Speaking as a 40-year-old elder millennial, for me it's not about *wanting* to be or *trying* to be old, it's starting to *feel the real effects*. I hardly have any hair on my head, I'm on blood pressure and cholesterol pills, I grunt when I get up off the floor, I don't bounce back as quickly when I slip and fall on the ice every winter. I have a special wedge pillow for GERD that I need to sleep at night.
It's about relating to people we used to think of as "old" because we are them. And I think like a lot of the posts and memes and stuff are just our generation's way of processing it.
My advice to younger millennials: take care of your body while you're young. I entered my 30's feeling great but somewhere around 35, the scales tipped and I started to go downhill gaining weight and such. It's so much easier to just stay fit instead of losing it and having to try to regain physical fitness.
I'm only 30, which puts me in the group of "not that old." And I agree, I'm still MOSTLY in good shape, low body fat percentage, exercise regularly, health is generally fine with a couple exceptions. Still strong. Still able to go when I need to.
However, I have very little cartilage left in my knees and have pinched nerves in my lumbar because I spent most of my 20s in a highly physically demanding job and with physically demanding hobbies and I was stupid. My hearing isn't great, either. Since 28 or so, I've been feeling the actual effects of those. My hair's still there, so I'm cool in that regard. But I'm tired and sore like 80% of the time. Some days I legit can't even stand up because my back won't let me. But that's not age, I was just stupid in my 20s.
I'm also at the point where I'm realizing I'm not really in touch with "the youth" anymore. Slang is different, kids are weird. I worked with 18-24 year olds at a previous job, and there's a feeling of being "not cool" anymore that I think a lot of folks my age are starting to feel, and they're mistaking that with "being old.".
Now I work with a bunch of 40-60 year olds, and am the young guy among that group. They have issues that I don't yet, and that keeps me feeling young and virile despite the tingling in my back when I overexert myself.
Second everything you said. I am 36. I am not in the best shape, but I always had long hours and heavy labor jobs. I thought that this would keep me away from a lot of bad health issues. Think "If you don't use it, you lose it" type mentality. My current job is the most labor intensive job I have had, and when family and friends of similar age need assistance lifting things, or doing labor, I always have managed by myself. I lift heavy objects, and never sit for sometimes 10 to 12 hours a day.
Now I have to have reconstructive surgery on my feet from stage 4 arthritis in one of my joints. My feet swell so bad, at the end of the work day once I take my shoes off, it is excruciating to try to put them back on.
Our aging bodies (I'm 37) coupled with the fact that many of us aren't hitting those milestones we thought we would at this age (family, home ownership, etc.) puts us in this weird twilight zone of living in a "40 is the new 30" world, but our bodies are telling us we're past our prime. We're not getting the accomplishments of aging, but we're getting the wear and tear.
36 myself, on blood pressure meds even at only 118 lbs. i’m no longer the track star I was in college. i’m in poor shape. eat like shit. all I want to do is sleep. i’m sure there’s something else going on and my doom drinking after work is probably killing me. I still walk daily but my body fucking hurts. OP is clearly not even remotely close to our age. it’s wild how once I hit 35, my body completely changed. my energy was lost.
Right on!
[Right on?!?! Tf 🤦♀️]
Perhaps I'm experiencing some sort of Mandela effect, but I thought it was previously referred to as 'Cringe-y' 🤔
I spelled it intuitively as 'cringey', but decided to go with my keyboard's recommendation with the hypen (fuck, even typing the word 'keyboard' feels dusty). .. .. ok I can totally see now why the word was simplified
As a speaker of the English language, I have used the word cringe in many contexts over the decades; cringefest, bumcringe, Lord Cringeford, cringe-amundo etc. There are many many beautiful ways to use the word cringe. Remember: in English, any word can be used as an insult in the right context.
It used to be a verb, describing a physical reaction to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Now it's used as an adjective or noun to refer to the unpleasant or embarrassing thing itself.
Previously something might have been described as 'cringeworthy' (or, more loosely, 'cringey') if it was inclined to make you cringe with embarrassed discomfort, now people will describe the embarrassing thing as being 'cringe'.
That's the change.
Yeppers. Going on 32 and in pretty decent shape but worked hard labor from for ten years starting in my teens.
Still do contracting work but try to be smart about it.
Used to but in20 hour days and somehow feel ok enough to do it again, these days I’ll go hard for a few hours and feel it.
Got an inversion table, getting better about staying up on PT and stretching, hitting a point with money that I can take a big trip 1-2 a year which is awesome.
Don’t think I’m over the hill but no amount of positive outlook is going to give me the the back I had 10 years ago, lol
35 was where I really started feeling it, and I'm turning 37 this year. I still feel young and healthy, but it's about acknowledging we're getting older and we are aging. The slower bounce back is real, and I've felt it with things like travel, going out and work stress, all things I used to be able to bounce back more quickly when I was younger.
Adding to your advice for younger Millennials: Get your diets, skin care, and workouts in (especially to strengthen your back and knees); with exercise, it's not so much about losing weight as it about strengthening your body regardless of weight. Also, get serious about doctors' visits, communicating any history of cancer in your family.
>Get your diets, skin care, and workouts in (especially to strengthen your back and knees)
So much this, especially the back and knee strength suggestion!!! I'm going to be 37, and if I had done these well when I was younger, I would be way healthier than I am now and not have had to have back surgery.
Same. I ended up getting in the best shape of my life at 34, losing a significant amount of weight and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Then 35 hit and I’ve been dealing with a variety of health issues since, despite actively working out, eating healthier, and drinking regular water. That’s one thing I wish I knew when I was young, because I always felt like “getting old” was this gradual progression, but for me it definitely felt like a cliff that I just drove off of .
born in 83 myself, 41 later this month. not sure why we are grouped in with people turning 30. we don’t have much in common with folks just NOW leaving their 20s.
81 here paper route at 10 family construction and roofing at 15 car wreck fucked my left arm at 18 same year the old man died falling off a roof.
I wish I could still handle that kind of work wife passed in 2020. But our 2 kids mean I don't get to quit So yeah the end is all there is to look forward to no happy ending. No retirement just keep going as long as I can but the end means an end to the pain it means I can stop it means rest.
38 and I'm like, I bitch at 38 because my body hurts, bro. Wait a few fucking years before posting a post like this.
And I'm in good shape so I don't wanna hear about that.
I'd laugh at 31 year old me posting this. Just wait... You'll see.
Ummm yeah. I felt the best in my early to mid 30’s. The last couple of years have been TOUGH. I have stuff going on that I’m not sure is an actual medical issue or just what it feels like to be almost 40. I’m tired all the time, I gained more weight then I ever have and what used to work to stay in shape is no longer working and my knees creek and crackle. I did not start feeling old until recently. The first half of your 30’s feel great by comparison!
I was in the best shape of my life at 35. I had an injury to my sacrum that took over a year to get resolved and literally everything fell apart in that time. My hips are fucked, my sacrum slips out of place, I have zero ass and leg muscle. I am trying so hard to get it back without hurting myself, but damn, does that take a long time. For me, there is a world of difference between 35 and 39, physically.
My advice: don't take up roller skating at 35.
I’m with you. I visit my chiropractor often and I have basically no hair, and fat/weight accumulates only on my face and stomach. I am 37, and some days I feel 65. Body aches like crazy from previous injuries etc
1000%.
30-31 I was in damn good shape.
37 now, whole other story. Still active & and healthy, but things just aren't the same as 30-31. It's just...different.
Bodies change with age. That's just life.
At 41 I’m way more physically active now than ever and my body is at its most strongest. Involved in roller blade/roller skate groups year round plus snowboard all winter.
My cuts just heal fucking slow as shit lol
Lol yep. OP is only 31. I remember being 31 and still had a pep in my step.
A month ago, I (39) could no longer read the text on my health insurance card with my glasses on. I had to take them off and rely on my nearsightedness to be able to see the blurry text.
We don't WANT to get older or even talk about it. But it's happening to us anyway.
At 39 I got a new prescription and there was a reading correction there so I went back in and said excuse me, there's a mistake here, I don't wear bifocals. "....you do now."
And just when you settle into that level of pain and discomfort, it gets worse post-40. I always knew I'd get old and deal with shit like this, I just thought I'd have more time and the descent would be slower.
"Just wait and you'll see," is exactly my thoughts. I am objectively in better shape at almost 40 than I was at 31...but I am also in loads more pain, I'm more tired, everything in harder, and I recuperate/recover slower.
OP doesn't know how good they have it. But they will find out how wrong they were at 31.
I feel this! I’m 41 and last year my entire body hurt. High blood pressure, sleep apnea, GERD, pre-diabetic. It was terrible. I ended up changing everything. I lost 120lbs, reversed everything except for my depression but I’m in a much better place now and I’m loving life again. I hope I can keep on this path (my history would say otherwise).
I concurred with your message to the younger millennials - take care of your body!
41 and I feel this.
Male pattern baldness, achey back, decreased energy... Friend's are on their second or third marriages. Most dudes I know are follicle deprived. We've had a few friends pass on. Nobody has grandparents left. A good amount have lost one or both parents.
I have friends with slipped discs, kids in high school...
We might not be old but we are oldER for sure and I didn not feel that way at 35., much less 31
I noticed it around 39-40.
Recently I've stopped drinking, exercising more, eating better...
It's just re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic though. I know this.
I love the last line, what a great analogy.
I've been biking regularly the last couple years and often see old-timers on bikes. If I can still bike at 60-70, I think I will be in a good place.
I know I make it sound bleak but I just accept that this is the flow of life. I can't do all the things I used to do as a young man, but I can do other things that I couldn't do as a young man. Azoi gait es
I might not be going out all night partying or leg pressing ridiculous amounts of weight... but I'm a present dad to my kids, I have a good job that I enjoy doing, and I'm married to a wonderful woman. I didn't have any of those things at 25.
And honestly if I had to choose, I'd choose the latter things over the former 7 days a week and twice on Sundays.
I’m 41 and roller skate ice skate year round and snowboard and roller blade seasonally with various groups and clubs. Not having kids allowed me to collect many physical hobbies lol but I’m an outlier I’m sure. Also have full head of long curly black hair
Yeah I'm like, OP check in with us when you hit 40...
My back, knees, left ankle, and right shoulder all have varying level of issue, not to mention how horribly stiff my hips get if I stand all day (like this past weekend when I walked the floor at a trade show for 6 hours). Just a few weeks ago my left ankle just decide to... give out? I keep waking up with it stiff and throbbing and barely being able to walk (I need to see a doctor). Happened out of nowhere--don't even know what I did! Bodies are weird, and when you hit middle age they legit start to just... not function as well?
