Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Life Stages

35 Thoughts All Twenty-somethings Have That Are Instantly Followed By 'Wow, I'm Getting Old'

Can I press rewind and go back in time?

Christina Smith

Jun 27, 2018

National Writers Society

796

Unsplash

Entering your twenties can be the most exciting and terrifying time of your life. At first, you're pumped because you're one step closer to adulthood. Then you wake up one morning, and adult life hits you in the face. Suddenly, you have bills to pay and you can never get enough sleep.

You may find yourself wondering 'Is it OK to be thinking what I'm thinking?' and 'Does sleeping away the weekend make me lame?'

If you're in your twenties right now and find yourself relating to this, odds are you've experienced one or more of these thoughts.

1. I’ve been out of high school for how many years now?

https://giphy.com/gifs/jennifer-lawrence-jaw-drop-5KkjN5IuDZG8w

Has it really been that long? I must be getting old.

2. Is that someone I went to high school with?

That face looks familiar. Should I say hi or go about my business?

3. I know this person, but I can’t remember her name.

Memory loss must be a side effect of adulthood.

4. Do I know that person? Don’t make eye contact. Don’t make eye contact.

https://giphy.com/gifs/the-office-hiding-B37cYPCruqwwg

Yes, I know that person, and I don't want to be social today.

5. I think I’m an adult now. What’s the exact age?

https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-confused-will-smith-y3QOvy7xxMwKI

I don't really feel like an adult, so I'm not sure if I am one.

6. Can I sign this, or do I still need a parent signature?

Do I get to sign this? I feel so grown up.

7. There are so many bills with my name on it.

https://giphy.com/gifs/hulu-fox-new-girl-26ufpRbIuDflrMy6Q

Everyone wants my money.

8. Is it OK that I still don’t understand how to do my taxes?

https://giphy.com/gifs/thebachelorau-the-bachelor-3o7TKJLO3D4kUgpa6I

I should really know how to do this by now.

9. Do I have to go the doctor by myself now?

https://giphy.com/gifs/scared-home-alone-macaulay-culkin-PKawjvvwNSWXK

Wait mom, you're not going with me anymore?

10. Is that spot on my arm normal? Hopefully, it’ll just go away.

I really don't want to go to the doctor. Maybe if I ignore it, it'll just disappear.

11. Am I too old to be afraid of needles?

Now I really want my mom here.

12. Why am I always so tired?

https://giphy.com/gifs/tired-love-people-iTnVKXAWDvRmw

Is it a sign of old age? I'm so old.

13. I guess I need to have a bed time.

It's time to be responsible and go to bed early. What is early?

14. Maybe I should start waking up earlier.

I don't want to get up though.

15. Is it the weekend? Yes, I get to sleep.

https://giphy.com/gifs/yes-score-rmi45iyhIPuRG

Weekends are for sleeping and doing nothing.

16. Sleep is the most AMAZING thing EVER.

Honestly, I can't get enough of it.

17. I just want to stay home.

I really must be getting old.

18. I remember this show. It came on when I was kid.

I want to be a kid again.

19. Why don’t kids play outside anymore?

All of these kids have some kind of electronic device. Get outside!

20. Why do all of the kids shows SUCK these days?

https://giphy.com/gifs/kimmyschmidt-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-uks-3oEjHXTdZtYRmhWzny

The shows I grew up with were way better.

21. What time is it? Did the weather already come on?

I watch the weather channel too much.

22. I remember when there was no such thing as an iPhone.

Remember when we had flip phones? I remember that.

23. Back in my day, we couldn’t record TV shows.

We have it made these days.

24. If I had pitched a fit like that when I was little, I would be in so much trouble.

Did that kid really just scream like that in the store?

25. Coupons are so COOL.

https://giphy.com/gifs/funny-kendrick-popsugar-ET3joD3mN6UEg

Why didn't I collect these before? You save so much money.

26. I can’t wait for payday.

HURRY UP.

27. There goes my paycheck. I might cry.

https://giphy.com/gifs/screamqueens-fox-scream-queens-tv-3o6ZsS8GFJKJeJoRQ4

I didn't even touch my paycheck. It went right to my bills.

28. I really need to suck it up.

Adults shouldn't whine like this. I need to act like an adult.

29. I’d give anything to go back to kindergarten.

Kindergarten was so carefree. I want to be carefree.

30. I really should have used nap time wisely back in the day.

https://giphy.com/gifs/rain-depressed-joey-E2d2tsgz7iHo4

I need a nap so bad. Just give me five minutes.

31. Why don’t adults get nap time?

Naps would benefit everyone.

32. I want to go on a vacation by myself. Is that bad?

I need alone time like now.

33. Why is everything that I like so expensive?

It's time to be an adult and get only what I need from the store.

34. I really shouldn’t buy this.

https://giphy.com/gifs/shopping-expensive-shocked-jv0TnQE80z8wU

I'm not even going to look at it. I'm walking away.

35. I need to get my life together.

https://giphy.com/gifs/kimmyschmidt-l0IylDbgZ9UBb0Boc

One day, I'll have it all together. I hope.

life stages

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College

87115

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

waitlisted

Swoon

Navigating the Talking Stage: 21 Essential Questions to Ask for Connection

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

National Writers Society

149720

a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less

single life

Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

Marist College

53257

loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets

StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Recommended for you

35 Thoughts All Twenty-somethings Have That Are Instantly Followed By 'Wow, I'm Getting Old'

Can I press rewind and go back in time?

1. I’ve been out of high school for how many years now?

2. Is that someone I went to high school with?

3. I know this person, but I can’t remember her name.

4. Do I know that person? Don’t make eye contact. Don’t make eye contact.

5. I think I’m an adult now. What’s the exact age?

6. Can I sign this, or do I still need a parent signature?

7. There are so many bills with my name on it.

8. Is it OK that I still don’t understand how to do my taxes?

9. Do I have to go the doctor by myself now?

10. Is that spot on my arm normal? Hopefully, it’ll just go away.

11. Am I too old to be afraid of needles?

12. Why am I always so tired?

13. I guess I need to have a bed time.

14. Maybe I should start waking up earlier.

15. Is it the weekend? Yes, I get to sleep.

16. Sleep is the most AMAZING thing EVER.

17. I just want to stay home.

18. I remember this show. It came on when I was kid.

19. Why don’t kids play outside anymore?

20. Why do all of the kids shows SUCK these days?

21. What time is it? Did the weather already come on?

22. I remember when there was no such thing as an iPhone.

23. Back in my day, we couldn’t record TV shows.

24. If I had pitched a fit like that when I was little, I would be in so much trouble.

25. Coupons are so COOL.

26. I can’t wait for payday.

27. There goes my paycheck. I might cry.

28. I really need to suck it up.

29. I’d give anything to go back to kindergarten.

30. I really should have used nap time wisely back in the day.

31. Why don’t adults get nap time?

32. I want to go on a vacation by myself. Is that bad?

33. Why is everything that I like so expensive?

34. I really shouldn’t buy this.

35. I need to get my life together.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Subscribe to our
Newsletter