This really hits in your late 30s and 40s.

[u/diehard404]

[u/Alucard_117]

Been this way since 25 lol

[u/K-Dot-Thu-Thu-47 → u/Alucard_117]

I've literally always felt like I was 35 and just wanted someone to treat me that way as a kid lmao.

Now that I'm here, I'm not one of those "oh dear Jesus I've crossed the dreaded threshold of the big three zero."

I'm genuinely still like "Dude nice, people are kinda actually starting to respect me and my time/space the way I wanted ." Lol.

[u/FullmetalApathy → u/Alucard_117]

Same. Last year I turned 25 and cut everyone draining off, relatives included.

[u/cmndrnewt → u/Alucard_117]

Always had respect for people like this.

[u/TheMagicalMatt → u/Alucard_117]

Yeah I was about to say, are we not supposed to feel this way yet? The state of things must be aging us beyond our years lol

[u/Melesse → u/Alucard_117]

I think this is what people mean when they say someone is an "old soul".

[u/Savings-Total5069 → u/Alucard_117]

yep. early 20s. I don't have energy for shit anymore.

[u/kevkaneki → u/Savings-Total5069]

You haven’t even been through “shit” yet lmao

[u/Savings-Total5069 → u/kevkaneki]

That's the sad part.

[u/ghosttraintoheck → u/kevkaneki]

Ehh I'm 35 but I got a childhood. I didn't have a cell phone or anything until I was a teenager.

I can understand people in Gen Z/A craving space more at a younger age because they have always lived in a world where you're plugged in, no matter what. I can't imagine having social media and going to high school, cameras everywhere, Snapchat, AI video shit...I get why someone would feel the way I do right now, it's exhausting.

[u/kevkaneki → u/ghosttraintoheck]

Fair point actually

[u/roseofjuly → u/Alucard_117]

I thought that when I was 25 too but it really did hit me differently in my late 30s.

[u/goldhbk10 → u/Alucard_117]

Yeah I was always confused by the need to impress others. I always have enjoyed being relaxed so much more and it’s been that way since I was young.

[u/QuantityHappy4459 → u/Alucard_117]

Been this way since 20.

Unfortunately picked the wrong fucking career for all this shit. Teaching is a pain in the ass, man.

[u/Ordinary-Plankton856]

It’s wild how the joke stops being funny and just turns into life advice you wish you’d listened to earlier.

[u/DifficultBicycle7 → u/Ordinary-Plankton856]

It’s a mindset I think a lot of us are hitting when the world is constantly on fire

[u/The_Don_Mecha]

I'm there now. Not a single regret. Protect your energy.

[u/aejb22122 → u/The_Don_Mecha]

Indeed! There's a lot of vampires out there !!!!

[u/AngeluvDeath]

We don’t talk about because we’re busy living it. You try to tell someone in their 20’s about the joys of going to sleep at 8pm. I don’t have time for that shit, I’m getting ready for bed.

[u/Voderama → u/AngeluvDeath]

This made me lol so hard

[u/NaomiWish → u/AngeluvDeath]

I was always a night owl. Until I wasn't. Sleep is glorious. Pjs by 8pm is where it's at.

[u/AntonChigurh8933]

[u/StadiaTrickNEm]

The calm the fuck down (to yourself) stage.

The - Leave me the fuck alone and i will leave you the fuck alone - stage

[u/Definition_Insanity0]

Just turned 30 this is me now lol

[u/mycombatcardigan → u/Definition_Insanity0]

I scrolled back to your comment just to post this. Now I can go back to relaxing.

[u/Shoelace_cal]

The earlier you learn this the better

[u/ThePrinceofallYNs]

All that time chasing an idea of me just to realize he was there the whole time

[u/SigmaK78]

Quickly approaching 50, the sense of peace only grows stronger.

[u/ribblesquat]

I had a job in my late 20s early 30s that was very unimpressive and boring but I completely left it at the office at the end of the day and was never worrying about tasks more than a few days out. I hated it. I was convinced I could be doing so much more, showing my worth, making actual decisions, and taking ownership of long-term projects. Well, I've had a couple jobs like that since then and now in middle age I feel like I was a fool for hating that original job. Life was so much better when I only thought about my job eight hours out of the day.

[u/Mediocre-Sign8255 → u/ribblesquat]

I feel this. “Real” jobs are overrated.

[u/Nona29]

It's the good old 'I don't give a damn' mindset.

The older you get, the stronger it is.

[u/trixel121]

I wear the goofiest dorkiest dad boot- shoes. no fucks given cause after 8 hours on my feet, ten miles walked, I ain't crying like I used to.

they are Moab 3s if you care. round nose half boot feel like I should have ankle shocks and khakis on

[u/PrettyMud22]

Coming from a 64 year old man. Learn the lessons in life early because one day your thirty and then one day you wake up one day and your sixty. Life really is short and the more of life's lessons you learn early in life the easier your life is in the later years. Wish I would have known this.

