Even if you’re taking small steps, it’s better to get started on something even if you feel like you’re behind the curve.
Just get started on whatever it is you want to do and you’ve already got the ball rolling!
And that’s half the battle, friends!
AskReddit users talked about what people can start doing now that will help them out five years down the road.
Let’s take a look.
1. Stretch it out.
“Start doing yoga/stretching now, you might feel stiff as a plank, but a little bit every week or so will increase your range of motion over time.
Don’t think you have to book into a $30 1hr class – there’s a lot of short little practices on YouTube (Yoga with Adrienne is great).
Keep your back strong and healthy, breathe deep, check in with your body. You don’t have to buy into all the woo, it’s just movement.
I started from scratch bout five years ago and I don’t take it very seriously at all, but now I can do the splits and I don’t slouch anymore.”
2. A big one.
“Just do what makes you happy and don’t care what people think.
You’ll find that it takes a lot less then 5 years to see change.”
3. Get moving.
“Exercise.
It’s usually awful when you first start. You have to stick with it and keep it up to make it better. It will get easier and more enjoyable the more consistently you do it.
I h**ed running when I first started. I’ve now done about 15 half marathons and 1 marathon and I love running. I also still have bad runs; I just make sure to try again and not give up.”
4. It’s good for your brain.
“Learn at least one language.
Its very useful to me.”
5. Less stress.
“Reduce stress and focus on the simple things in life that bring happiness.
Trust me.”
6. Credit.
“Building your credit.
Fill up your gas then pay it off. Don’t buy junk with it.
Helps with loans and stuff.
Also when you apply for a place to live.”
7. Understand yourself.
“Understand yourself, your body, your condition, and learn how to take care of yourself as much as you can. Example:
Learn how to cook a healthy yet delicious food
Learn how to cook in an unlikely condition. Eg: in rush, ingredients substitute
Learn food prep
Learn managing groceries from purchasing, storage, to recycle
Learn how to cut your own hair
Learn laundry management
Learn how to take care of your house
Etcetera. In 5 years you’ll thank yourself for learning all of these.
8. Brush ’em!
“Brushing your teeth twice a day.
I’m sitting outside of a walk in clinic now waiting to get antibiotics for an abscess tooth because the pain has become unbearable.
My right eye keeps leaking from the pressure and I’ve taken so much pain medication that my stomach hurts. I can’t stand this pain much longer and I’ve been sitting here for 2 and a half hours.”
9. Figure it out.
“Figuring out what you like:
Jobs/volunteering you enjoy.
Exercise you enjoy.
Healthy food you enjoy.
Meditation/stretching/spiritual practices you enjoy.
People you’re excited be around who don’t judge you.
There’s lots of adults out there doing activities under the guise of happiness who’ve never devoted time to self-discovery.”
10. Make it your priority.
“Prioritize your health.
Start nourishing your body with good foods, incorporate exercise into your lifestyle, eat foods rich in nutrients and packed with health benefits.
Of course, it’s still fine to occasionally have junk food etc but getting a good balance is really important.”
11. A little goes a long way.
“Save a bit of money every month, doesn’t have to be much.
It will surely help in 5 years.”
12. Just do it.
“Stop s**king.
The first few days suck. Drink a bunch of water.
But after about a week, you start feeling so much better.”
13. Look at them!
“Definitely working out!
You start as an out of shape pebble and in 5 years you become someone worth double takes.”
14. Put some away.
“If you have some savings already, putting an emergency fund in a no-fault CD will give you better returns than a savings account. Savings account barely gives anything back, but at least it’s better than nothing.
A no-fault CD is a good place to store money that you will ‘need’ in the future and don’t want to gamble. For example, if you lose your job then you know you’ll have at LEAST the amount you put in there.
Where as stocks, ETFs etc is not as stable. Look at ETFs in general last year march-August, it was a s**t show for the most part but they did rebound. If you would have needed that money in march you’d be taking it out on a loss.
Otherwise, if it’s money that you’re putting away for retirement or very long term than 401K, Roth IRA, or putting it into a good vanguard ETF are good options as well.”
15. Stay flexible.
“Yoga, or other regular exercise to maintain flexibility.
Or by the time you’re 40 you’ll be moving like the Tin Man after rain.”
16. Cut them out.
“Cut out sugary drinks.
Me and the BF have since moving houses (around a month ago) and we have dropped a few pounds each.
Cutting out high sugar drinks will help massively in the future.”
17. Nasty stuff.
“Stop drinking al**hol.
It’s poison.”
18. Good point!
“Develop charisma and socialize.
There is not a single problem that cannot be solved if you have enough friends.”
19. Start now.
“Plan and take your first steps towards your career path.
Keep moving forward. I quit and regret it every. Single. Day.
33 years old. Nothing to show for it. Successful husband, check. Happy, healthy kids, check. Me? Broken shell of an incompetent human being.
Plan. Move forward. Step over your path blockers. Don’t allow life to block your goals.
Don’t turn into me.”
20. Take care of your skin.
“Moisturize!! And wear sunscreen.
The time to start both is before you think you need them.”
21. Important.
“REMOVE ALL THE NEGATIVE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE.
Learn to not care about what other people say.”
22. Different ways to invest.
“Invest: in themselves, their skills, their health, their money, their time.
There are many ways to invest, but few people my age seem to do so.”
23. And…lift!
“Lift weights.
I WISH more females would use the barbell!
The benefits are enormous, from a better body composition to better bone health.
I hope I’ll be lifting into my old age cause I really think it’s a magic pill for it’s anti-aging benefits.”
24. Keep moving.
“For those who are in your late 20s and 30s, don’t stop being active. A big change happens when you are 35 for some people but not for others.
I heard on a podcast last week that from 35-55 you get to choose your age. Some 39 year olds are old as f**k and barely get out of a chair without sounding like a geriatric 70 year old.
Some beach volleyball players in their 40s are better than those in their 20s. Some people are doing triathlons in their 50s.
Don’t stop exercising. If you stop it is so hard to start back up again.”
What do you think people should start doing now that will benefit them in five years?
Let us know in the comments.
Thanks in advance!