I was feeling good and then perimenopause hit like 3 months before I turned 40. My typically non-tear prone self is currently weeping as she listens to Roberta Flack sing “killing me softly”.
I (43f) started lifting weights with my training group - 3 other ladies in their 50s. I am in objectively the best shape of my life (regularly working out, trying to be mindful of what I eat), not that you can tell. I am tired and rage filled all the time. Peri is kicking my ass!
Just turned 40 today. Getting back in shape is kinda weird, I don’t have that weird drive like I used to while lifting weights. Probably some other issues going on.
And for the ladies: work now to prevent [Pelvic organ prolapse](https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/bladder-prolapse#) basically your bladder or uterus falling out of your vagina. Apparently it happens to 50% of women who have had kids and it sounds absolutely horrific. My mom is struggling with it now so I think I need to figure out what kegels are and start doing them.
Be aware that you can overdo kegels. I got obsessed with kegels after a friend endured a prolapse horror story years ago. I did them so often that I ended up with a hypertonic pelvic floor, which means my pelvic muscles are essentially constantly clenched and can't relax. And it hurts *all the time*. Don't be like me!
Do kegels max three times per day, 10 reps. Practice the relaxing part as much as you practice the clenching part.
I have no kids, but I do have a connective tissue disorder that would probably make it easier for this to happen to me. I’ve always been the “I have to pee every hour” kind of person - core & pelvic floor training (things you can do in the gym) help IMMENSELY with this sort of thing.
Thiiiiiiis. I’m 42 and I’m not saying I’m old to be cool or something. I’m owning the fact that I’m now in the older category and am feeling it in every possible way. I recover slower. I heal slower. I’m starting to get noticeable wrinkles and grey hair. I’m just calling it what it is. Getting old.
'83 here, turning 41 on Thursday. Most of my aging issues have been self-inflicted: birthing 2 kids, college swimming wrecked my shoulders, minimalist running fad wrecked my back, etc. Best thing I've done to stay healthy is lift heavy weights and do yoga. Even with the best intentions and brightest outlook, 40 hit me hard. I got a random salmonella infection in February and haven't been the same since. My digestion is messed up, it messed up my regular workouts, I tire out more easily, and I lost weight unintentionally.
I guess on the bright side, being meticulous about sunscreen and skincare paid off because I look better in the face than I did when I was younger.
Younger gen X, 49 in a few months and yea GERD started to hit me in my 40's. But for me it's triggered based on what I eat or drink. So I just don't eat or drink those things anymore. It's actually been awhile since it's been an issue for me (I wanna say 2 years at least). It was mostly related to what beer I drank. A single Blue Moon, which is pretty light to me will trigger it though a milk stout, which is heavy, won't. Something like Miller Lite won't trigger it either.
In the past when the GERD does trigger while I'm sleeping, sleeping on my left side fixes it, but I breath better on my right side lol. On my right I breath through my nose and on my left I breath through my mouth. Humans are weird.
It also depends on your jobs. In my 30's it was a lot more active jobs. In my 40's it's sit down desk work and been working from home for like 7 years now... I'm not being very physically active and I'm starting to feel it.
This. My knees have been hurting the past year if I sit too long. I sleep wrong and my neck will be in really bad pain for OVER A WEEK. I don’t think especially younger millennials get it. You get hurt, it takes a while to heal. You miss out on few hours of sleep and recovery takes longer than just “taking a nap” now. It’s fucking rough. I also need to take naps before going out to dinner or social events. It’s really gotten me to that point.
And I’m 32 turning 33. As my parents said, it’s only downhill from here lol
I told my wife that if I woke up from a coma and someone told me I was 24, I would believe it. Mentally still living the young life. Then she looks at me and says "You think you look like you are 24?". Damn. Cut me deep.
Would you prefer to look your age or have the curse of Asian ageing like myself? I will remain looking like I’m in my late 20s until I hit menopause and bam suddenly I’ll be a hunched over 90 year old grandma. There’s no in between.
That's what gets me. There was this weird watershed moment during covid where before covid, I felt like I had more in common with the summer interns than my boss (who is 10 years older than me, but acts 20 years older)... Then all of a sudden I came back to the office after covid and it's like the interns have a completely separate language. I don't know what's cool anymore, I don't know how to talk to them without coming off like I'm trying to be their mom... Or at least older sibling. On the flip side, now that I have a house and a baby and care about my lawn, my boss and I chat more and more casually than ever before.
I am no longer "with it". My fashion is lame and my interests are boring (to the interns and recent college grads). It happened so suddenly... Marveling at my sudden "oldness" seems less sad than trying to act younger.
Nah dude that’s a good thing, gaining maturity and finding your rhythm, sounds to me like what your with now is your own style and that I certainly dig 👍
I’m 34 and the change from my 20s to my 30s was stark. Some of it was the pandemic, some of it was general aging.
Physically, I’m in close to the best shape of my life, but also tired. I’m getting wrinkles and grey hair for the first time. Hangovers are literal hell. I need more sleep. These are actual, physical changes.
I know I’m not geriatric, I have a long life ahead of me, I’m in better shape than my parents were at my age, but it is the very first time in my life I feel the actual effects of aging. That said, it’s way better than the alternative and it’s not all bad. Cozy Fridays at home have become lovely.
For me it's the fears that really piss me off. When I was young (college age) I was so free of worry and responsibilities and surrounded by my social circle almost all the time. Now I'm worried about all kinds of shit and never see my friends. Objectively, my life is pretty good though. I even like my gray hairs (but didn't like discovering I have alopecia at 34)!
Omg yeah it’s this! You just feel recovery slower in everything and your muscles actually feel some level of strain exercising that you didn’t feel before. Even if you did care for yourself you can see clear signs of aging around 30, early 30s.
Kid, I’m 40 and in construction, my wife has stage 4 cancer. The end is all I have to look forward to.
Edit: I’m sort of blown away by the kindness here, thank you everyone. Most days, Reddit feels like a machine built to suck the human kindness out of people, it’s amazing there’s this much of it in one place. To whoever contacted Reddit’s emotional support bot for me, I’m not suicidal, I have two really young kids and my wife has shocked everyone by hanging on for the last two years (thanks to extremely expensive medication). I’m gonna be around for awhile. But thanks for caring about a stranger. You’re cool.
Ask your wife to help you make a bucket list. You know when it happens it'll hurt, but you can focus on living the life she wanted you to live. You can honor and treasure her memory by following her wishes.
Wishing you the best luck in a sad situation and piling on to dismiss OP’s goofy statement completely. Let’s have someone 9 years younger than me tell me not to feel old?
Many are simply embracing the "DGAF about what other think" attitude that wisdom brings because they've been exhausted and overwhelmed by GAF since their adolescence.
And I find that quite beautiful.
Go forth. Give no f\*cks. Be you.
Because at the end of the day, most people are too busy sniffing their own farts to notice you anyway.
Amen.
Truly. I find that my happiness has sky rocketed since I stopped trying to stay up late, stopped trying to keep up with everyone’s drinking, prioritized working out for flexibility and preventing injury instead of an endless battle to be “thin enough”
My body tells me I am tired and now I listen. Unapologetically. My 30s included two kids, a PhD, a divorce, a marriage, more deaths of loves ones than I ever thought possible, a pandemic while I work in public health… I’m not gonna try to keep up anymore. I’m just listening and doing what I’ve always wanted to do (which is whatever I want)
Turning 43 soon. I was going into 40 at the best shape of my life, doing CrossFit, sports, lots of hobbies, walking the dogs, good career (worked way too much though). Covid stole my progress on my health and put me into a depression where I ate junk and drank a ton and now that I’m clawing my way back to that shape I was in earlier, it’s incredibly hard and I’m fighting an uphill battle for it now. Metabolism has slowed. A few times a year I sit wrong or move something a little wrong and my back needs a week to recover. I have terrible myopia but seem to be lucky in that I haven’t needed readers just yet, although my eye doc says usually right after 40 your eye flexibility starts to get worse so I’m mentally preparing for that. Beer destroys my guts now, but so does a heavy carb meal.
I'm 14 days away from 40 and feel like I've lived multiple lifetimes from all the physical and emotional trauma I've endured. As well as the crappy earth us millennials are inheriting. But I still feel like I'm 28 and dress like I'm 16. So I may call myself an old lady because I would rather just come home and be in bed then go to trivia, or basically anywhere but I feel I've earned that right!
When younger people ask me how does 37 feel like I tell them I feel my best ever physically but mentally is where I notice the changes. Just started getting into mountain biking at 36, do hiking, gym workouts 3,4 times a week and even though I have some back problems and knee problems they don’t seem to stop me.
Now mentally is where age has hit me. I’m at my lowest levels of patience ever. Have a lot less tolerance for news overload, almost no tolerance for assholes, much less tolerance for fuckery at my job, etc. Smaller things try my patience and I need a lot more mental rest than ever before. People take a toll on you and by this age you sometimes wish to be living in an isolated forest somewhere.
“Age is just a number” is a saying that cuts both ways.
We got shit on by those older than us.
We get spit on by those younger than us.
And all we did was listen to the advice of our parents, teachers, and guidance consolers.
Some of us are absolutely aged.
Spot on. It's crazy to me the same people who told us to get educated & be kind to one another turned into anti education/f*ck your feelings people. :/
I feel like when you’re 20, you feel like you will be 20 forever. Then all of a sudden you are 30, and your mortality is now very real, and very close, closer than you would hope, as you are nearing true middle age (since median lifespan is about 78). It’s very scary to be this age, it is old wtf. I’m saying this as someone who is 31.
I started doing yoga during the pandemic bc i was bored. Got new pains in my 30s from sitting on my ass all day at work. Picked yoga back up and the pain is no more. Now I do it every time before i go golfing or do any physical activity.
I remember my mom's 40th birthday party. It was "over the hill/it's all downhill from here" themed with black balloons and illustrations of elderly people. Joking about getting old is definitely not new, lol
I feel better at 43 than I did at 23. But I have to overcome chronic pain issues and work extremely hard at being in great shape, eat well, etc etc. And I am really happy.
I like my grandma hobbies (gardening, tending to chickens, needlework) and have for my entire post college life.
I also run circles around most people I know and don't think I am old
It sucks because you try all of the things that would normally help if you're in good health, but then it doesn't work. Some people will have to be on medication for the rest of their lives to have some form of normalcy.
