What would be your priorities if you were sent back to your thirties again?
July 31, 2025
I am in my mid thirties and going through a lot of changes. To all men over 40 what would you absolutely start doing if you were sent back to your thirties again?
42 comments
Marry and start a family sooner.
Stay consistent and not let off my gym routine.
Double down on my career and invest earlier
Stop drinking, leave teaching, invest sooner and more. The basics.
Get my diet under control, stop drinking, lean into the education. I changed careers when I was in my mid 30’s…I would have worked harder and gotten into my career earlier.
Sex
Be myself when dating so i could catch that 1 girl out of a 100 that really match me, instead of presenting a dull, generic front to get in the pants of the other 99.
Bitcoin
Put more money into the boring stuff. 20 years later the modest amount i put into boring funds have multiplied many, many times and now provide 40k/ year income, and pretty much every hot stock pick has disappeared . I could have retired by now if I just did the boring things.
I world have prioritise family, friends and travel too. Loved my kids more. Left their mum earlier, although she’s an amazing lady, we were never great for each other.
Work out more and invest more money. I’m generally pretty fit but trying to get back into running after a 15 year hiatus. It’s been pretty rough. I didn’t realize how much sitting at a desk job would affect my back and hips. It’s a lot of work to get those muscles back in shape. I’ve been in a lot of pain but I’ll get there.
Money, I wish I would have prioritized saving more instead of buying that new car or spending on junk. I feel behind where I should be.
I would invest more heavily and focus more on my health. That’s pretty much the 2 big ticket items.
Not overwork no matter how joyful it is.
Leave my job, get a better paid one. Move to another country.
Buy doge coin… Like trillions of dogecoin.
I’d take care of my physical problems before they became chronic problems.
And I’d tell my dad I love him. I miss him sometimes.
A lot…like A LOT…happend in my 30s. But if we are talking about 30, I would leve the bitch, and concentrade on my self.
Prioritize fitness more.
I would take more care of my health. I was 35 when the pandemic hit and I totally embraced the sedentary life for two years and I am still struggling to get back in shape
My oldest son. He deserved more from me when he was young. We have a good relationship. However, I was young when he was born and made a lot of mistakes. He is an awesome person but damn do I wish I did more with him.
Have a long conversation with myself. Force myself to realize the bad choices I was making by not having goals. Stop thinking I’d be dead by 50, and start taking care of my finances, body, and soul.
Be a better Father. I was too career oriented. I came from the ” I have to support my family ” era
Same stuff. Health, family, friends/social life and building wealth. Everything else is noise. Block out the BS and stay focused. If you do your 30s right you can set yourself up for life.
Becomes a baker or photographer
To change job. Teaching is dead end.
The only part of my life which I’d reprioritize is doing less social media/content consumption and more time cooking and in the gym.
I had my first child when I was 31, and if I’d spent 30 building good habits around food and working out, I’d be way healthier today.
More sex !!
I am now in my 70’s and have realised how many opportunities I missed during my 30’s.
For balance, I was single until mid 50’s and never wanted children.
Just a carefree hedonistic lifestyle.
I would golf more and take lessons
Get my diet and exercise routine right. Maybe not quit drinking altogether, but definitely cut way back. Your body will thank you later when you start reading other guys in their 40’s complaining about everything hurting and whatever medical conditions they are starting to develop.
Be a better husband.
At 30, I was making a transition from the public sector to the private sector. This was a good move for me, but I wasn’t focused enough at the time on maximizing my retirement savings. **Don’t make that mistake.**
When COVID hit, I was 35, single, and living in NYC. Less than a year in, I got rid of my apartment, sold all of my stuff, and bought a one way ticket to Puerto Rico, bringing with me only what I could fit in a backpack and a carry-on. Five years and 16 countries later, I can confidently say it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I know what a happy and healthy lifestyle is now, have found a few places in the world I can comfortably afford to settle down one day, and have made some priceless memories while I’m still relatively young and active.
I’ve set a goal of retiring by 50, but right now its looking closer to the 55-60 range depending on where I decide to settle down — Mexico, Colombia, Thailand, or Indonesia. With this goal in mind now, I do wish I’d invested more of my bonuses in the S&P 500 instead of purchasing a couple of airbnbs a few months in advance during COVID. The world was ending so I didn’t mind YOLOing at the time, but at 40 I’m a point in my life where I should be make money really work for me instead of always working for my money.
I had gotten my shit together by my 30’s so pretty much the same. Taking care of my wife and working on having our family. Being the best dad I knew how to be. Making sure I had the right career that would enable me to be home nights and weekends with them. Paying off the house and saving for retirement. Keeping up with friends.
Start a sustainable exercise program. I did exercise, but I was inconsistent. Flexibility, balance, core strength would be my priorities. I’m doing this now, but I would have avoided a couple of annoying injuries if this was a priority sooner.
