What I Wish I Knew At Age 22

Here's everything everyone wish they knew at the age of 22. If it's good advice, hit the upvote button. The number next to it indicates the age the author wrote it at. Feel like there's something missing? Add a new message!

Hey 22 year old, Travel. As much as you can. Far away. Work at odd jobs, couch surf, hitch hike, whatever. You will have more responsibilities and less energy later. See the world.

Hey 22 year old, If your boss gives you advise or criticism at work, don't take it personal. Listen to what they have to say and learn from it.

Hey 22 year old, Financing your social life with a credit card is not a smart thing to do. No one will care (or remember) if you only have one or two drinks instead of the five or six that everyone else is having.

Hey 22 year old, Not sure what you want to do when you “grow up”? Just move toward what you are interested in at the moment. What you are interested in right now is what you should do. Don’t worry about 30 years down the road. What do you like right now? Do that.

Hey 22 year old, Give the most you possibly can to your 401k and keep it 100% invested in a total stock market fund or S&P 500 fund and don’t touch it for several decades. The time to start saving and investing is now.

Hey 22 year old, Find the people who make you feel like you can do anything and you'll never be judged for it, the people who will love you unconditionally, and surround yourself with them. Build those relationships. None of the other ones matter.

Hey 22 year old, Learn, grow, live. If you travel, take the time to know people, different cultures. You learn about them and with that knowlegde you grow, you become a better person, more patient and comprehensive. Don't matters the other people say, be you, live.

Hey 22 year old, Invest in yourself and your future. Go to graduate school or build something new. Industry is for people who trade their youth for a paycheck. There's no long term growth for jobs that will be automated: finance, engineers, radiologists, etc.

Hey 22 year old, Sign up for a half marathon, then figure out how to run it. In that order.

Hey 22 year old, As you start to make Real Career Decisions, you're going to get a lot of advice, some asked-for, some not. Listen and stay humble, but also evaluate whether the people giving you that advice are happy with their own careers--especially family.

Hey 22 year old, you only want to do a PhD because you're afraid of leaving education. A PhD is not just like three or four more years of Uni. You will need more self discipline than you're capable of. Just go find a nice steady job instead, and do the PhD later.

Hey 22 year old, It's 100% up to you to go after the things that make you happy. Spend some time thinking about things that make you happy and fulfilled, and then resolve to build a life around them. Following ideas others have for you is no good. This, now, is it.

Hey 22 year old, Your first job. A dollar in your 401k here goes a lot further than a dollar in your 401k 20yrs from now. However, the best investment of all is reinvestment into your skills and future, however that might be.

Hey 22 year old, just breathe.

Hey 22 year old, Read a bunch of books on relationships, you don't know what you're doing.

Hey 22 year old, it's okay to be a bit of a mess. Nobody has their life completely figured out, especially at this age. Some people are just better at hiding it than others.

Hey 22 year old, Welcome to the working world. Create a budget NOW and stick to it. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your bank account.

Hey 22 year old, No need to stay in a relationship that doesn't work for any reason. Plenty of time to find others, and love will follow. Love is easier with people who are good to get along with, successful, and self actualized.

Hey 22 year old, Don’t let guilt be the only reason you stay in contact with abusive family. Lots of people go through periods of estrangement. You deserve to live YOUR definition of happiness.

Hey 22 year old, enjoy today, but think about the future as well. Before you know it the future is here and all your good intentions to save money and chase your dreams will be in vain.

Hey 22 year old, Ask your parents questions about their life; their past, their present, their future goals. Ask lots before you lose the chance to ask anything. They would love for you to ask.

Hey 22 year old, if you're spending all your time working for someone else, you're not building your dreams.