Top 10 Things You Regret When You Get Older

If a person peaks in high school, that’s probably because they spent more time focusing on partying and less time focusing on their studies. Sure, nobody likes doing schoolwork. It’s tedious, boring, and some of it you’ll never use in the real world. Seriously, who needs cursive? In the long run, though, trying hard in school will help you get into a good college, find a stable job, and prepare you for adulthood. Don’t squander the opportunity. After all, knowledge is power.

Unless you’re planning on joining a biker gang, we’d strongly advise you against getting a highly noticeable tattoo. This is especially true if you want the full range of job opportunities to remain open to you, as things like a wicked face tat may discourage consideration in certain professions. Granted, a small tattoo on your ankle or arm can be a cool body modification to show off at social gatherings. The decision to mark your skin with indelible ink shouldn’t be made impulsively at a young age, however. Why? Because if you want to get rid of it later in life or even the next morning, tattoo removal is incredibly painful and expensive. Plus, they don’t always age well.

Being a hard worker can be a great quality. When your entire life revolves around work, however, you’ll eventually find that you’re not really living at all. Being married to the job often means neglecting your family and friends. Although you may have plenty of professional accomplishments to show for you efforts, it won’t mean anything without anybody to share your success and wealth. It’s also important to not only take a break for your loved ones, but for yourself too. With a refreshed, clear head, you’ll live much longer and happier.

There’s an awesome human being within everybody. Many of us are too scared to free that person, however, out of fear of what others might think. As a result, talents go unrecognized, dreams go unfulfilled, and potentially amazing people never meet their full potential. Some would rather sit back and support the wishes of others rather than their own. But following the pack deprives this world of leaders. Having confidence in yourself will only make you wiser, stronger, and more unique. Be an individual and not part of the system.

There’s a huge world out there waiting for you to discover it. The more you travel the globe, the more open-minded, cultured, and knowledgeable you’ll become. You may even pick up a new language, which will help you to create new bonds with diverse people. Granted, traveling to another country isn’t practical for everybody as they may have other important commitments - or a lack of funds. If you have the time and money, however, book your dream vacation. It’s a trip that’ll stick with you forever.

Splurging your entire paycheck on the latest gizmo, designer purse, or luxury sports car may seem like a good idea in the heat of the moment. When an unforeseen accident occurs or tax collectors come a-knocking, though, you’re going to wish that you had set a few extra bucks aside. That’s why it’s important to start a savings account and not dive into it until faced with an emergency. Making a few smart investments on the side can also help you to accumulate money for a rainy day, or the important things, like the security of owning your own home.

Some people genuinely enjoy getting regular exercise, as it improves their self-image and acts as an engaging social activity. Others view it as a chore, like brushing your teeth. They’d rather sit on the couch and eat cheeseburgers than hit the gym. Refusing to work out can be just as hazardous to your health as smoking. Even if you’re not looking to gain a six-pack, lifting weights and cardio exercises will do wonders for your body and mind. Fat and lazy is no way to go through life.

People hold grudges against others for various reasons. Sometimes that person deserves to be forgiven, especially when it’s a loved one who’s truly sorry for their actions. Even if this person is beyond forgiveness, however, holding a grudge against them only hurts you in the end. Enduring grudges fill people with hate, bitterness, and narrow-mindedness. The longer the grudge goes on, the more toxic the psychological scars will be. We can’t always forgive and forget, but letting go of your grudge is the first essential step towards healing.

Numerous people are looking for true love. While some are lucky enough to find it, others look in all the wrong places. Oftentimes when people find themselves in dysfunctional or even abusive relationships, they convince themselves to stay anyway. This may be because they’ve invested so much time in the relationship, have children stuck in the middle, are afraid to leave, or are simply hopelessly devoted. Yet, a bad relationship is like a Band-Aid; you just need to rip it off. Make a clean break before it’s too late.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Sex Tapes
- Bullying People
- Experimenting with Sex, Drugs, Etc.
- Saying Racist, Mean, Sexist, or Ignorant Things

Risks are scary and don’t always pay off the way you’d hoped, but nobody can successfully go through life without taking a few chances. Playing everything safe and resisting change will ultimately hold you back. Occasionally you need to roll the dice, which can potentially lead to fame, fortune, love, and new opportunities. Even if not every risk is worth taking, sometimes it’s worse going through life wondering what might have been. It’s better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your greatest regret in life? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.