Save & invest OUTSIDE my 401k. I did a good job putting away for retirement. I did a less good job saving for pre-retirement bigger expenses (e.g. kids, house repairs, cars, etc). I am fortunate to make enough to pay-as-I-go…but having an investment account half the size of my 401k would take a TON of stress off.
Would I go back to my 30th bday again, or would I just wake up with my 30 year old body?
Invest earlier. I really should have invested more, earlier.
I would say career, but I prioritized my family over my career back then. That did cause some hardship, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
spend less, save more.
Family time over career advancement
Buy bitcoin
Guy Clark had a line in a song that went “mistakes are just horses in disguise, ain’t no need to ride ‘em over cause we could not ride ‘em different if we tried.”
I’d like to think if I could do it over I would’ve quit smoking when I turned thirty and put the cost of a pack or two of cigarettes a day in a high interest savings account. I could probably by a nice house in Carmel-by-the Sea when I turn sixty five lol
I would have tried to get healthier sooner, but I also think I had to let myself go in my late 20’s and early 30’s in order to be motivated to get my life in order as I’m nearing 40.
Sex, drugs, and Rock and roll
Concentrate on the mornings and don’t worry about the evenings. You’re not missing anything. Eyes and ears open, head down, build in silence. Aquire property and appreciating assets, not things that make you look cool. Use your gut, and then add logic. Your gut also thinks with your little head… Contribute to your RRSP and take advantage of any employer matching programs. Multiple revenue streams. Your job, a side gig, online gig, rentals, investing. You have to have more than one revenue streams. They add up. Pay cash when you can, very low or zero percent finance when you can’t. (Except mortgages) Make extra payments on mortgages, that’s what the extra revenue is for, not stereos, watches and lavish vacations. Learn about taxes and investing. Invest in yourself as well. Stop caring what other people think or their opinions on how you’re doing things. I’ve never been hated by someone I’d want to trade places with. Don’t trust ANYBODY fully. Always have a back up plan. Don’t get suckered in to having kids if you aren’t 150% dying for it. She may leave, but there are plenty of others. Pre-nups… don’t let half of your hard work and sacrifices go down the toilet because of little brain. Don’t move in with anybody before the 2 year mark. Most deceitful people can hold it together for a year, the really dedicated ones for longer but rarely will they make it 2 years without the true colours showing. Don’t tell ANYONE how much money you have… that silence thing again. You’re doing all this for YOU, not them.
42 comments
Marry and start a family sooner.
Stay consistent and not let off my gym routine.
Double down on my career and invest earlier
Stop drinking, leave teaching, invest sooner and more. The basics.
Get my diet under control, stop drinking, lean into the education. I changed careers when I was in my mid 30’s…I would have worked harder and gotten into my career earlier.
Sex
Be myself when dating so i could catch that 1 girl out of a 100 that really match me, instead of presenting a dull, generic front to get in the pants of the other 99.
Bitcoin
Put more money into the boring stuff. 20 years later the modest amount i put into boring funds have multiplied many, many times and now provide 40k/ year income, and pretty much every hot stock pick has disappeared . I could have retired by now if I just did the boring things.
I world have prioritise family, friends and travel too. Loved my kids more. Left their mum earlier, although she’s an amazing lady, we were never great for each other.
Work out more and invest more money. I’m generally pretty fit but trying to get back into running after a 15 year hiatus. It’s been pretty rough. I didn’t realize how much sitting at a desk job would affect my back and hips. It’s a lot of work to get those muscles back in shape. I’ve been in a lot of pain but I’ll get there.
Money, I wish I would have prioritized saving more instead of buying that new car or spending on junk. I feel behind where I should be.
I would invest more heavily and focus more on my health. That’s pretty much the 2 big ticket items.
Not overwork no matter how joyful it is.
Leave my job, get a better paid one. Move to another country.
Buy doge coin… Like trillions of dogecoin.
I’d take care of my physical problems before they became chronic problems.
And I’d tell my dad I love him. I miss him sometimes.
A lot…like A LOT…happend in my 30s. But if we are talking about 30, I would leve the bitch, and concentrade on my self.
Prioritize fitness more.
I would take more care of my health. I was 35 when the pandemic hit and I totally embraced the sedentary life for two years and I am still struggling to get back in shape
My oldest son. He deserved more from me when he was young. We have a good relationship. However, I was young when he was born and made a lot of mistakes. He is an awesome person but damn do I wish I did more with him.
Have a long conversation with myself. Force myself to realize the bad choices I was making by not having goals. Stop thinking I’d be dead by 50, and start taking care of my finances, body, and soul.
Gym and diet. Never stop either.
