SOMETHING broke in society after 2020 and nobody wants to talk about it.

And I'm not talking about masks, lockdowns, or COVID. I mean the FEELING of life.

Everything reopened. We went back to work. Restaurants filled up. Events came back. But somehow life still feels... different.

Years disappear faster. People feel more disconnected. Everything feels more expensive, stressful & rushed.

And somehow we're all constantly exhausted. I can't even explain exactly what we lost. I just know life before 2020 felt more ALIVE. But why!

For context, I used to work from home 7am - 3pm. No commute. Loved my job. Had time for gym, cooking lunch fresh every day, seeing friends, laundry, dinner prep, and not dreading Monday.

I now have a 9-5 with an hour commute each way. Suddenly things like house chores, coffee catch ups, any form of exercise, cooking big dinners - mostly out the window and no hope of ticking off all of them.

What’s more is I can’t understand how adults are also fitting kids into this kind of schedule and still finding time for home, self, and social life.

I also have newfound stress that if I’m not in bed by 10 I won’t be able to function as well the next day. Preparing my lunch and getting ready takes a big chunk of my morning before the commute. By the time I get home there’s only time for dinner and a bit of TV.

Has anyone actually found a good routine or ‘5-9’ guide to feel like you do more than just work and commute?

When my alarm goes off for work in the morning, I genuinely fight the urge to cry. I find it physically and mentally difficult to pull myself out of bed in the morning. I’m a hybrid worker and it does feel easier on the days I don’t have to go in office so perhaps deep down it’s that I despise going into the office more. I do hate going into the office.

Anyhow I can’t fathom that I have to get up and get ready for work for at least another 20 years.

I recently tried buying a townhome, and quickly realized that among many factors saving money and investing money was the better move for me because my income barely qualifies me for something decent. I don't even qualify for a 1 bedroom apartment in the area I would want to live which is 35 minutes from where I live now.

After doing a ton of math, my current savings trajectory puts me [25 turning 26 in a few months] at 250k across my brokerage account and retirement accounts by 28/29. The sacrifice being, I don't travel, I don't really have a big social life and just hangout with my parents, and I don't date because I am gay and my parents are anti-gay.

I know these are all reasons I should adult, but I also think moving for the sake of dating isn't benefical to my goals, and I really think waiting until I reach 250k will set me up for success later in life when I ideally meet someone or am ready to buy a home.

Part of me is trying to justify the trade-offs, and part of me sort of accepts that at least for now I am too busy to even bother dating to start with so it isn't really something I am missing out on.

I’ve got like 20 on my bed, ranging from a 6ft alligator to a tinny dog. We are all best friends, just as an adult I feel like I’m weird. Does it really matter? Like seriously, I would take them on drives and hangout in public if I wouldn’t get made fun of. They are so cute and the best.

My boyfriend and i have been talking about buying a place together and the more i think about it the more nervous i get.

We've been together for two years now and renting feels like throwing money away but sharing a 30 year mortgage before we're even married feels like a huge step, especially because we'd probably be putting in different amounts for the down payment.

Like what happens if we break up? what if neither of us can afford to keep the house?

I wanna be excited about it but my brain keeps going straight to the worst case scenarios

Am i overthinking this or would you guys wait until marriage?

I spoke with my mother in law yesterday, I asked if she gave our offer of paying for her will and trust any more thought? (Because if not I’m using that money towards something else).
She has cancer in 3 locations and she is choosing not to treat it.
Right now she owns a house in a beach city 12 hours away. She also is living in a house that is currently in probate. (Her parent’s house). There is a second person (non-family member) that is on the will if she dies and the house isn’t settled gets the house. It’s in her parents will that way.

She said she has the will written down. It’s in her underwear drawer. That should be enough…. We should just get all the things.

I got a little upset with her that we have offered to get the house out of probate 2 yrs ago. And put it in her name and her sons plus help put all the things in to a trust.

She told me I am being a bit dramatic….

I am attempting to save the BS and stress in about 3 years. Because my husband’s siblings don’t have the money. The 2 are already on welfare. We don’t have the money but could make changes to have it. If that be a loan or 401k or changing our investments for a short time.
If not we have plans to let the state take all her property we aren’t chasing good money after bad and stress.

Why is this so hard for adults to understand?

I frequently hear how childless people will not have anyone to take care of them in old age, and I laugh to myself that although my adult children are wonderful and doing well, I would be surprised if they meaningfully helped me get through old age. I am not expecting it and I have always endeavored to have enough money to pay people to care for me if it comes to that. Just curious about parents who are now old and infirmed— are your children taking care of you (other than ‘let me take over your finances because you are getting too old to take care of your money without me’)? Am I getting too cynical in my old age? What was your experience?

I’m 38 and I live in Chengdu, China. After becoming unemployed, I started making videos about my everyday life.