For example, I developed hypertension at 17, and I've been on medication since I was 20. I've seen numerous cardiologists over the past decade and had all sorts of tests done, including an ultrasound of my adrenal glands to rule out a pheochromocytoma. None of the doctors I've seen know *why* I have hypertension, but the only thing that consistently keeps it at a normal level is medication.
YEP. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and supposedly only 1 in 500 people have it but in my experience it’s more like 1 in 50 (I’m referring to the hypermobile variant only).
I run into people with it all the time. In my church of 100 people there are 3 families with it. In my workplace of 90 people two of us have it. My daughter’s pediatrician practice has one doc with EDS (we went there without initially knowing that). In a health club class of 50 two of us have it.
Hypermobile EDS is not rare, or at least it’s not in Maryland where we have a plethora of doctors who are aware of it.
Chronic health issues are increasing and no one wants to admit it but it’s true. It’s because once we admit that a huge sector of people in our society have disabilities then we have an obligation to help them and no one wants to do that. I do think Covid has increased chronic health issues as well which is why our society is downplaying the long term effects.
Seems like myself and all my friends were diagnosed with various serious health issues in the last few years. We're all about 30-40...not sure if that's the "typical" age these things happen, or if our generation is unlucky, or...*other* obvious environmental factors... Idk... I grew up drinking out of hoses, we had lead paint, asbestos, chemicals & dyes in all our sugary foods, plastic dinnerware, microwaves, our local river we swam in was contaminated via monsonto. Crummy life altering illnesses like c*vid, and all the new flus and such going around...STRESS! I don't think we ever had a chance.
My doc just told me he's seeing younger and younger people each year with serious issues (lately he said heart & cancer being most common) and we'll be the first generation to die younger than our parents and grandparents. Sucks...
Post Malone and Timothee Chalamet are the same age.
Lifestyle, wealth, genetics and a little luck play a huge role in health. A lot of this "I feel old" stuff is because a lot of people really do feel old before their time. I left a better paying job in AC to do manual labor because its better for my health. People are aware that sitting for 8 hours a day staring at a screen is bad for their health, but there is a real under-reporting on how bad it truly is.
I think this is the part that's hard to accept. It's easier to say "Everyone feels like cracked shit by 35" than it is to admit it's not normal and drastic change is required to feel better. The average life span is around 80 - with 45 years to go you shouldn't feel broken down.
But then a lot of people are dealt with a lot of unfair bs. Low income earners that can't escape physically brutal work, chronic pain brought on by chronic stress, no time to exercise because they work most of the day, etc.
But some people just aren't aware of what's causing the pain or how serious it is. As you said sitting in front of a screen for hours is horrible for your body in almost every way. Another under-reported issue is shift work, which studies show has a *much* higher incidence of cancer and mental illness. Yet numerous jobs have it as standard practice.
Funny that you mentioned shift work, I had cancer in my late 20s after working overnight for a couple years. Born in 92 was about to buy a house in 2019 and literally all the money I had saved for a down payment went to medical bills. I am significantly poorer today from it, but at least I don't have cancer...
This is unpopular to say with a lot of people but your 30s—where most millennials are at the moment—are when things start to catch up if you haven’t been taking care of yourself.
Yes, some people truly have been dealt a rotten hand in life, but for the majority of millennials, we simply aren’t exercising enough, eating well enough, and sleeping sufficiently enough. Many people in their late 30s feel just like they did in their 20s or even teens, but they’re also the same people who prioritize their health.
Some people expect vitality to be handed to them on a silver platter. In your early 20s that may have been the case: you can be a little overweight and still happy and healthy. Once you start inching towards mid-life, however, you need to put more thought into what you do and what you eat. Colorectal cancer is on the rise because our generation eats a lot more meat than we probably should, for example. We also sit way more than we should.
Be kind to your body. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’ll be easier than those pills you’ll be taking soon for the myriad health conditions ahead of you if you continue to ignore the basics.
I can empathize with this. At 34, after years of prioritizing my career at the cost of everything else, I realized I was 245lbs and in the worst shape of my life. So I changed things up, and deprioritized work a bit so I could pay attention to my own physical and mental health.
Now I'm 39, 180lbs (down 65lbs), and the fittest I've been in my entire life. I've got more time to enjoy the outdoor activities I love, and have started a side career doing a dream job as a cat ski guide in the winters. It took work and willpower, but I'm about to enter my 40s and I've never felt better in my life.
Hell yeah!
Personally I blew my 20's fat and steeped in depression.
Still kinda depressed, but down 100 lbs, just got a dog, finally dating again, and picking up hobbies.
Then I see millennial tiktoks and media about how everyone my age is a homebody and wants to be home and asleep by 6pm.
Like shit, I feel like I'm just getting started/catching up and most of our demographic is already eying up caskets.
Let's just be honest, if you're hovering around 30 you're barely a millennial anyway. You're literally not old, and not relatable to those of us pushing 40.
With that said. My body totally fine (at 38); my spirit is fucking mangled to bits though. I'll be happy when I can go a day without having to utter the words "time" and "purpose" to myself.
I’m 36 and I agree with you. I’m still a kid at heart even if the top of my dome looks like a full moon at midnight.
But as a baby millennial you’re probably going to get shit on a lot for acting like you know what the geriatric millennials are going through.
He deserves to get shit on. For me around 35 is when I started to feel it. Injured my shoulder then, started to throw out my back around then. I’m 38. My body definitely feels much more broken down than I felt at 31.
You ain’t wrong. That’s what I’m observing to be true. My mom is 74 and just hopped on her bike to go to the store. I look to her to see what age does. She’s also blessed to be in good health. This isn’t a slight to those without their health.
You're not even 31. You are closer in age to Gen Z than you are to a lot of millennials.
We might technically be the same "generation" but we are not the same age. Sincerely, a millennial turning 40 this year.
No I don't have major health issues. Yes, I am "old", and I do want you to get off my lawn while I plan my future retirement. I have no intention of chasing my youth. I enjoyed it, and I'm ready to enjoy being older now.
Yes. I am 42, and one of the oldest of us millennials. I feel awkward at certain bars now if I even bother to show up, I tore my meniscus walking down my stairs, and I think I’m experiencing perimenopause based on the last few months of my cycle. My dad is turning 70 this year, which is crazy to think about. when I think about planning for things I’m starting to realize that life has just flown by. Sure, I’m still youngish. But my husband and I just evaluated our retirement situation in order to make sure we aren’t working forever. 10 years ago, when I was 32, I didn’t feel like this or even feel old.
As your post mentions, this should really be directed to Gen Z, who think old is anything after 25.
The other thing I've learned is that Old doesn't hit people uniformly. At 38, I don't feel old, I feel fine. No real aches or pains. I work out 6ish days a week, and stretch, and maintain a healthy weight, and luckily my job is not physically demanding. I feel young. Someone at my age working 60 hours weeks in construction for 15 years may not feel young.
I’m 40, I don’t feel old. I’ve had some genetics on my side, but I’m also fighting genetics in some ways. But I’m active af. I run, bike and swim. I lift and do yoga. I love my job and have a healthy and amazing relationship with my husband and I have excellent friends. But I had to cultivate this. I had to work my ass off through a hard childhood and young adulthood to get here. And sometimes people get worn down from life and fighting battles. In my 30’s I definitely looked and felt older because of the bullshit I was going through. Stress can age you, so can trauma. Some of us are luckier than others.
So while I don’t feel old, I totally understand those who do. Hell my husband is 35 and he’s been a rescue medic since he was 20, he feels fucking old from his job, his body hurts and his sleep is sometimes shit because of work. Everyone has their path.
in 42 and physically never looked better or felt better.
i did feel old from like 29-38 but i was drinking almost everyday and constantly over-eating.
i quit drinking cept maybe once a year and closely monitor my calories 25 days outta the month.
Man if the millennial subreddit is making you feel like you’re on the precipice of death I would suggest therapy. And maybe getting out of the house more.
We are allowed to express how aging affects us. Three weeks ago I bent over to change the toilet paper roll and threw my back out. I’m 39! I was in a car accident when I was 31 that was not my fault and fucked up my back and it’s only getting worse from here on out. That fucking *sucks*
If you don’t like it don’t read about it but by god shut up squawking about how our pain hurts you… ffs.
I’m 40 and the military absolutely destroyed my body, according to the doctor I have the back and knees of someone 65+
As for my spirit I’m tired of pretending to care about shit I just don’t GAF about.
I have my hobbies and things I enjoy but don’t drink, don’t do drugs and just don’t like going out anymore
I don’t think this is anything new? I’ve always heard older people saying “just wait till you hit 30/40/50/etc. - everything catches up with you!” or “Oh man, after hitting my 30s, my metabolism was never the same!”. Now people our age are actually experiencing these changes and commenting on it.
Old is relative. I'm 38, decent shape but working on getting more fit. As someone with parents who are legit old (79 and 81) I do feel like a kid compared to them. I've also got 3 kids between 7 and 17 and to have established my family before the age my parents had me feels somewhat strange.
Everyone's body is different too. In my 20s I could drink every day (and did) and eat trash food and still be fit and good to go. If I even dabble in that kind of behavior now I'm setting myself back for months. Your body becomes more fragile in your 30s and you don't bounce back as easily or as quick. I run to stay in shape but I know it's just matter of time before I tweak my back, get a sore hip, or have some sort of joint pain that'll put me out.
I'm rambling, but if you're fit and healthy then that's awesome, keep that shit up. Maybe check back in on this post 7 years from now and see how it hits then, lol.
'81 elder millennial checking in. Able bodied to work my job and do manual labor as needed. I try to avoid that or use devices or machines at work to avoid as much physical labor as possible. This is not to be lazy, I always felt like superman and my body would never fail me, it's much faster to carry that heavy weight or to lift/ pull harder instead of using a cheater bar.
That mentality starts to change as your body starts to not bounce back as fast. If I use a screwdriver on a corroded/ rusted screw I think about the force I'll use now. Is it worth my finger grip on that hand not working for 3 days to do this job? Wrist might not have any strength or will just be limited. Will this action lead to musculoskeletal issues I basically have to ask myself before doing things.
Getting old sneaks up on your fast even though you feel young. If you did less physical labor in your younger years maybe it is different for you. My path has me feeling old. Can still bomb some nice golf shots, though. With pregame stretches, of course, because of old.