[deleted]
My advice! https://youtu.be/FAW2vWLtYcI
Be a better Father. I was too career oriented. I came from the ” I have to support my family ” era
Same stuff. Health, family, friends/social life and building wealth. Everything else is noise. Block out the BS and stay focused. If you do your 30s right you can set yourself up for life.
Becomes a baker or photographer
To change job. Teaching is dead end.
The only part of my life which I’d reprioritize is doing less social media/content consumption and more time cooking and in the gym.
I had my first child when I was 31, and if I’d spent 30 building good habits around food and working out, I’d be way healthier today.
More sex !!
I am now in my 70’s and have realised how many opportunities I missed during my 30’s.
For balance, I was single until mid 50’s and never wanted children.
Just a carefree hedonistic lifestyle.
I would golf more and take lessons
Get my diet and exercise routine right. Maybe not quit drinking altogether, but definitely cut way back. Your body will thank you later when you start reading other guys in their 40’s complaining about everything hurting and whatever medical conditions they are starting to develop.
Be a better husband.
At 30, I was making a transition from the public sector to the private sector. This was a good move for me, but I wasn’t focused enough at the time on maximizing my retirement savings. **Don’t make that mistake.**
When COVID hit, I was 35, single, and living in NYC. Less than a year in, I got rid of my apartment, sold all of my stuff, and bought a one way ticket to Puerto Rico, bringing with me only what I could fit in a backpack and a carry-on. Five years and 16 countries later, I can confidently say it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I know what a happy and healthy lifestyle is now, have found a few places in the world I can comfortably afford to settle down one day, and have made some priceless memories while I’m still relatively young and active.
I’ve set a goal of retiring by 50, but right now its looking closer to the 55-60 range depending on where I decide to settle down — Mexico, Colombia, Thailand, or Indonesia. With this goal in mind now, I do wish I’d invested more of my bonuses in the S&P 500 instead of purchasing a couple of airbnbs a few months in advance during COVID. The world was ending so I didn’t mind YOLOing at the time, but at 40 I’m a point in my life where I should be make money really work for me instead of always working for my money.
I had gotten my shit together by my 30’s so pretty much the same. Taking care of my wife and working on having our family. Being the best dad I knew how to be. Making sure I had the right career that would enable me to be home nights and weekends with them. Paying off the house and saving for retirement. Keeping up with friends.
Start a sustainable exercise program. I did exercise, but I was inconsistent. Flexibility, balance, core strength would be my priorities. I’m doing this now, but I would have avoided a couple of annoying injuries if this was a priority sooner.
Save & invest OUTSIDE my 401k. I did a good job putting away for retirement. I did a less good job saving for pre-retirement bigger expenses (e.g. kids, house repairs, cars, etc). I am fortunate to make enough to pay-as-I-go…but having an investment account half the size of my 401k would take a TON of stress off.
Would I go back to my 30th bday again, or would I just wake up with my 30 year old body?
Invest earlier. I really should have invested more, earlier.
I would say career, but I prioritized my family over my career back then. That did cause some hardship, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
spend less, save more.
Family time over career advancement
Buy bitcoin
Guy Clark had a line in a song that went “mistakes are just horses in disguise, ain’t no need to ride ‘em over cause we could not ride ‘em different if we tried.”
I’d like to think if I could do it over I would’ve quit smoking when I turned thirty and put the cost of a pack or two of cigarettes a day in a high interest savings account. I could probably by a nice house in Carmel-by-the Sea when I turn sixty five lol
I would have tried to get healthier sooner, but I also think I had to let myself go in my late 20’s and early 30’s in order to be motivated to get my life in order as I’m nearing 40.
Sex, drugs, and Rock and roll
Concentrate on the mornings and don’t worry about the evenings. You’re not missing anything. Eyes and ears open, head down, build in silence. Aquire property and appreciating assets, not things that make you look cool. Use your gut, and then add logic. Your gut also thinks with your little head… Contribute to your RRSP and take advantage of any employer matching programs. Multiple revenue streams. Your job, a side gig, online gig, rentals, investing. You have to have more than one revenue streams. They add up. Pay cash when you can, very low or zero percent finance when you can’t. (Except mortgages) Make extra payments on mortgages, that’s what the extra revenue is for, not stereos, watches and lavish vacations. Learn about taxes and investing. Invest in yourself as well. Stop caring what other people think or their opinions on how you’re doing things. I’ve never been hated by someone I’d want to trade places with. Don’t trust ANYBODY fully. Always have a back up plan. Don’t get suckered in to having kids if you aren’t 150% dying for it. She may leave, but there are plenty of others. Pre-nups… don’t let half of your hard work and sacrifices go down the toilet because of little brain. Don’t move in with anybody before the 2 year mark. Most deceitful people can hold it together for a year, the really dedicated ones for longer but rarely will they make it 2 years without the true colours showing. Don’t tell ANYONE how much money you have… that silence thing again. You’re doing all this for YOU, not them.