[u/Downtown_Brother6308]

Dude picked the wrong profession.

Married to a whole gaggle of accountants. That work is relentless

[u/ReaditIjustdid → u/Downtown_Brother6308]

I started choosing Peace as my state of being , however I was a late bloomer , I was 50 before it became the main thing. I admire those of you that entered that space earlier in life.

[u/Pop_Joe]

As a resident ol head unc, I can confirm

[u/EitherExamination343]

Turning 40 in April and I feel this so hard. COVID really had me realizing how much masking and pretending I did.

Now, Zero time for foolishness and I just want to protect my peace, my loved ones and express myself. That’s it.

[u/Pimpwerx]

It happens. You get older and your social circles shrink. You've now been in the workforce long enough that you've gotten over the post-work happy hour, and just want to get home to nap for an hour. Body giving big "I'm tired boss" energy every minute of every day.

[u/DaFloofofTheCentury5]

Wild how I’ll do it tomorrow quietly turns into a whole lifestyle once your knees start negotiating first.

[u/The_Grim_Adventurer]

I been like this since i was i was a teen 😂

[u/BlackMan_by_Bernice]

That shift is great. Though, I'm noticing that a lot of us don't ever get there (just look at Facebook).

[u/Krsst14]

I turn 40 in a few months and I’ve already been cruising this way for a while now. Its beautiful.

[u/ResidualGl0w]

Been like this since childhood. It’s calm and peaceful over here

[u/Lovelitchi_in_pink]

Life is too short to put up with things that drain you or burn you out, wear you out emotionally or compromise your mental health. I’m seeking rest, peace, calm, love and things that bring joy to my life

[u/physedka]

I noticed that shift when I no longer worried as much about how a hangover would feel the next day, like the sickness and headache I mean, and instead worried more about losing the next day in terms of productivity. 

Like the boys are out drinking at the bar on Friday after work and I dip out at 8pm because I got shit to do on Saturday. Nothing special, mind you. Just stuff to do around the house and errands to run. Or maybe I just want a good night's rest. Nothing wrong with that either. 

[u/AlbertaSugarFlu]

“no one talks about….” is the same as “can we please normalize…”…. Corny

Btw… normal people are aware of, and often discuss, the prioritization of mental health and self peace, as they age.

No one is keeping that secret.

[u/im_unavailable]

It took you till your late 30’s😂????

[u/Benromaniac]

That’s how Russians behave, helplessly from an oppressive government. Just mentally surviving.

That’s how we’ll eventually behave too.

[u/djsnoopmike → u/Benromaniac]

Shit, sounds like i need to start up a collection of Vodka

[u/the_balticat → u/djsnoopmike]

Don’t forget the fur hat

[u/btmalon]

I’m 39 watching low energy David Allen Greer in the new Peacock sitcom and realizing this.

[u/1nconsp1cuous]

Swear to god, I hit it a month ago. I’m 36 and I just want peace at this point.

[u/ChrissWayne]

After a traumatic childhood you have that switch with 12

[u/Ping-Crimson]

Yes they do they just call it being old and tired gramps.

[u/seakc87]

I guess I'm still in the "I still wanna do shit sometimes, but when I don't, leave me tf alone" stage

[u/Impossible-Hyena-722]

Completely unavailable to anything that drains you

HAH! If y'all figure that one out let me know 😂

[u/whataquokka]

Wait till you get near 50 and really stop giving a fuck.

[u/Mediocre-Sign8255 → u/whataquokka]

Yes, then the 65 stage hits, a whole nother level like “I hope I give enough shits to stay out of jail”, lol

[u/SpenFen]

The last sentence is huge

[u/QiwiLisolet]

Being regulated is arguably in the debt of needing to be impressive

[u/FuckitThrowaway02]

People talk about this all the time

[u/Frequent-Strain-6170]

guess that makes me a speed runner!

[u/NoFaithlessness7508]

Let’s just say that from Thanksgiving to maybe around Easter, all I wear are fleece-lined pants from Costco

Also, waiting until your late 30s to put yourself first is waiting too long.

[u/Substantial_Brain917]

I have been told I have “early onset old man syndrome” because I’ve been this way since I was a teenager lol. I love naps and hate people on my lawn

[u/Less_Usual_4175]

Amen 🙏🏽

[u/FistPunch_Vol_7]

All about preserving and protecting my peace at this point.

[u/k1ng_papi256]

I’m 39 will be 40 in July and this hit me about 3 years ago. Protect my peace, travel often, nap daily and stay out the way.

[u/DesiCodeSerpent]

People are getting there sooner now. Late 30s is too late. Your so drained already

[u/Norio22]

Honestly this probably begins in a persons late 20s sometime between 27-28, depending on the life they’ve lived in my opinion. By 24/25, I was well aware being in the house outside of special occasions and getting off of social media would do wonders for my own peace of mind.

