Turned 25, Give Me Your Best Advice for the Next 25 Years?

Your body will move to middle age when you're about 31, 32.

There's a lot of things you can only do when you're physically young.

Get them done now, while you can, because it will go away.

Travel. See the world. Meet people where they live. Invest in learning how to be uncomfortable. And never, ever, ever, EVER drop a coin into an elephant’s nostril.

I think my best single bit of advice is: think it through.

Decide why you're doing things. You'll be able to pull off things you never expected, with a some deep thought and a good plan. Plan your career, your finances. If it's your thing, plan what kind of person you'll meet and share a life with. Plan to maintenance your relationships.

Plan for problems, and disasters, because you will have many. Friends will die, plans will fail, money will be lost. A little planning will help you survive those storms.

Take pictures of yourself and what you're doing. I wish I had more.

Congratulations on your life awareness at age 25! Good luck!

If you have not already done this, in addition to maxing out your 401(k), start a Roth IRA and max it out every single year. I regret not doing this.

Compound interest is everything for most regular people to build net worth. Compound debt is the worst.

As the saying goes, there will be friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for a lifetime. Friendships will run their natural course. That being said, do your best to maintain friendships you want to try to keep as you get older.

Don't get stuck in the friend zone. Be bold and ask that person out umambigously.

As many dentists say, floss the teeth that you want to keep. I recommend flossing then Water Pik then brushing with a mechanical toothbrush like an Oral-B.

If you don't know, learn how to cook. There are so many resources out there. While not knowing how to cook might be cute or excusable by a potential partner in your 20s, by your 30s or 40s it is no longer funny and definitely a liability.

Don't sit all day. Even standing desks aren't enough. Do some light calisthenics every hour. Push-ups, wall-sits, squats, knee bends.

Make the time to see friends in-person. We are all hardwired to crave IRL social interaction, even the most introverted of us.

You might want to skim Sahil Bloom's book. While it might not the best at being actionable, it might make you think about the next 25 years in better context.

https://www.the5typesofwealth.com/

Don't give other people advice. They probably don't want it. They don't want you to fix their problems. Shut up and listen instead.

My only two advice:

    while (alive)
    {
        If (You are truly passionate about some hobbies or career paths)
        {
            do_not_marry_and_especially_don't_get_kid();
        }
        else
        {
            focus_on_making_as_much_$$$_as_possible();
        }
    }

Some people in power will tell you they welcome and encourage critical feedback. They won't really, but they're nevertheless better to work for than the opposite.

Every government is bad at it, it's just to varying degrees.

Be willing and able to move country will open opportunities; learn one second language to business level that will enable more opportunities.

The Sam Vimes theory of socioeconomic unfairness is real and important; have a lifestyle such that you build up a savings pile sufficient that you can afford to spend less: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory

Take care of your mental health proactively. Do not let depression run unchecked, or it will end up robbing you of everything you hold dear before you realize it.

I am in my early 20s too so can't provide the depth you're probably looking for but here is what I know so far:

Move to a country/location/environment where you can actually achieve your goals/dreams ASAP. Location is the number 1 determining factor imo. This is step zero, nothing happens without this.

Build a lean, aesthetic physique (assuming you're a guy). Workout and stay healthy.

Get skills ASAP. Stack as many real tangible skills as you can. Skills will pay your bills and will be the foundation of your career.

Never too late to lose your virginity.

Don't discount how hard it can be to make friends in your thirties and beyond.

Set aside a few thousand bucks in an IRA.

You don't pay taxes on that money -- but also, since you're young, you can let it sit there earning interest. It'll double in value roughly every 10 years, so if you start with, say, $8,000, it'll be $128,000 by the time you're 65. (And you can also tap the money for medical emergencies or college expenses.)

Make a habit of spotting things in your life that you can say you are grateful for. A lot of good things in life are taken for granted and you only realize you had them when you lose them. It takes some practice and effort to start noticing these, but when you do, it enhances your enjoyment of the present moment.

