Do these 5 things in your 20s to avoid regrets later in life

When you're in your twenties, you may not feel the need to think about what life will be like in your thirties or forties. But according to a few Quora users, now is the time to plan for the next few decades.

Between all the things your future self will thank you for and the things your future self won't be able to do, there's a lot to accomplish before you turn 30.

Here are five valuable pieces of advice from a discussion thread that answers the question, "What should one do in their 20's to avoid regrets in their 30's and 40's?"

It's okay if what all your friends are doing or what your family expects doesn't work for you.

"I felt like a failure throughout my 20s because most of my university friends seemed happy in corporate jobs that made me miserable," said 30-year-old Carolyn Cho.

"It's only within the past year that I've started to come to terms with who I really am and what really makes me happy. Life is not one-size-fits-all. Choose the career and lifestyle that are true to you, not a version of you that you wish you were."

We're taught to assume we're all suited for 9 to 5 office jobs and suburban houses with kids, but there are a hell of a lot more options out there.

Many twenty-somethings won't have the chance to be sexually adventurous once they're older and in committed relationships, so they'd might as well live it up now.

"Have happy (safe) sex more and earlier," June Chan wrote.

On the other hand, wrote Hiro J. Kobayashi, "Sex with no strings can be fun, but it's better if you feel for the person you're with."

Enjoy your sexual freedom, but only do it on your own terms.

It may not be what you want to hear, but older folks say not to blow all your savings before you hit 30.

"Take first step toward financial planning," said Suraj Mukade. "You may lose your job, you may get [a] severe injury such that you won't be able to do any work, you may need to buy a car to avoid public transport efforts, [and] you may need to hospitalize your parents."

"Don't be a slave to funding a lifestyle that will not last," echoed Carolyn Cho. "Learn to live modestly and save up, and then you will have earned the right to purchase yourself some treats, in moderation."

Not everyone in their 20s knows what they want to do with their lives, but don't let that paralyze you from trying to figure it out.

Dirk Hooper recommends envisioning what your ideal life looks like in five , 10, and 20 years, then working backwards and figuring out what it takes to get there.

"Approaching 30, I finally started asking some questions about who I was and what I wanted to contribute to the world, and that's when things started to fall into place," they said.

Hooper also recommend writing down your goals, which "forces you to nail down what's really in your mind" and "gives you a tangible record that you can refer to over time."

Most users agree that communication skills will improve pretty much every area of your life, and failing to develop them now will set you back years down the road.

"When it comes to the professional market, the ability to communicate effectively, sell yourself, turn a non-believer into a believer, give an engaging presentation, and think on your feet will always set you apart from the crowd," said Lauren Ramesbottom.

"Sure, there's the obvious benefits of a high GPA, but the person who can get up in front of a room full of people and articulate themselves eloquently and effectively has an undeniable value to almost any company."

They added that learning to communicate can save you from a lot of bad relationships: "While our generation endures the realities of 'hook-up culture' and various other trends that make dating complicated, half of the prevalent issues could be absolved with improved communication."

Sure, your twenties are for enjoying, and you don't want to get too bogged down with the future. But you'll thank yourself later if you lay the groundwork for future success and happiness now.