can we grow as a person when we settle for things that are beneath our worth?
4. Working too hard
Society tells us that we have to work hard in order to reap the benefits of life. While that is all good and true, some (if not most) of us will make the mistake of getting too caught up in the work that we do. We may miss outings, birthdays and occasions that create the moments that make life worth living.
5. Not working hard enough
High school and college make for great parties and friendships, but we need to make sure that we never forget about the real reason that we’re in school—to learn. Don’t waste your money and the time that you have not doing what you went there to accomplish.
6. Spending too much time in a bad relationship
You may be staying in the relationship just to say that you’re in one. You may be staying because you’re afraid to be alone. Whatever the case, the fact that you recognize that your relationship is a bad one should be motivation enough to leave it. Your time on earth is a gift—you only get a hundred years or so. So why are you spending your precious time with someone who is clearly holding you back?
7. Not talking care of your body when you were young
It’s no secret that we all think that we are invincible when we are young. But, SPOILER ALERT, we aren’t. In fact, we’re far from untouchable. All the things that we feel like we can evade right now (exercising, eating right, posture, dental hygiene, the list goes on and on) will catch up with us eventually.
8. Never learning another language
You’ll regret this one as soon as you enter the workforce. It’s a known fact that you are more likely to be employed (and paid more) if you speak another language. Damn your six-year-old self for begging your mother not to make you leave your friends and join a French-immersion school.
9. Plastic surgery
This regret has more to do with our perception of beauty than it does the actual plastic surgery. As we get older, we become more comfortable with ourselves and will probably grow to regret so drastic plastic surgery choices we made in our prime. One day, you could be looking through old childhood photos and literally not recognize the person that you see in the mirror now. Your quirks are what make you, you—you shouldn’t want to change your defining characteristics for the world. In the famous words of Justin Bieber, you should go and love yourself.
10. Never saying, “I love you.”
As we get older, we’ll realize that not saying what we’re feeling in the moment is stupid AF. Why let “the one who got away” be the one who got away in the first place?
11. Taking your parents for granted
There is no one on this planet who will love you as unconditionally as your parents do. No matter how annoyingly hard they are on you, they do it because they care. Appreciate the roof, food and comfort they’ve provided you throughout your entire life and take a moment to show them your appreciation.
12. Being too sheltered
Being educated about international news is important. There is life beyond your own occurrences. Remaining sheltered for an entire lifetime will be a regret because you never will have gotten to know how wonderful and beautiful our earth is. Travel. Go to Greece, Paris, Barcelona, and every other place you’ve ever wanted to see.
13. Caring too much about what other people think
In caring about your perception in the eyes of others, you slowly begin to shape yourself into something that you’re not. Before you know it, you’re 30 and depressed because nobody knows the real you—not even you.
14. Not taking your parents’ advice
They said “don’t move out right away, save so that you can buy a house,” but you moved out right away anyway. They said, “I don’t trust that boy, he’s bad news,” and he ended up breaking your heart. Your parents are wise and experienced when it comes to understanding the land of the living. It’s worth considering doing what they say from time to time.
15. Holding grudges
Grudges take up far too much energy. When you’re 80, you won’t even remember why you were mad at that girl who used to be your best friend. At 80, you’ll just be wondering where your former best friend is, and why you two never kept in contact.