Good marriages are built on aligned goals : what kind of family you want, the balance between spending now and saving for the future, how you spend your time . Focus finding a partner who is aligned on where you want to go : rest will follow.

Keep in touch regularly with your friends and acquaintances after you no longer are in the same school or company. When 25, it feels like you will know and remember them forever, and vice-versa.

I'm here to tell you that you won't, unless you make an effort.

(Of course, I remember the guy who was in a group I ate lunch with in grad school who ended up running Google 25 years later; I don't know if he remembers me...)

From 2020 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23225072

Don't save for retirement, you might not live that long.

Get off this site. It's too late for me, but save yourself.

As a man at 25, start to think seriously about settling down with someone if you want a family. Men and women exist on different timelines. While you may think "Oh I'll wait until 30-35 for that stuff", you'll look around at that point and realize you've missed the boat. Of course plenty of people still get married and have kids at that age. But the vast majority of women are either married, engaged, or in long term relationships heading toward marriage by 30, and you won't realize that until it's too late.

Get some property. Something you own as much as possible. Maybe in one of those states eliminating property tax.

Everything else you will lose if the economy turns against you.

Also, a bit ironically don’t trust HN advice so easily. I feel for a lot of advice that was common on this site a decade ago that turned out to be utter bullshit.

Stop drinking. If you can consistently stop after one, you can do that, but zero is way easier than one. Bad hangovers are brain damage. Don’t ever do one again.

The most important relationships in your life are the ones where you’re naturally your best self. Prioritize those. My best relationships are the ones where I’m a good friend to them. You might be thinking of it backwards. (I sometimes have made that mistake). A betrayal of a good friend will haunt you forever. Think carefully about how to be true to those most important to you.

Save for down payment and buy a house. That’s the path to generational wealth.

Spend less than you make.

Create a habit of daily exercise. This becomes increasingly important in later years.

Everyone should work for a big successful company at least once (I used to say FAANG, but obviously with the renames that’s not true and also the world has changed. Start by making your list of the most important companies in the world). Learn as much as possible from the smartest people possible (also keep track of what NOT to do and how not to behave). Don’t stay so long it eats your soul.

A friend of mine once said "the warranty expires at 25."

Your body peaks in your late 20s or early 30s. It will get a hell of a lot harder to lose weight, and undo any bad choices you make now the older you get.

Build a sustainable base of eating habits and exercise and *never* let it drop. You don't have to do anything crazy at all, just be consistent. Oh, and use sunscreen.

Take care of your body. It's easy at 25, but it will get harder, and now is the right time to build the foundation for a long and healthy life. Exercise. Eat well. Get enough sleep. And if you find yourself in a situation where those aren't possible, find another situation.

Learn what makes you happy. Deep collaboration with others, feeling that I'm helping to make a better world, and spending time outdoors are some things that do it for me. Don't prioritize money over happiness.

Value people. Make their lives better. Work to create and maintain relationships with people who matter to you, both in and outside of your working life.

My grandfather said:

Stay away from (1) alcohol, (2) gambling, and (3) loose women.

Extrapolate (1) to all harmful substances (including "mild" recreational drugs like marijuana); (2) to anything with a negative expected value (this could summarize the entire list, but includes lottery, sports betting, speculation on crypto, etc.); and (3) to anyone who hasn't established trust or who has a motive to take advantage of others for a quick personal benefit.

Read Taleb re: ancient, "grandmotherly/grandfatherly" wisdom; and heuristics / rules of thumb.

Read Munger re: invert (think through things backward) and avoiding probable misfortune instead of trying to be "happy". (See my granddad's list above.)

If you're male, the truth is that men in the United States still don't have anything close to equal rights when it comes to marriage, family, and especially children and pregnancy/reproduction. Therefore, I would add: always distrust any casual sexual partners (see Rule 3) and get a very good prenuptial agreement (although avoiding marriage altogether may be the optimal strategy for men nowadays).

Lastly, find and develop tight and trusting professional relationships with a competent attorney, a competent accountant, and a competent financial adviser. Use them frequently and take their advice seriously. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Godspeed.