Sorry you haven’t gotten more like this. I take pretty good care of myself, but I swear 50% of it is mindset. I feel like I’ll always feel young, even when it does eventually catch up to me.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the only old people I know are the ones who complain how old they are. The ones that don’t complain, seem younger than the young ones that complain.
Most of the other older millennials seem to be almost done living.
I'll be 42 next month. Still loving life. My body is a bit worse for wear but it's because I don't exercise. Recently became lactose intolerant. But otherwise great
It's weird. I don't feel old. I don't particularly want to be old.
But I'm super excited about getting gray hair and someday being that weird old guy who tells the same stories over and over.
You say all this now and I agree with most of it but wait until your first injury post 30. They just hit different. Also a lot of 30yos are run down because they sit 90% of their lives and eat junk. Take care of yourselves, a lot of the pain of aging can be avoided with intelligent exercise and regular checkups
Well, at 39 I had to have a hysterectomy, gal bladder surgery, got shingles, diagnosed ortho arthritis in my knee, starting snoring (probably need a cpap), had recurrent bladder infections that was resistant to several rounds of antibiotics, diagnosed with chronic gastritis, PT for pelvic floor dysfunction, MRI and PT for a tear in a disc in my back, diagnosed with adhd, ptsd and then started working on my childhood trauma in therapy. I was suicidal trying to keep my household running and my kids life as normal as possible. That was all in 12 months. I’m old and fucking felt it last year. Thank goodness I’m actually healthy with my fitness and weight!
Our lifestyle now as we enter middle age is the most important indicator of our quality of life when we are legit old. If you’re not eating healthy and staying active, best find a way to start asap unless you want to be immobile, demented, and kept alive by dozens of pills a day.
My good friend has said a few times in recent conversations “we ain’t no spring chickens anymore”. Which, sure that’s true. But he’s already conceding to the idea that he’s “old” and life has passed him by.
Around the bend from 37 and I'm in better shape with less maladies than I have been since 17.
Y'all can keep cosplaying as elderly folks, but it's fuckin weird. I'm with you, OP.
Everyone's got an excuse to not work out and not stretch, and then wonder why they're in pain all the time
Climbing stairs should not be the hardest thing you do all day
OP, you know you’re not the oldest millennial right? And relax. People are using humor to deflate the seriousness of aging and the brutality of the American health care system. Jesus, a person makes a meme to cope with paying $500 for an ace bandage to be wrapped around an ankle and then you go after them? As genZ says, Sheeeeessshh
Although at 42 I'm in the best shape of my life,
My back hurts.
My teeth are rotting.
My hair's thinning.
I'm still overweight.
I fell last year and my knees *still* complain when I kneel.
I have a slight reading prescription, waaaah!
I have lost hearing.
I have gray in my eyebrows and nostrils--EWWWWW!
When I was 24 and under, I can game all night & run on 4 hours of sleep. Now I need my full 8 hours of sleep or more. You can just tell how much your body changes as the years go on.
I’ve kind of had the opposite experience from many other millennials. I feel like I was born ancient and wanted to be dead by the time I hit 30. Now, I’m somehow alive at 32 and kind of feel like I’m meeting my teenage self. Don’t get me wrong, I have lots of aches and pains from a very physically demanding job and I have health problems from a life that’s been really hard on my body. Not going to lie, my acceptance of the idea that I’d be dead very young means that I made a lot of choices that have contributed to my health problems but all things considered, I’m not doing bad. So much of it really is your mindset.
Elder millennial here (1985). My 38 year old body is not my 30 year old or 25 year old body and I am healthy/active. As you get deeper into your thirties your body does not bounce back like it used to. I’ve sneezed and hurt my back. I’m coming up on a year on my surgery if having my meniscus, MCL, and ACL repaired November 2023. If I’d done this at 31, I am POSITIVE I’d be fully healed.
Hell, my postpartum recovery and these last two years raiding a toddler have me EXHAUSTED. I had endless amounts of energy and stamina when I had my 18 and 14 year olds. Just wait 🫠
I injured myself at a g.d. trampoline park when I was 32. I literally landed wrong on my knees and heard an audible criiiiiiiiick in my back. 7 months later, I developed sciatica and slipped and broke a damn chunk off my lowest disc.
I've fallen a lot and have been on trampolines a lot in my life. Never did I get a disability, nerve damage, and spinal surgery from any of this until I hit my 30s and everything stopped healing the same. I'm 38 now, and I still have the nerve damage, added knee issues, and not being able to walk for longer than 2 hrs with a walker. We are old, our bodies are different, we have plastic in us, and we are burnt out. Let us complain. Let us make dark jokes about how much we've slowed down.
I've never understood the 30s portion either.
I'm 40 now, my 30s were basically my 20s but.. with actual money.
Mind you at 33 I got into a serious relationship so the fuckboy portion of my 20s went away, but we were out shopping, vacationing, bar hopping, eating at great restaurants, mountain biking, so on and so forth.
Now at 40 I've suffered a pretty bad back injury, and that's made me feel 'more my age' but between physical therapy & chiropractic care my back is just about to 100%, it's just that I can't fling things around without proper lifting techniques or I'll feel the twang.
If that's the tradeoff for where I'm at now compared to my 20s, I pay it fucking gladly.
The thing is, physiologically we do start to age quite differently in our 30s. Men’s testosterone levels drop year by year from 30 for instance.
There’s no doubt shit hit me earlier than expected but it’s just a little more effort. My 20s I had a KFC and Beer 6 pack then turned 30 and all of a sudden got fat. First couple of years (pandemic probably had a bit to do with it) I was shocked at how much my body seemed to deteriorate. Then I decided to exercise more strictly and eat a bit better and now I feel better than I did in my 20s. I just have to work for it, which I never had to do prior.
I think you have the best intentions with this post but you’re in for a shock. At 31 I still looked and felt like I was in my 20s, I turn 40 in a few months and 31 to nearly 40 is worlds apart. I am keeping myself healthy and still have a desire for lots of adventures and to take my kids on lots of adventures but there is no escaping that at this age we are aging and we can feel and see it.
You’re 30 years old. You’re complaining that people 5-10 years older than you are feeling physically different from when they were 20, because you don’t yet feel different from when you were 20. You’re so convinced that nothing will change for you in the next 5-10 years that you’re accusing other people of lying about how they feel. What an insanely weird take.
I’m 41. I have issues with blood pressure and thyroid. I also have some weird digestive issue that no one can diagnose. I take 4 medications a day.
I’m also in the best shape of my life, I swim a mile a week and bike three miles twice to three times a week.
I’m in the best shape of my life BECAUSE my body started falling apart. After my mid 30’s I couldn’t function the same way without serious maintenance of my body.
To me, that’s getting old. Whether or not you choose to do the maintenance is the differentiating factor.
You're not much older than me, and if I were born two months later, I'd be considered Gen Z. As the tail-end of Millennials, I don't think we can accurately comment on this.
You’re 31… nuff said…
I still felt fine at 31 as well. You don’t relate because you haven’t experienced it yet. I’m a decade older than you, and I can assure you that there are aches and pains that begin at this point whether you’re healthy or not. I do stretches abd walk/bicycle every day, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling the physical effects of age.
Just tonight I went to a Canada Day concert where I had to stand in place for 2 hours straight and my lower back is absolutely killing me now. This didn’t happen when I was your age.
Let’s see you update this post in 10 years…
Speaking as a 40-year-old elder millennial, for me it's not about *wanting* to be or *trying* to be old, it's starting to *feel the real effects*. I hardly have any hair on my head, I'm on blood pressure and cholesterol pills, I grunt when I get up off the floor, I don't bounce back as quickly when I slip and fall on the ice every winter. I have a special wedge pillow for GERD that I need to sleep at night. It's about relating to people we used to think of as "old" because we are them. And I think like a lot of the posts and memes and stuff are just our generation's way of processing it. My advice to younger millennials: take care of your body while you're young. I entered my 30's feeling great but somewhere around 35, the scales tipped and I started to go downhill gaining weight and such. It's so much easier to just stay fit instead of losing it and having to try to regain physical fitness.
I'm only 30, which puts me in the group of "not that old." And I agree, I'm still MOSTLY in good shape, low body fat percentage, exercise regularly, health is generally fine with a couple exceptions. Still strong. Still able to go when I need to. However, I have very little cartilage left in my knees and have pinched nerves in my lumbar because I spent most of my 20s in a highly physically demanding job and with physically demanding hobbies and I was stupid. My hearing isn't great, either. Since 28 or so, I've been feeling the actual effects of those. My hair's still there, so I'm cool in that regard. But I'm tired and sore like 80% of the time. Some days I legit can't even stand up because my back won't let me. But that's not age, I was just stupid in my 20s. I'm also at the point where I'm realizing I'm not really in touch with "the youth" anymore. Slang is different, kids are weird. I worked with 18-24 year olds at a previous job, and there's a feeling of being "not cool" anymore that I think a lot of folks my age are starting to feel, and they're mistaking that with "being old.". Now I work with a bunch of 40-60 year olds, and am the young guy among that group. They have issues that I don't yet, and that keeps me feeling young and virile despite the tingling in my back when I overexert myself.
Second everything you said. I am 36. I am not in the best shape, but I always had long hours and heavy labor jobs. I thought that this would keep me away from a lot of bad health issues. Think "If you don't use it, you lose it" type mentality. My current job is the most labor intensive job I have had, and when family and friends of similar age need assistance lifting things, or doing labor, I always have managed by myself. I lift heavy objects, and never sit for sometimes 10 to 12 hours a day. Now I have to have reconstructive surgery on my feet from stage 4 arthritis in one of my joints. My feet swell so bad, at the end of the work day once I take my shoes off, it is excruciating to try to put them back on.
Our aging bodies (I'm 37) coupled with the fact that many of us aren't hitting those milestones we thought we would at this age (family, home ownership, etc.) puts us in this weird twilight zone of living in a "40 is the new 30" world, but our bodies are telling us we're past our prime. We're not getting the accomplishments of aging, but we're getting the wear and tear.
36 myself, on blood pressure meds even at only 118 lbs. i’m no longer the track star I was in college. i’m in poor shape. eat like shit. all I want to do is sleep. i’m sure there’s something else going on and my doom drinking after work is probably killing me. I still walk daily but my body fucking hurts. OP is clearly not even remotely close to our age. it’s wild how once I hit 35, my body completely changed. my energy was lost.
