If I could travel back in time and have a conversation with 18-year-old Val, there are three things I’d tell her to start doing right now. Teenage Val would probably raise her eyebrows at me, disbelieving, thinking she knows better.1 She might dawdle. But I’d stand firm.
You ignorant fool, I’d say, these three things may make little difference to your life now. But you’ll thank me in three decades when you retire early and set off to travel the world.
I’d do my best to convince teenage Val of the wisdom of my ways, to paint her the pretty picture of what life could look like if—starting today—she started doing these three things.
Alas, there is no time machine.2 And this potentially life-changing conversation with my teenage self never took place. As things stand, enlightenment only hit me in my 30s. But even though I’ve only been doing these three things for a few years, they’re already making a difference to my life.
If only I knew to start in my teens, by now the positive effects would have compounded to give me a life I can now only dream of.
But then again, if I had always been doing these three things, I probably wouldn’t appreciate the significance of their impact on my life. After all, I don’t feel compelled to write a post extolling the virtues of brushing teeth every day.
Maybe that’s a post worth writing. But enough foreplay, here are three things I’d coerce teenage Val to start doing right now.
3 Things I’d tell my young self
1. Manage your money
Back in 2019, I was about to leave my job for another that would pay me 60% more. I was leaving for other reasons, but the money was the icing on top.
Excited about the big increase, I effusively told my former boss about it. Can I give you a piece of advice, he asked. I nodded. Whatever you get on top of what you earn now, invest it. All of it. Gravely he continued, one of the big regrets in my life is not investing in index funds earlier.
I held my former boss in high esteem and took his advice to heart. A few months into my new role, I opened an investment account and bought into my first mutual fund, my part then valued at $575.
For the past three years, I’ve been shifting money earning effectively zero interest rates in my current accounts into funds and shares. I’ve also made sure to invest part of my salary every month, as my former boss kindly advised.
I’m no investment guru, and I’m by no means making money on all of my investments. But I wish I’d started investing sooner. For years I’d had a large sum of money idling—in fact shrinking with inflation—in bank accounts. All the while it could have been growing elsewhere, if only I’d thought to move it.
When it comes to life savings, the price of inaction is high. It may not be obvious now, but the same way interests compound, so does the cost of doing nothing.
If I could have a chat with my younger self, the first thing I’d tell her to do would be to start educating herself on money management so she can start early, then retire at 50 and go travel the world.
2. Buy health insurance
Last year, I got my first-ever private health insurance. Not because I didn’t want one before, but because I couldn’t get one.
When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2015, I became persona non grata in the insurance world. Every insurance agent I spoke to, as soon as they found out I took bipolar medication (which I have to take for the rest of my life), couldn’t get off the phone fast enough.
This wasn’t an issue when I was a full-time employee at companies, as I could claim corporate health insurance. But once I quit corporate work in 2020, not being able to get insured became a problem.
Not until I moved to Vietnam (where mental health conditions are surprisingly looked upon more kindly in the insurance world) did a company agree to take my money and shoulder my risks. But, because I already have a bipolar diagnosis in my medical history, all mental-health related treatments are excluded.
Given that counseling is something I’d like to get regularly and can be fairly expensive, not being able to pay for it with my insurance is a bummer.
I’m grateful I am finally covered, but I can’t help wishing I’d got insured earlier, before my bipolar condition was discovered. Then I’d be able to get the regular counseling I’m sure I need without worrying about the costs.
3. Exercise
Last but not least, I’d tell teenage Val to get off her ass and exercise. Right now. Doesn’t matter what, as long as she incorporates it into her routine and gets used to doing it regularly. She wouldn’t believe me, but I’d tell her she may even come to enjoy it after some time.
I came late to the exercise party. But I can’t overstate the difference it has made in a few short years. My life is best understood split in two halves: before and after I started exercising regularly. The life before I cracked the code was drab and slow, while the life after bright and vibrant.
When I exercise, I work better, think better, talk better, relax better, eat better, sleep better, care better, and just feel better. In the more eloquent words of my boss:
Imagine there was a magic pill that eased anxiety and depression, improved focus and mood, helped you sleep, caused you to lose weight, have better sex, and guaranteed you lived longer. Oh, and it’s free and has no known side effects.
That magic pill exists…
It’s called “exercise.”
Teenage Val would dismiss me as some exercise freak, and she wouldn’t be wrong. But I’d insist she start exercising, give her no choice. Because as sure as she’ll initially hate it, she’ll come to thank me for it… eventually.
What do you think?
Those are three things I’d tell my younger self to go do right now if I could. What about you?
What would you tell your younger self?
Let’s imagine for a minute that we can all travel back in time. You get to sit down with teenage you for an hour. What will you tell them to do that will give them a life beyond their wildest dreams? Please hit “reply” or leave a comment—I read every response and I’d love to hear from you. If you want, share this with someone who has got the life you want for your younger self.
Until next Friday… Stay thoughtful,
Val
Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash
Difficult trait to shake off, this.
Or is there…