Listen To the Baz Luhmann song "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)". A lot of it is pretty good advice. I regret not having invested in index funds at that age. I'm very happy I backpacked the earth for 1.5 years as soon as I could afford it. When looking for a job: do the things you enjoy most, aim high and go for it. Do not try to find your calling: try different things and your calling will find you.

Go to the gym every day.

Read books.

Brush your teeth.

Become a better person.

The proper rank for advice:

Best: advice given with awareness of your specific situation from people with relevant experience

Near Top: advice that isn't intended to be advice like personal stories shared on blogs

Middle: solicited advice - people most ready to give advice usually either haven't lived enough or are out of touch in general or with your specific needs

Bottom: unsolicited advice. This is the domain of people who jump at any chance to quote famous people out of context at people who didn't ask and can't use the advice.

Some more fun notions:

There is no magic year of life that bestows unique value on advice. Toddlers can say some really smart stuff, and 80 year olds sometimes stopped learning in their 20s. Developing a refined and well-practiced discernment is as important as sourcing your opinions from diverse perspectives.

Everyone has bias. Class, wealth (which is different from class), politics, identity, ideology, context, proximity to lunch time. The list goes on. The more you're aware of your own passive inputs (bias), the sharper your lens on the world.

Having a balanced view on things is better than an extreme view. However, balance as an ideological stance is easily manipulated by extremists. It's healthy to guard your own personal Overton window by holding on to a few people a little bit further along in either direction so you know when your mind starts changing. Change is good, but make sure it's you making the changes.

Overall: it's hard to divorce major influences and turning points in our lives from their context, and that's why good general advice is so hard to give and equally hard to implement. Take the advice you can and weave it into the growing tapestry of your life. Your path will be fully unique to you.

1) Emigration is really hard when you're older and tied down with local connections, obligations, sick family members, etc. Also, most countries don't have any interest in immigrants over the age of 40 or so, and even when you're a prime candidate, the entire process can take years. If you're potentially interested in living abroad, start exploring and planning now. There are a lot more options when you're young.

2) At some point in the near future, all your friends will suddenly start marrying and having babies. You don't have to do the same, but make sure to cultivate the kinds of friends that will keep you in their lives when that happens. People have a tendency to disappear into their families. Make yourself part of someone else's family.

3) Hold humility and empathy in the highest regard, and don't let anyone take them away from you.

Make a successful career plan for the next 10-15 years. By then you should be financially very well, not now. Women, marriage, jobs, money will come some time until then. But NOW you should plan the career.

Note: for a woman except of the above you should keep some breath, time, effort and preparation to create a family. For a man, it will be woke up for you from one of your girlfriends.

Early 30s is the sweet spot for travel.

You have the budget and growing maturity to experience things a 20 year old backpacker can’t, and the body, freedom, and tolerance for discomfort for experiences that won’t happen if you wait until you’re 40 or have kids.

It’s a waste to only allow week-long sugar hit breaks from work over the next decade to experience it. Decide now when you’ll take six to twelve months to travel without working.

You should be investing some fixed or growing percentage of your income into retirement. Ramit Sethi's book I Will Teach You To Be Rich is a great source for learning the basics of personal finance.

You should be focusing on doing the basics for health including strength and endurance training and eating a diet high in protein and fiber: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/where-should-my-priorit...

Keep a journal, and take lots of photos.

I took photos once digital cameras were available, but I strongly regret not keeping a journal, I could have easily done so.

1. Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself. Try to love yourself in the good way. Try not to love yourself in the bad/destructive ways. The less you are kind to yourself, the more you will try love yourself in the bad/destructive ways. You are going to mess up/fail, you are human. Be kind when you do.

2. Don't go to court in your head about others (especially your partner). Deal with issues in the real world. Really try to not get to in your head about anything. But definitely don't go to court in your head. Tangential: The tally won't always come out in your favor. Figure out how to not resent that. Especially as you get to points like 'the honeymoon hangover', the seven year itch, that 10-15 year place that can feel so indifferent, roommate like. If they routinely f up on doing the dishes, but are good everywhere else, you WON THE F'ing lottery, so don't get hung up on the friggen dishes. Your going to do them, and it's actually ok and not a big deal.