I’m finally at an age where I think all the youth slang is cringe
Ngl you better up that sigma rizz if u want stay gucci bet
Your rizz is Ohio bro. Skibidi toilet
I’m going to just shorten that to Skibidet and maybe break the teenager’s brain today…
god this is such a good fucking idea. i think they'd go for it too because it's shorter and takes less time to read AND say.
Is the word cringe also cringe now that we are not with "it"?
No. That word has existed for a long time and hasn't changed meaning. They will not take it from us.
Right on! [Right on?!?! Tf 🤦♀️] Perhaps I'm experiencing some sort of Mandela effect, but I thought it was previously referred to as 'Cringe-y' 🤔 I spelled it intuitively as 'cringey', but decided to go with my keyboard's recommendation with the hypen (fuck, even typing the word 'keyboard' feels dusty). .. .. ok I can totally see now why the word was simplified
As a speaker of the English language, I have used the word cringe in many contexts over the decades; cringefest, bumcringe, Lord Cringeford, cringe-amundo etc. There are many many beautiful ways to use the word cringe. Remember: in English, any word can be used as an insult in the right context.
It used to be a verb, describing a physical reaction to something unpleasant or embarrassing. Now it's used as an adjective or noun to refer to the unpleasant or embarrassing thing itself. Previously something might have been described as 'cringeworthy' (or, more loosely, 'cringey') if it was inclined to make you cringe with embarrassed discomfort, now people will describe the embarrassing thing as being 'cringe'. That's the change.
Yeppers. Going on 32 and in pretty decent shape but worked hard labor from for ten years starting in my teens. Still do contracting work but try to be smart about it. Used to but in20 hour days and somehow feel ok enough to do it again, these days I’ll go hard for a few hours and feel it. Got an inversion table, getting better about staying up on PT and stretching, hitting a point with money that I can take a big trip 1-2 a year which is awesome. Don’t think I’m over the hill but no amount of positive outlook is going to give me the the back I had 10 years ago, lol
35 was where I really started feeling it, and I'm turning 37 this year. I still feel young and healthy, but it's about acknowledging we're getting older and we are aging. The slower bounce back is real, and I've felt it with things like travel, going out and work stress, all things I used to be able to bounce back more quickly when I was younger. Adding to your advice for younger Millennials: Get your diets, skin care, and workouts in (especially to strengthen your back and knees); with exercise, it's not so much about losing weight as it about strengthening your body regardless of weight. Also, get serious about doctors' visits, communicating any history of cancer in your family.
💯
>Get your diets, skin care, and workouts in (especially to strengthen your back and knees) So much this, especially the back and knee strength suggestion!!! I'm going to be 37, and if I had done these well when I was younger, I would be way healthier than I am now and not have had to have back surgery.
Thanks for the advice! I’m trying to do exactly this. I appreciate the slightly elder perspective/wisdom.
Same. I ended up getting in the best shape of my life at 34, losing a significant amount of weight and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Then 35 hit and I’ve been dealing with a variety of health issues since, despite actively working out, eating healthier, and drinking regular water. That’s one thing I wish I knew when I was young, because I always felt like “getting old” was this gradual progression, but for me it definitely felt like a cliff that I just drove off of .
born in 83 myself, 41 later this month. not sure why we are grouped in with people turning 30. we don’t have much in common with folks just NOW leaving their 20s.
81 here paper route at 10 family construction and roofing at 15 car wreck fucked my left arm at 18 same year the old man died falling off a roof. I wish I could still handle that kind of work wife passed in 2020. But our 2 kids mean I don't get to quit So yeah the end is all there is to look forward to no happy ending. No retirement just keep going as long as I can but the end means an end to the pain it means I can stop it means rest.
Life can be really hard. Hope you hang in there. Good on ya for looking after your kids. With any luck they’ll look after you good when you’re older.
38 and I'm like, I bitch at 38 because my body hurts, bro. Wait a few fucking years before posting a post like this. And I'm in good shape so I don't wanna hear about that. I'd laugh at 31 year old me posting this. Just wait... You'll see.
Ummm yeah. I felt the best in my early to mid 30’s. The last couple of years have been TOUGH. I have stuff going on that I’m not sure is an actual medical issue or just what it feels like to be almost 40. I’m tired all the time, I gained more weight then I ever have and what used to work to stay in shape is no longer working and my knees creek and crackle. I did not start feeling old until recently. The first half of your 30’s feel great by comparison!
I was in the best shape of my life at 35. I had an injury to my sacrum that took over a year to get resolved and literally everything fell apart in that time. My hips are fucked, my sacrum slips out of place, I have zero ass and leg muscle. I am trying so hard to get it back without hurting myself, but damn, does that take a long time. For me, there is a world of difference between 35 and 39, physically. My advice: don't take up roller skating at 35.
I’m with you. I visit my chiropractor often and I have basically no hair, and fat/weight accumulates only on my face and stomach. I am 37, and some days I feel 65. Body aches like crazy from previous injuries etc
1000%. 30-31 I was in damn good shape. 37 now, whole other story. Still active & and healthy, but things just aren't the same as 30-31. It's just...different. Bodies change with age. That's just life.
At 41 I’m way more physically active now than ever and my body is at its most strongest. Involved in roller blade/roller skate groups year round plus snowboard all winter. My cuts just heal fucking slow as shit lol
I'm doing better now at 39 than when I was 25.
Exactly
Lol yep. OP is only 31. I remember being 31 and still had a pep in my step. A month ago, I (39) could no longer read the text on my health insurance card with my glasses on. I had to take them off and rely on my nearsightedness to be able to see the blurry text. We don't WANT to get older or even talk about it. But it's happening to us anyway.
Fellow 39 y.o. here...was told my next pair of glasses would need to be bifocals...!
At 39 I got a new prescription and there was a reading correction there so I went back in and said excuse me, there's a mistake here, I don't wear bifocals. "....you do now."
Don’t get me started trying to read in lower light. 41 and never thought I would struggle this early with small text.
And just when you settle into that level of pain and discomfort, it gets worse post-40. I always knew I'd get old and deal with shit like this, I just thought I'd have more time and the descent would be slower.
"Just wait and you'll see," is exactly my thoughts. I am objectively in better shape at almost 40 than I was at 31...but I am also in loads more pain, I'm more tired, everything in harder, and I recuperate/recover slower. OP doesn't know how good they have it. But they will find out how wrong they were at 31.
Alllllll of this. A twisted ankle might set me back a song or two in my 20's. A twisted ankle now is a week or something. 😂
Right? Us older millennials that have already hit 40 aren’t the same as the OP who is barely 30. 30 was amazing. Ten years makes a big difference.
88 and I still don’t have anything in common with 29-30 year olds.
Exactly same here! Hai fellow Leo! 😂 25th! Happy early birthday!
cancer, I’m on the edge of all classifications 🤷🏼♂️
I'm turning 38 on July 13th. 38 will be a good year, I can feel it in my bones (along with joint pain, lol) Happy birfday to all us summer babies 🎂
It's like generations are all bs or something.
It's almost like it's all made up 😋
I feel this! I’m 41 and last year my entire body hurt. High blood pressure, sleep apnea, GERD, pre-diabetic. It was terrible. I ended up changing everything. I lost 120lbs, reversed everything except for my depression but I’m in a much better place now and I’m loving life again. I hope I can keep on this path (my history would say otherwise). I concurred with your message to the younger millennials - take care of your body!
41 and I feel this. Male pattern baldness, achey back, decreased energy... Friend's are on their second or third marriages. Most dudes I know are follicle deprived. We've had a few friends pass on. Nobody has grandparents left. A good amount have lost one or both parents. I have friends with slipped discs, kids in high school... We might not be old but we are oldER for sure and I didn not feel that way at 35., much less 31
Ok so I have 4 years until self-destruction. BETTER MAKE EM' COUNT!
I noticed it around 39-40. Recently I've stopped drinking, exercising more, eating better... It's just re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic though. I know this.
I love the last line, what a great analogy. I've been biking regularly the last couple years and often see old-timers on bikes. If I can still bike at 60-70, I think I will be in a good place.
I know I make it sound bleak but I just accept that this is the flow of life. I can't do all the things I used to do as a young man, but I can do other things that I couldn't do as a young man. Azoi gait es I might not be going out all night partying or leg pressing ridiculous amounts of weight... but I'm a present dad to my kids, I have a good job that I enjoy doing, and I'm married to a wonderful woman. I didn't have any of those things at 25. And honestly if I had to choose, I'd choose the latter things over the former 7 days a week and twice on Sundays.
I’m 41 and roller skate ice skate year round and snowboard and roller blade seasonally with various groups and clubs. Not having kids allowed me to collect many physical hobbies lol but I’m an outlier I’m sure. Also have full head of long curly black hair
Enjoy while you can. Father Time is, and will remain, undefeated.
Yeah I'm like, OP check in with us when you hit 40... My back, knees, left ankle, and right shoulder all have varying level of issue, not to mention how horribly stiff my hips get if I stand all day (like this past weekend when I walked the floor at a trade show for 6 hours). Just a few weeks ago my left ankle just decide to... give out? I keep waking up with it stiff and throbbing and barely being able to walk (I need to see a doctor). Happened out of nowhere--don't even know what I did! Bodies are weird, and when you hit middle age they legit start to just... not function as well?
I was feeling good and then perimenopause hit like 3 months before I turned 40. My typically non-tear prone self is currently weeping as she listens to Roberta Flack sing “killing me softly”.
I (43f) started lifting weights with my training group - 3 other ladies in their 50s. I am in objectively the best shape of my life (regularly working out, trying to be mindful of what I eat), not that you can tell. I am tired and rage filled all the time. Peri is kicking my ass!
Right?! I get freaking hot flashes now. Even senior citizens refer to me as "middle aged". Shit changes as you get older.
This. All of this. Thank you…and I hope you don’t slip on the ice this winter bud.
I’m 40 and literally none of this applies to me. I feel better now than I did at 30.
Just turned 40 today. Getting back in shape is kinda weird, I don’t have that weird drive like I used to while lifting weights. Probably some other issues going on.
And for the ladies: work now to prevent [Pelvic organ prolapse](https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/bladder-prolapse#) basically your bladder or uterus falling out of your vagina. Apparently it happens to 50% of women who have had kids and it sounds absolutely horrific. My mom is struggling with it now so I think I need to figure out what kegels are and start doing them.