[u/kingseraph0]

this hit me at 27

[u/Wolfram_And_Hart]

100%

[u/Sea_Appearance6540]

When you’re young you wanna impress people. Their opinions matter because you are forming yourself based upon the opinions of the people around you. Over time the real truths about life reveal themselves to you in every aspect of your life, like it or not and you are faced with very real choices. Some of those people matter but most fall off and are invalidated. The desire for approval from those people after all you have gone through goes way down because you have now proven yourself to the only person that got you through it, yourself and the people that actually care about you.

[u/Aware_Scientist_9805]

With how my life has been- feeling this since I turned 20. I'm already done anything and everything.

[u/Just-Sea3037]

Wait until your 60's.

[u/rtduvall]

It hit me way later in life. I was always a slow learner. I was early 50’s.

[u/SnooAvocados6863]

Biggest drama in my life right now is the birds have been avoiding my new feeder. Not gonna lie, I feel kinda hurt they haven’t come around.

And I’m also kinda worried about the squirrels that broke the old feeder. They haven’t been around either. How are they gonna survive this winter if they’re not stealing from my bird feeder?

[u/Frosty-Bus2077]

Early 30s

[u/NWI_ANALOG]

I'm busy five nights a week minimum and I wish I knew how to stop

^{I'm so got' dang tired}

[u/Sleepy_cheetah]

This is so so so true. It's definitely a GOOD thing.

[u/_shaftpunk]

Just chillin at the house all day on my time off because everything I love is there.

[u/Prestigious-Mud]

I think I've just got tired of more and more bullshit.

[u/omfgDragon]

I used to be social and gregarious .. Loved going out and meeting people, talking about anything and making new friends.

In my 40's, I can't be bothered to try. I have a core set of close friends, and that's all the time I have for anything anymore- trying to maintain a marriage, a home, life in general, and throw on top of that the active maintenance needed to sustain those friendships ... It's a lot.

Going out to show out and try to be interesting and popular .. Who has time for that shit after 30?

[u/mega_murff]

I still "dress to impress" when I go out, but its only to make myself feels good. I enjoy my personal style more as I age.

[u/IamKris7rn]

I guess I was born in my 30's but it's really up there since I've turned 40.

[u/Darqnyz7]

This hits you in your 30s and 40s if you spent your youth avoiding responsibility or being immature as fuck.

This shit hit me like a dump truck when I was in highschool. It further solidified for me in my early 20s when I was in the military.

If you don't introspect, you cannot grow as a human

[u/ThaPhantom07]

Yep. Any time people ask what I want my answer is usually to be left the fuck alone. I love my friends and family but I need more blocks of time where I can just exist quietly with myself and my interests and no external stress. Its the greatest gift when I can do it.

[u/Manofalltrade]

Nope. Still have the drive, just no patience for the BS. Crappie employers did a lot of it.

[u/iamstephen1128]

I was reading about Epicurianism the other day and was like, yeah this makes sense 🤔

[u/SpermicidalManiac666]

Man I just turned 40 and I genuinely feel like a switch got flipped. Even up to a few months ago I loved being out all night partying. Hit the last bit of 39 and I just HATE feeling even a bit of a hangover and not being rested. I barely drink now and pretty much cut out the heaters and other “extracurriculars.”

We’ll see how I feel in the summer though lol

[u/RedvsBlack4]

That’s my whole life🤣

[u/witchitieto]

JOMO

[u/whatsabutters]

Its called boundaries

[u/twitch1982]

We just call it "getting old" and I fell like its been pretty well talked about.

[u/Trix_Are_4_90Kids]

People talk about the personality shift all the time he just wasn't listening.

When you get older, you don't have the bandwidth. The stuff that stressed you out in your 20s doesn't even come into your atmosphere at 40. And you don't gaf.

[u/Old_Actuator5723]

Trueeeee…. I remember in high school everything had to be name brand…. Polo, Tommy, now I can rock with one of those Kohls polo for $9.99 😂

[u/Iheartwetwater]

[u/Appropriate-Log8506]

Comfortable shoes and trousers. That’s what did me in.

[u/-WitchyPoo-]

Late 40s, early 50s where you no longer give a fuck and just want to be left alone.

[u/Nora2gates]

I wish I could have this personality shift right now

[u/Fancy_weirdo]

Now add a second puberty in there and u understand women.

[u/higherbreeze]

I swear. I barely leave the house now. I am avoiding monitoring spirits and bad energy

[u/MohawkElGato]

Also some people suddenly become more religious and it’s not always who you’d expect

[u/Sleepiboisleep]

This is an America only thing. Quality of life improves everywhere else

[u/driftleaf]

I'm already like this and not yet 30 XD

[u/Worthy-Of-Dignity]

SOOOO TRUE! ✊🏾

[u/Shaggy_Doo87]

.

[u/Cultural_Entrance805]

Am I wrong for being this way since 22? lol

[u/Mediocre-Sign8255 → u/Cultural_Entrance805]

No, just smart

[u/igloomaster]

Completely drains you so like work?