3. If you have to tell yourself you deserve it/it's just a treat/just an escape/whatever, leave 'it' be/behind!

4. Take extra care of your teeth.

5. Skin cancer is real and 40-50 year old you is going to still want to live and have all their body parts (such as a nose/ears) and minimal facial scars.

6. Money isn't everything, but having enough prevents a LOT (majority) of problems/stresses those that don't have it have. If you choose money, you can choose something else later. If you don't choose money you are most likely hit for the rest of the ride and are picking hard mode.

7. If you are going to play the game, play the game. If you aren't, figure something else out because again you are choosing life on hard mode. We are a society of monkeys. Life is way easier if you play the game. Don't chose 'not to play' because of others or because others you know aren't playing, especially if you run in a crowd of people who 'don't play the game'. They unlike you might have fallbacks, or might just not give a shit if they ruin their lives, or if it's a partner just have unrealistic expectations that you can somehow magically live as if 'you played the game' later on (you most likely can't). If you partner doesn't want to play the game in their 20-30, they are most likely going to want to play from 40 on, and if you can't somehow win at that point they are going to blame you. It's way easier to play the game, even if you have to tell yourself you are playing it ironically or some meta shit.

8. There's a reason why everyone says it, kids grow up really really quick. When you are in it, it seems overwhelming and like you have been forever with the stresses, but it goes really really quick. There will be a last time you read them a book goodnight. A last time you tuck them in. A last time you pick them up. A final hug. A final goodbye. You are going to leave them all alone in a fucked up world world in the end, try to do right by them while you can. Plus the memories they give you are going to sustain you through your life so make them good ones (remember that good memories for a kid could be that one time you make weird 1960s jello together, something that costs $1 and is that simple just might be a lifetime memory for them. For me there used to be stuffed croissant place in Capitola. We couldn't really afford them, but my mom knew when to get there to get day old ones half price. I felt like we were royalty when we ate a day old chocolate or ham and cheese croissant, in fact it was way more special than the extravagant meals we later ate when she had money).

9. As I get older and slowly turn invisible I've learned life is way different when you are attractive. Get as fit as you can. Groom yourself well. Wear clothes that fit. Get a haircut picked to flatter your face. Also a flattering haircut > a trendy one (unless you are amazingly attractive. An attractive woman can pull of being bald, but most of us especially men can benefit from a little help). If you are male and are playing the game, a nice watch is worth it. If you have no budget get something used and classic that will last. I have many life changing interactions where having really nice shoes/a nice watch made a difference. It's horrific and shallow and just the way the world works. If you are going to play the game, play the freaking game.

10. Don't lie. You will get trapped telling more and more. It will come back on you. Just don't lie.

11. Find things to look forward to. It can be life events, vacations, a nice meal on Friday, whatever, but you NEED things to look forward to. Even now when I have nothing, I hype to myself shows/books coming out to look forward to.

12. The dead parents club is a thing. If you had a relationship with them you never get over your parents dying.

13. At some point, unless you die young, will be disabled in some way. Appreciate/exploit the health you currently have. Take advantage of it. It will go away. Have compassion for people who aren't so lucky.

14. Ignore the 'I'd rather enjoy life than live forever' bullshit. My dad preached that. And he's still alive. But my mom, whom he influenced? She died way way to early, very very painfully from cancer. Live life, but see point 3. If you justifying then maybe slow down/cut it out/pull back a bit. But do live. I bought a boat when my kids you little. On credit. Because if I waited until it financially made sense, my kids would have already have moved half way across the world. But I KNEW it was insanely stupid and came at a pretty big cost. But the reward was worth it on a much higher level (to me) than 'i'm going to smoke, drink, and eat steaks every day'.

15. Be kind. Be especially kind to those that have a hard go of it.

16. If find yourself buying lottery tickets/getting road rage, you need to figure out what you need to adjust/change in your life.