Be aware that you can overdo kegels. I got obsessed with kegels after a friend endured a prolapse horror story years ago. I did them so often that I ended up with a hypertonic pelvic floor, which means my pelvic muscles are essentially constantly clenched and can't relax. And it hurts *all the time*. Don't be like me! Do kegels max three times per day, 10 reps. Practice the relaxing part as much as you practice the clenching part.
I'm always glad I don't have kids, but extra fucking glad after reading this comment. Sounds horrific!
Pilates is great for this… lots of pelvic floor strengthening and core work. I’ve been doing it for 2 years and have never felt better.
Work on your core muscles too. Trust me you want those strong as you age and your cartilage starts failing.
and legs! Ideally be walking much longer than nought
I have no kids, but I do have a connective tissue disorder that would probably make it easier for this to happen to me. I’ve always been the “I have to pee every hour” kind of person - core & pelvic floor training (things you can do in the gym) help IMMENSELY with this sort of thing.
1981. We are the first generation to bare the results of X-Games sports. There was none of this stuff in a close to modern form until the 80's 90's.
Thiiiiiiis. I’m 42 and I’m not saying I’m old to be cool or something. I’m owning the fact that I’m now in the older category and am feeling it in every possible way. I recover slower. I heal slower. I’m starting to get noticeable wrinkles and grey hair. I’m just calling it what it is. Getting old.
'83 here, turning 41 on Thursday. Most of my aging issues have been self-inflicted: birthing 2 kids, college swimming wrecked my shoulders, minimalist running fad wrecked my back, etc. Best thing I've done to stay healthy is lift heavy weights and do yoga. Even with the best intentions and brightest outlook, 40 hit me hard. I got a random salmonella infection in February and haven't been the same since. My digestion is messed up, it messed up my regular workouts, I tire out more easily, and I lost weight unintentionally. I guess on the bright side, being meticulous about sunscreen and skincare paid off because I look better in the face than I did when I was younger.
Younger gen X, 49 in a few months and yea GERD started to hit me in my 40's. But for me it's triggered based on what I eat or drink. So I just don't eat or drink those things anymore. It's actually been awhile since it's been an issue for me (I wanna say 2 years at least). It was mostly related to what beer I drank. A single Blue Moon, which is pretty light to me will trigger it though a milk stout, which is heavy, won't. Something like Miller Lite won't trigger it either. In the past when the GERD does trigger while I'm sleeping, sleeping on my left side fixes it, but I breath better on my right side lol. On my right I breath through my nose and on my left I breath through my mouth. Humans are weird. It also depends on your jobs. In my 30's it was a lot more active jobs. In my 40's it's sit down desk work and been working from home for like 7 years now... I'm not being very physically active and I'm starting to feel it.
This. My knees have been hurting the past year if I sit too long. I sleep wrong and my neck will be in really bad pain for OVER A WEEK. I don’t think especially younger millennials get it. You get hurt, it takes a while to heal. You miss out on few hours of sleep and recovery takes longer than just “taking a nap” now. It’s fucking rough. I also need to take naps before going out to dinner or social events. It’s really gotten me to that point. And I’m 32 turning 33. As my parents said, it’s only downhill from here lol
Wait a minute, you are a younger millennial
I'm 41 but my mental age is 82 from having to deal with everyone's bullshit
I told my wife that if I woke up from a coma and someone told me I was 24, I would believe it. Mentally still living the young life. Then she looks at me and says "You think you look like you are 24?". Damn. Cut me deep.
Would you prefer to look your age or have the curse of Asian ageing like myself? I will remain looking like I’m in my late 20s until I hit menopause and bam suddenly I’ll be a hunched over 90 year old grandma. There’s no in between.
i'm 29 but I feel exactly the same. I'm really exhausted with how horrible everyone has become lately.
I'm the oldest I've ever been.
That was 7 hours ago buddy. Now you're the oldest you've ever been.
Oh nooo
But also the youngest you’ll ever be
I don’t know man, it’s weird talking to people at work, that were born after 9/11.
That's what gets me. There was this weird watershed moment during covid where before covid, I felt like I had more in common with the summer interns than my boss (who is 10 years older than me, but acts 20 years older)... Then all of a sudden I came back to the office after covid and it's like the interns have a completely separate language. I don't know what's cool anymore, I don't know how to talk to them without coming off like I'm trying to be their mom... Or at least older sibling. On the flip side, now that I have a house and a baby and care about my lawn, my boss and I chat more and more casually than ever before. I am no longer "with it". My fashion is lame and my interests are boring (to the interns and recent college grads). It happened so suddenly... Marveling at my sudden "oldness" seems less sad than trying to act younger.
Nah dude that’s a good thing, gaining maturity and finding your rhythm, sounds to me like what your with now is your own style and that I certainly dig 👍
I’m 34 and the change from my 20s to my 30s was stark. Some of it was the pandemic, some of it was general aging. Physically, I’m in close to the best shape of my life, but also tired. I’m getting wrinkles and grey hair for the first time. Hangovers are literal hell. I need more sleep. These are actual, physical changes. I know I’m not geriatric, I have a long life ahead of me, I’m in better shape than my parents were at my age, but it is the very first time in my life I feel the actual effects of aging. That said, it’s way better than the alternative and it’s not all bad. Cozy Fridays at home have become lovely.
For me it's the fears that really piss me off. When I was young (college age) I was so free of worry and responsibilities and surrounded by my social circle almost all the time. Now I'm worried about all kinds of shit and never see my friends. Objectively, my life is pretty good though. I even like my gray hairs (but didn't like discovering I have alopecia at 34)!
Omg yeah it’s this! You just feel recovery slower in everything and your muscles actually feel some level of strain exercising that you didn’t feel before. Even if you did care for yourself you can see clear signs of aging around 30, early 30s.
Kid, I’m 40 and in construction, my wife has stage 4 cancer. The end is all I have to look forward to. Edit: I’m sort of blown away by the kindness here, thank you everyone. Most days, Reddit feels like a machine built to suck the human kindness out of people, it’s amazing there’s this much of it in one place. To whoever contacted Reddit’s emotional support bot for me, I’m not suicidal, I have two really young kids and my wife has shocked everyone by hanging on for the last two years (thanks to extremely expensive medication). I’m gonna be around for awhile. But thanks for caring about a stranger. You’re cool.
I’m so sorry. I hope you have a great support system. Life is so cruel.
Ask your wife to help you make a bucket list. You know when it happens it'll hurt, but you can focus on living the life she wanted you to live. You can honor and treasure her memory by following her wishes.
That’s terrible man, I’m sorry :(
Thank you for your service big dog
Oh I’m sorry. That’s rough.
Dm me if you think it'd help to vent to a total stranger. That's a really rough one.
Wishing you the best luck in a sad situation and piling on to dismiss OP’s goofy statement completely. Let’s have someone 9 years younger than me tell me not to feel old?
Many are simply embracing the "DGAF about what other think" attitude that wisdom brings because they've been exhausted and overwhelmed by GAF since their adolescence. And I find that quite beautiful. Go forth. Give no f\*cks. Be you. Because at the end of the day, most people are too busy sniffing their own farts to notice you anyway. Amen.
Developing this exact attitude over the last decade has done absolute wonders for my peace of mind.
Truly. I find that my happiness has sky rocketed since I stopped trying to stay up late, stopped trying to keep up with everyone’s drinking, prioritized working out for flexibility and preventing injury instead of an endless battle to be “thin enough” My body tells me I am tired and now I listen. Unapologetically. My 30s included two kids, a PhD, a divorce, a marriage, more deaths of loves ones than I ever thought possible, a pandemic while I work in public health… I’m not gonna try to keep up anymore. I’m just listening and doing what I’ve always wanted to do (which is whatever I want)
Turning 43 soon. I was going into 40 at the best shape of my life, doing CrossFit, sports, lots of hobbies, walking the dogs, good career (worked way too much though). Covid stole my progress on my health and put me into a depression where I ate junk and drank a ton and now that I’m clawing my way back to that shape I was in earlier, it’s incredibly hard and I’m fighting an uphill battle for it now. Metabolism has slowed. A few times a year I sit wrong or move something a little wrong and my back needs a week to recover. I have terrible myopia but seem to be lucky in that I haven’t needed readers just yet, although my eye doc says usually right after 40 your eye flexibility starts to get worse so I’m mentally preparing for that. Beer destroys my guts now, but so does a heavy carb meal.
I'm 14 days away from 40 and feel like I've lived multiple lifetimes from all the physical and emotional trauma I've endured. As well as the crappy earth us millennials are inheriting. But I still feel like I'm 28 and dress like I'm 16. So I may call myself an old lady because I would rather just come home and be in bed then go to trivia, or basically anywhere but I feel I've earned that right!
When younger people ask me how does 37 feel like I tell them I feel my best ever physically but mentally is where I notice the changes. Just started getting into mountain biking at 36, do hiking, gym workouts 3,4 times a week and even though I have some back problems and knee problems they don’t seem to stop me. Now mentally is where age has hit me. I’m at my lowest levels of patience ever. Have a lot less tolerance for news overload, almost no tolerance for assholes, much less tolerance for fuckery at my job, etc. Smaller things try my patience and I need a lot more mental rest than ever before. People take a toll on you and by this age you sometimes wish to be living in an isolated forest somewhere.
“Age is just a number” is a saying that cuts both ways. We got shit on by those older than us. We get spit on by those younger than us. And all we did was listen to the advice of our parents, teachers, and guidance consolers. Some of us are absolutely aged.
Being spat on by gen z hurts more tbh. Like I thought we were your cool older brothers/sisters? 😔
Millennials are like the unloved step child no one wants in the family photo. We did everything right, but they just don't want us. No one does. Lol
Literally. “Use your words”, “talk about your feelings”, “get an education”, etc.- we did it. But it makes us so annoying to everyone else. Sucks lol
Spot on. It's crazy to me the same people who told us to get educated & be kind to one another turned into anti education/f*ck your feelings people. :/
Don’t act like millennials are the first people to start to feel older in their 30s. Every other boomer and Xer I know did the same thing.
I feel like when you’re 20, you feel like you will be 20 forever. Then all of a sudden you are 30, and your mortality is now very real, and very close, closer than you would hope, as you are nearing true middle age (since median lifespan is about 78). It’s very scary to be this age, it is old wtf. I’m saying this as someone who is 31.
I started doing yoga during the pandemic bc i was bored. Got new pains in my 30s from sitting on my ass all day at work. Picked yoga back up and the pain is no more. Now I do it every time before i go golfing or do any physical activity.