Part of the reason is that I want to have a record of this time: what I do with my days, what I try, and how things change along the way. That includes the times when I’m still figuring things out and don’t have any clear answers.

I’m also wondering whether making videos could become a new direction for me. I want to give it a real try, see what I can make, and find out whether it’s something I’d want to keep doing.

At the moment, I’m still exploring. I’m documenting my daily life while figuring out whether I’d like to do this long term. I don’t know yet whether it could eventually become a job or simply remain a way to record my life.

I wanted to share where I’m at and hear from people who’ve been through something similar. Has anyone here tried something new after becoming unemployed in their thirties? How did you get started, and what helped you decide whether to stick with it?

I’ve confirmed a date for Thursday. I always am unsure if I should message on the day and like at what time to confirm with her. I book and confirm about three days out but then what do I say on the day? I’m a very stupid 30 year old man. Always feels awkward sending a ‘See you tonight Laura!’

When you finally hit the age of 30 that’s when life actually gets real and you realize you are 10 years away from being 40 😓 and you have no idea wtf you’re actually doing …

For those who enjoy nonalcoholic wine or beer, what makes you prefer it over other drinks? I’m more of a social drinker myself, so I’m genuinely curious about the appeal, especially when it comes to taste!

My appetite just disappears. Im not hungry anymore even if i was starving to start with.

And even if i still technically want to eat, the last thing I want is the thing I just made, even if I made exactly what I felt like and made it well.

By the time I've cooked it, my brain is just totally over it. Nah, sorry coconut curry with crispy chicken, I need some space from you right now.

On the plus side, Tomorrow Me is gonna be absolutely stoked like 'Fuck yeah coconut curry i didnt even have to cook! Woo!' You're welcome, Future Me.

But i do wish I could have the satisfaction of enjoying the meal i just put effort into when its fresh from the pan!

I’m (M23) and I just started my first full time job a couple months ago. In past internships, I feel like I’ve received unwanted relationships in the workplace, from both men and women (doesn’t matter but I’m straight). For example, in my most recent internship, a woman coworker I had met at a networking event for interns came across my Hinge profile and directly asked me on a date. I thought she was attractive, sure, but because of the stigma surrounding office relationships, I’m just uncomfortable with dating coworkers.

In that case, I just pretended like I never saw her like on Hinge. However, in my current role, I feel like I’ve been hit on by another coworker. She’s given me very light invitations to hang outside of work that seemed very low stakes to ignore. But she’s also started to text me to strike conversation. Every time I come into the office I see her, so I feel like I can’t ignore her texts. Again, it’s conflicting because I am attracted to her, but I feel uncomfortable. I feel like I’m wrestling with ethics and temptation.

In general, how do I manage these situations throughout my career? I feel like jumping the gun and explicitly rejecting them may cause hostility or awkwardness, but choosing to tolerate it creates its own issues.

It seems like everything we consume these days is negative - from social media, to music, to movies and shows.

I woke up this morning and looked at my upcoming rent bill. I had an injury at work because I work at a warehouse, and I had to cut my previous week short. I’ve also been sick for up to three weeks now, but I still managed to work.
Yesterday, I thought I should get NyQuil for the fever and cough, but I started wondering if I could afford it because rent was coming up. I still got it, and it helped me.
This morning, I woke up and wondered if I should buy breakfast or get little snacks for the day because it would be cheaper. And then I started weeping. I started screaming in my car.
I am the person who can usually find hope in everything. I work, I imagine an easier future, and I know how much of a miracle it is for me to exist at all in this life.
My love for existence and life herself kept me going. But today, a deeper question came to me: Is it better to leave forever or to live loving a life you can’t afford to live?
Then I think to myself, how cruel that I feel as though I have to choose.
I also know many people feel the same as me, but that ceases to bring comfort.
Then I think to myself, is it better to not have lived at all than to live having love for a life you can’t afford to experience?
Most people are not asking for anything big. They are asking why we work and contribute and then get told to work harder.
“What is the point?” is all I hear inside.

Sounds silly but I’m living in shelters and on the street. I keep getting opportunities for work, money, etc but I don’t have a place where I can communicate - I can’t hop on a zoom call. I have nowhere to do it.

Homeless shelters kick you out - they won’t let you stay there during the day when I need to be communicating with potential employers. I have nowhere where to do this

24F and my brothers 26 and we are close. parents want us out of the house and are gonna get us an apartment to share. But I'm wondering is that weird, usually people room with strangers, or friends. Is sibling okay? We already live together just at parents house so it won't be too different but idk I've never heard of it before. I've heard of adult brother and sister living in the same house in movies but that's about it.

We already get along, rarely fight or argue. Same personality except he goes outside more and has an actual love life whereas I keep to myself more