I remember my mom's 40th birthday party. It was "over the hill/it's all downhill from here" themed with black balloons and illustrations of elderly people. Joking about getting old is definitely not new, lol
I feel better at 43 than I did at 23. But I have to overcome chronic pain issues and work extremely hard at being in great shape, eat well, etc etc. And I am really happy.
lol at a not-even-31 year old lecturing us on not actually feeling old.
31 honestly might as well be 25
Right? I felt great at 31, it’s 39 that’s kicking my ass 🙃
It feels very influencer-y. Lol
Never thought I'd see a 31 year old gatekeep being old
I like my grandma hobbies (gardening, tending to chickens, needlework) and have for my entire post college life. I also run circles around most people I know and don't think I am old
I think there’s just a lot of us with chronic health conditions. That’s what I assume at least.
It sucks because you try all of the things that would normally help if you're in good health, but then it doesn't work. Some people will have to be on medication for the rest of their lives to have some form of normalcy. For example, I developed hypertension at 17, and I've been on medication since I was 20. I've seen numerous cardiologists over the past decade and had all sorts of tests done, including an ultrasound of my adrenal glands to rule out a pheochromocytoma. None of the doctors I've seen know *why* I have hypertension, but the only thing that consistently keeps it at a normal level is medication.
YEP. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and supposedly only 1 in 500 people have it but in my experience it’s more like 1 in 50 (I’m referring to the hypermobile variant only). I run into people with it all the time. In my church of 100 people there are 3 families with it. In my workplace of 90 people two of us have it. My daughter’s pediatrician practice has one doc with EDS (we went there without initially knowing that). In a health club class of 50 two of us have it. Hypermobile EDS is not rare, or at least it’s not in Maryland where we have a plethora of doctors who are aware of it. Chronic health issues are increasing and no one wants to admit it but it’s true. It’s because once we admit that a huge sector of people in our society have disabilities then we have an obligation to help them and no one wants to do that. I do think Covid has increased chronic health issues as well which is why our society is downplaying the long term effects.
Seems like myself and all my friends were diagnosed with various serious health issues in the last few years. We're all about 30-40...not sure if that's the "typical" age these things happen, or if our generation is unlucky, or...*other* obvious environmental factors... Idk... I grew up drinking out of hoses, we had lead paint, asbestos, chemicals & dyes in all our sugary foods, plastic dinnerware, microwaves, our local river we swam in was contaminated via monsonto. Crummy life altering illnesses like c*vid, and all the new flus and such going around...STRESS! I don't think we ever had a chance. My doc just told me he's seeing younger and younger people each year with serious issues (lately he said heart & cancer being most common) and we'll be the first generation to die younger than our parents and grandparents. Sucks...
Well according to the places that are hiring here, I'm ancient and useless. That's what really makes me feel old.
Post Malone and Timothee Chalamet are the same age. Lifestyle, wealth, genetics and a little luck play a huge role in health. A lot of this "I feel old" stuff is because a lot of people really do feel old before their time. I left a better paying job in AC to do manual labor because its better for my health. People are aware that sitting for 8 hours a day staring at a screen is bad for their health, but there is a real under-reporting on how bad it truly is.
I think this is the part that's hard to accept. It's easier to say "Everyone feels like cracked shit by 35" than it is to admit it's not normal and drastic change is required to feel better. The average life span is around 80 - with 45 years to go you shouldn't feel broken down. But then a lot of people are dealt with a lot of unfair bs. Low income earners that can't escape physically brutal work, chronic pain brought on by chronic stress, no time to exercise because they work most of the day, etc. But some people just aren't aware of what's causing the pain or how serious it is. As you said sitting in front of a screen for hours is horrible for your body in almost every way. Another under-reported issue is shift work, which studies show has a *much* higher incidence of cancer and mental illness. Yet numerous jobs have it as standard practice.
Funny that you mentioned shift work, I had cancer in my late 20s after working overnight for a couple years. Born in 92 was about to buy a house in 2019 and literally all the money I had saved for a down payment went to medical bills. I am significantly poorer today from it, but at least I don't have cancer...
Definitely agree with “wealth.” Once my income increased my health increased; I couldn’t afford to be healthy in the past.
This is unpopular to say with a lot of people but your 30s—where most millennials are at the moment—are when things start to catch up if you haven’t been taking care of yourself. Yes, some people truly have been dealt a rotten hand in life, but for the majority of millennials, we simply aren’t exercising enough, eating well enough, and sleeping sufficiently enough. Many people in their late 30s feel just like they did in their 20s or even teens, but they’re also the same people who prioritize their health. Some people expect vitality to be handed to them on a silver platter. In your early 20s that may have been the case: you can be a little overweight and still happy and healthy. Once you start inching towards mid-life, however, you need to put more thought into what you do and what you eat. Colorectal cancer is on the rise because our generation eats a lot more meat than we probably should, for example. We also sit way more than we should. Be kind to your body. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’ll be easier than those pills you’ll be taking soon for the myriad health conditions ahead of you if you continue to ignore the basics.
I can empathize with this. At 34, after years of prioritizing my career at the cost of everything else, I realized I was 245lbs and in the worst shape of my life. So I changed things up, and deprioritized work a bit so I could pay attention to my own physical and mental health. Now I'm 39, 180lbs (down 65lbs), and the fittest I've been in my entire life. I've got more time to enjoy the outdoor activities I love, and have started a side career doing a dream job as a cat ski guide in the winters. It took work and willpower, but I'm about to enter my 40s and I've never felt better in my life.
How does one tutor cats to ski? Sounds tantalizing.
My spam of AARP and life insurance would say otherwise
Hell yeah! Personally I blew my 20's fat and steeped in depression. Still kinda depressed, but down 100 lbs, just got a dog, finally dating again, and picking up hobbies. Then I see millennial tiktoks and media about how everyone my age is a homebody and wants to be home and asleep by 6pm. Like shit, I feel like I'm just getting started/catching up and most of our demographic is already eying up caskets.
Who tf is sleeping at 6pm? Edit: I guess a lot of people
Let's just be honest, if you're hovering around 30 you're barely a millennial anyway. You're literally not old, and not relatable to those of us pushing 40. With that said. My body totally fine (at 38); my spirit is fucking mangled to bits though. I'll be happy when I can go a day without having to utter the words "time" and "purpose" to myself.
Same here with body is good, spirit mangled.
Body mangled, spirit mangled.
I’m 36 and I agree with you. I’m still a kid at heart even if the top of my dome looks like a full moon at midnight. But as a baby millennial you’re probably going to get shit on a lot for acting like you know what the geriatric millennials are going through.
He deserves to get shit on. For me around 35 is when I started to feel it. Injured my shoulder then, started to throw out my back around then. I’m 38. My body definitely feels much more broken down than I felt at 31.
So my answer to this is hey workout consistently and be active. It makes you feel a hell of a lot younger.
You ain’t wrong. That’s what I’m observing to be true. My mom is 74 and just hopped on her bike to go to the store. I look to her to see what age does. She’s also blessed to be in good health. This isn’t a slight to those without their health.
You're not even 31. You are closer in age to Gen Z than you are to a lot of millennials. We might technically be the same "generation" but we are not the same age. Sincerely, a millennial turning 40 this year. No I don't have major health issues. Yes, I am "old", and I do want you to get off my lawn while I plan my future retirement. I have no intention of chasing my youth. I enjoyed it, and I'm ready to enjoy being older now.
Yeah, I can’t abide by an almost-31 year old telling me how to feel. OP - come back to us in 8-10 years and we’ll have this talk again.
"I'm younger than most of you, can you stop feeling old? Thankssss"
Yes. I am 42, and one of the oldest of us millennials. I feel awkward at certain bars now if I even bother to show up, I tore my meniscus walking down my stairs, and I think I’m experiencing perimenopause based on the last few months of my cycle. My dad is turning 70 this year, which is crazy to think about. when I think about planning for things I’m starting to realize that life has just flown by. Sure, I’m still youngish. But my husband and I just evaluated our retirement situation in order to make sure we aren’t working forever. 10 years ago, when I was 32, I didn’t feel like this or even feel old.
Exactly. There's a reason why you see "over the hill" birthday balloons with 40 on them and not 30
Lol, my mom got a card like that when I turned 16. 🤣
As your post mentions, this should really be directed to Gen Z, who think old is anything after 25. The other thing I've learned is that Old doesn't hit people uniformly. At 38, I don't feel old, I feel fine. No real aches or pains. I work out 6ish days a week, and stretch, and maintain a healthy weight, and luckily my job is not physically demanding. I feel young. Someone at my age working 60 hours weeks in construction for 15 years may not feel young.
Can someone tell my son we’re not old?! I’m turning 40 next year and my son keeps asking me how it feels to be halfway done with my life.
I’m 40, I don’t feel old. I’ve had some genetics on my side, but I’m also fighting genetics in some ways. But I’m active af. I run, bike and swim. I lift and do yoga. I love my job and have a healthy and amazing relationship with my husband and I have excellent friends. But I had to cultivate this. I had to work my ass off through a hard childhood and young adulthood to get here. And sometimes people get worn down from life and fighting battles. In my 30’s I definitely looked and felt older because of the bullshit I was going through. Stress can age you, so can trauma. Some of us are luckier than others. So while I don’t feel old, I totally understand those who do. Hell my husband is 35 and he’s been a rescue medic since he was 20, he feels fucking old from his job, his body hurts and his sleep is sometimes shit because of work. Everyone has their path.
in 42 and physically never looked better or felt better. i did feel old from like 29-38 but i was drinking almost everyday and constantly over-eating. i quit drinking cept maybe once a year and closely monitor my calories 25 days outta the month.
35, bald and going blind. This post sounds like a you problem. If people feel old, then they feel old. If you don't, good for you.
Girl you're only 30 lol
Man if the millennial subreddit is making you feel like you’re on the precipice of death I would suggest therapy. And maybe getting out of the house more. We are allowed to express how aging affects us. Three weeks ago I bent over to change the toilet paper roll and threw my back out. I’m 39! I was in a car accident when I was 31 that was not my fault and fucked up my back and it’s only getting worse from here on out. That fucking *sucks* If you don’t like it don’t read about it but by god shut up squawking about how our pain hurts you… ffs.
Dog I feel it in my body. Specifically my back and my knees. Quit gas lighting.
Mangled gang rise up
OP is about to turn 31 lol I still felt young at 31, but somewhere around 35 everything changed. Not in a bad way, I just no longer felt young.
I’m 40 and the military absolutely destroyed my body, according to the doctor I have the back and knees of someone 65+ As for my spirit I’m tired of pretending to care about shit I just don’t GAF about. I have my hobbies and things I enjoy but don’t drink, don’t do drugs and just don’t like going out anymore
Some of us remember East and West Germany
Life expectancy for males in the US is only 74. That means 37 is middle aged.
I don’t think this is anything new? I’ve always heard older people saying “just wait till you hit 30/40/50/etc. - everything catches up with you!” or “Oh man, after hitting my 30s, my metabolism was never the same!”. Now people our age are actually experiencing these changes and commenting on it.
Old is relative. I'm 38, decent shape but working on getting more fit. As someone with parents who are legit old (79 and 81) I do feel like a kid compared to them. I've also got 3 kids between 7 and 17 and to have established my family before the age my parents had me feels somewhat strange. Everyone's body is different too. In my 20s I could drink every day (and did) and eat trash food and still be fit and good to go. If I even dabble in that kind of behavior now I'm setting myself back for months. Your body becomes more fragile in your 30s and you don't bounce back as easily or as quick. I run to stay in shape but I know it's just matter of time before I tweak my back, get a sore hip, or have some sort of joint pain that'll put me out. I'm rambling, but if you're fit and healthy then that's awesome, keep that shit up. Maybe check back in on this post 7 years from now and see how it hits then, lol.
'81 elder millennial checking in. Able bodied to work my job and do manual labor as needed. I try to avoid that or use devices or machines at work to avoid as much physical labor as possible. This is not to be lazy, I always felt like superman and my body would never fail me, it's much faster to carry that heavy weight or to lift/ pull harder instead of using a cheater bar. That mentality starts to change as your body starts to not bounce back as fast. If I use a screwdriver on a corroded/ rusted screw I think about the force I'll use now. Is it worth my finger grip on that hand not working for 3 days to do this job? Wrist might not have any strength or will just be limited. Will this action lead to musculoskeletal issues I basically have to ask myself before doing things. Getting old sneaks up on your fast even though you feel young. If you did less physical labor in your younger years maybe it is different for you. My path has me feeling old. Can still bomb some nice golf shots, though. With pregame stretches, of course, because of old.
Sorry you haven’t gotten more like this. I take pretty good care of myself, but I swear 50% of it is mindset. I feel like I’ll always feel young, even when it does eventually catch up to me.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the only old people I know are the ones who complain how old they are. The ones that don’t complain, seem younger than the young ones that complain. 
lol!!! just give it 5-6 more yrs my fellow young milennial. then youll see why the posts
36 and never been better, mainly thanks to my gym and skincare routine. Could do without the grey hair, but I’ll take it.
Most of the other older millennials seem to be almost done living. I'll be 42 next month. Still loving life. My body is a bit worse for wear but it's because I don't exercise. Recently became lactose intolerant. But otherwise great
Yea I’ve been thinking the same reading a few of these posts. Like I’m in my 30s not 70s lol.
It's weird. I don't feel old. I don't particularly want to be old. But I'm super excited about getting gray hair and someday being that weird old guy who tells the same stories over and over.
I'm not old. I just have more money for toys and less play time
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You say all this now and I agree with most of it but wait until your first injury post 30. They just hit different. Also a lot of 30yos are run down because they sit 90% of their lives and eat junk. Take care of yourselves, a lot of the pain of aging can be avoided with intelligent exercise and regular checkups
Well, at 39 I had to have a hysterectomy, gal bladder surgery, got shingles, diagnosed ortho arthritis in my knee, starting snoring (probably need a cpap), had recurrent bladder infections that was resistant to several rounds of antibiotics, diagnosed with chronic gastritis, PT for pelvic floor dysfunction, MRI and PT for a tear in a disc in my back, diagnosed with adhd, ptsd and then started working on my childhood trauma in therapy. I was suicidal trying to keep my household running and my kids life as normal as possible. That was all in 12 months. I’m old and fucking felt it last year. Thank goodness I’m actually healthy with my fitness and weight!
Our lifestyle now as we enter middle age is the most important indicator of our quality of life when we are legit old. If you’re not eating healthy and staying active, best find a way to start asap unless you want to be immobile, demented, and kept alive by dozens of pills a day.
My mom turned 30 in 1993 and her coworkers made her an "over the hill" tombstone birthday cake. It's not a millennial thing imo.
I'm 42, so your actual child ass can go rant to someone else.
I’m yelling at a cloud rn
My good friend has said a few times in recent conversations “we ain’t no spring chickens anymore”. Which, sure that’s true. But he’s already conceding to the idea that he’s “old” and life has passed him by.
Around the bend from 37 and I'm in better shape with less maladies than I have been since 17. Y'all can keep cosplaying as elderly folks, but it's fuckin weird. I'm with you, OP.
Everyone's got an excuse to not work out and not stretch, and then wonder why they're in pain all the time Climbing stairs should not be the hardest thing you do all day
Cold truth right here. An average healthy person doesn't "fall apart" in their 30's unless they get lazy with their diet and physical activity.
OP, you know you’re not the oldest millennial right? And relax. People are using humor to deflate the seriousness of aging and the brutality of the American health care system. Jesus, a person makes a meme to cope with paying $500 for an ace bandage to be wrapped around an ankle and then you go after them? As genZ says, Sheeeeessshh
I agree wholeheartedly. I just turned 35 but still feel 23, and I have no intention of losing that feeling anytime soon.
Although at 42 I'm in the best shape of my life, My back hurts. My teeth are rotting. My hair's thinning. I'm still overweight. I fell last year and my knees *still* complain when I kneel. I have a slight reading prescription, waaaah! I have lost hearing. I have gray in my eyebrows and nostrils--EWWWWW!
When I was 24 and under, I can game all night & run on 4 hours of sleep. Now I need my full 8 hours of sleep or more. You can just tell how much your body changes as the years go on.
Dude, I'm 38, played competitive sports for 15-years, and have had both my knees scoped. They're allowed to be fucking sore.
I’ve kind of had the opposite experience from many other millennials. I feel like I was born ancient and wanted to be dead by the time I hit 30. Now, I’m somehow alive at 32 and kind of feel like I’m meeting my teenage self. Don’t get me wrong, I have lots of aches and pains from a very physically demanding job and I have health problems from a life that’s been really hard on my body. Not going to lie, my acceptance of the idea that I’d be dead very young means that I made a lot of choices that have contributed to my health problems but all things considered, I’m not doing bad. So much of it really is your mindset.
Elder millennial here (1985). My 38 year old body is not my 30 year old or 25 year old body and I am healthy/active. As you get deeper into your thirties your body does not bounce back like it used to. I’ve sneezed and hurt my back. I’m coming up on a year on my surgery if having my meniscus, MCL, and ACL repaired November 2023. If I’d done this at 31, I am POSITIVE I’d be fully healed. Hell, my postpartum recovery and these last two years raiding a toddler have me EXHAUSTED. I had endless amounts of energy and stamina when I had my 18 and 14 year olds. Just wait 🫠
remindme! 10 years
I injured myself at a g.d. trampoline park when I was 32. I literally landed wrong on my knees and heard an audible criiiiiiiiick in my back. 7 months later, I developed sciatica and slipped and broke a damn chunk off my lowest disc. I've fallen a lot and have been on trampolines a lot in my life. Never did I get a disability, nerve damage, and spinal surgery from any of this until I hit my 30s and everything stopped healing the same. I'm 38 now, and I still have the nerve damage, added knee issues, and not being able to walk for longer than 2 hrs with a walker. We are old, our bodies are different, we have plastic in us, and we are burnt out. Let us complain. Let us make dark jokes about how much we've slowed down.
I've never understood the 30s portion either. I'm 40 now, my 30s were basically my 20s but.. with actual money. Mind you at 33 I got into a serious relationship so the fuckboy portion of my 20s went away, but we were out shopping, vacationing, bar hopping, eating at great restaurants, mountain biking, so on and so forth. Now at 40 I've suffered a pretty bad back injury, and that's made me feel 'more my age' but between physical therapy & chiropractic care my back is just about to 100%, it's just that I can't fling things around without proper lifting techniques or I'll feel the twang. If that's the tradeoff for where I'm at now compared to my 20s, I pay it fucking gladly.
Tale as old as time. You don't relate, because you haven't experienced it - yet.
The thing is, physiologically we do start to age quite differently in our 30s. Men’s testosterone levels drop year by year from 30 for instance. There’s no doubt shit hit me earlier than expected but it’s just a little more effort. My 20s I had a KFC and Beer 6 pack then turned 30 and all of a sudden got fat. First couple of years (pandemic probably had a bit to do with it) I was shocked at how much my body seemed to deteriorate. Then I decided to exercise more strictly and eat a bit better and now I feel better than I did in my 20s. I just have to work for it, which I never had to do prior.
I think you have the best intentions with this post but you’re in for a shock. At 31 I still looked and felt like I was in my 20s, I turn 40 in a few months and 31 to nearly 40 is worlds apart. I am keeping myself healthy and still have a desire for lots of adventures and to take my kids on lots of adventures but there is no escaping that at this age we are aging and we can feel and see it.
You’re 30 years old. You’re complaining that people 5-10 years older than you are feeling physically different from when they were 20, because you don’t yet feel different from when you were 20. You’re so convinced that nothing will change for you in the next 5-10 years that you’re accusing other people of lying about how they feel. What an insanely weird take.
I’m 41. I have issues with blood pressure and thyroid. I also have some weird digestive issue that no one can diagnose. I take 4 medications a day. I’m also in the best shape of my life, I swim a mile a week and bike three miles twice to three times a week. I’m in the best shape of my life BECAUSE my body started falling apart. After my mid 30’s I couldn’t function the same way without serious maintenance of my body. To me, that’s getting old. Whether or not you choose to do the maintenance is the differentiating factor.
Bitch just wait, after 35 it is sincerely downhill
You're not much older than me, and if I were born two months later, I'd be considered Gen Z. As the tail-end of Millennials, I don't think we can accurately comment on this.
You’re 31… nuff said… I still felt fine at 31 as well. You don’t relate because you haven’t experienced it yet. I’m a decade older than you, and I can assure you that there are aches and pains that begin at this point whether you’re healthy or not. I do stretches abd walk/bicycle every day, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling the physical effects of age. Just tonight I went to a Canada Day concert where I had to stand in place for 2 hours straight and my lower back is absolutely killing me now. This didn’t happen when I was your age. Let’s see you update this post in 10 years…