"I've Gotten To A Point Where I Can't Stand It": 18 Everyday Frustrations That Older Adults Refuse To Tolerate As They Age
As I near the next decade of my life, I notice myself tolerating certain things less and less, like my former multi-step skincare routine or my upstairs neighbors' very loud parties. Recently, redditor DiskoKittyy asked the r/AskReddit community to share the little things they simply can't stand as they get older. Here are the big and small pet peeves they shared.
1."Loud noise."
"Mine is competing noises — TV on, kids playing with a toy that makes noise, husband talking. It's too much at once."
2."Going out after I already got home. It's non-negotiable if the bra has been removed already."
"Once my bra is off and my bonnet is on, my phone is on silent, and I'm watching cartoons."
3."Wearing clothes that are uncomfortable for the sake of fashion. My tolerance for cute but painful shoes, itchy fabric, annoying tags, etc., has gone way down. Also, now that I've discovered they make dresses, skirts, and women's pants that actually have real pockets, I can't go back to the shitty fake ones that barely hold a credit card."
"This is me as well. I used to love getting dressed up in my mid-20s. I had so many fancy dresses and found any occasion to wear them. Now, I will wear leggings and an old baggy cardigan because I like an elastic waistband."
4."Stuff over substance. Material things matter less. It's all about experiences, relationships, and functionality."
5."Working."
"I'm so over it. If I were paid enough to actually thrive and didn't have to spend 42.5 hours in an office every week, I wouldn't mind it as much. But as it is, no. The US needs a major work reform. Actually, the entire country needs an overhaul."
6."Drama."
"I seriously had to walk away from a friend group because they would not stop with the drama. Every six months, like clockwork, they'd be picking who was kicked out of the friend group over some minor thing. Once that would die down, we'd get like a quiet two or three months before the next made-up drama started. I'm too old for this shit. I just want to have a nice time with my friends."
7."Buying new things. I loved spending money on shiny new shit when I was younger, and now I just want things that are functional and will last a long time."
"Nothing makes my heart sing more than every time I use a quality tool that is made for a specific job. I get it now, Dad. You were right."
8."Abrasiveness or people who are contrarian for the sake of being contrarian."
"Truly no patience for being a devil's advocate anymore. The devil doesn't need more advocates. Purposefully taking things in the most pedantic/hyperbolic ways just to one-up you or something is highly annoying, and I don't doubt some people like doing it for that reason."
9."Alcohol."
—None
"Yes, and it's wild how sometimes you turn into the black sheep with friends who still drink. I actually got cursed out and called a simp by two of my old friends. I still like to have a few drinks in moderation, but since I couldn't go out and get trashed four nights a week, I was told I was on a tight leash.
Like, I'm 29, pushing 30, and trying to get settled. I just finished my education and am trying to find a new house, get out of this crummy apartment, and eventually have a family.
I honestly don't know how they still do it and function, let alone afford it."
10."My tolerance for annoying people is now very limited. If you bring a negative vibe to my life, I'll cut you off without a second thought."
11."Arguing with strangers online. Now, if I see something I feel is ignorant, I just mute the post, scroll past it, or unfriend the person who posted it. Our social media experience is what we make it, and I can't believe I spent so many years yelling at people in comment sections."
12."TV — it becomes so formulaic and predictable. The characters are completely unrelatable."
"Not to mention 75% of a program consists of commercials, and most shows on TV are complete garbage anyway. On top of all that, providers charge us $100+/month for this privilege."
13."Going out to the bars until 1 a.m. Give me a happy hour with the guys over that any time."
"This switched pretty heavily for me in the years following college. I think it just comes with wanting and needing to be more productive during the day. I can still stay out until two or three on a weekend here and there, but I still look forward to happy hour hangouts more than the long nights."
14."Inconsiderate behavior and people. Whether it's slow drivers in the left lane, people who walk around in stores and live like no one else is there, people who are rude to staff or retail workers, or people who are oblivious to the delay, stress, and discomfort they are causing other people by their behavior. Man, I cannot take it anymore. I'm at a point where I just call it out and go in on people in public."
15."Wearing makeup. I used to put on a full face of makeup EVERY SINGLE DAY, but then COVID hit. Since I work in healthcare, I had to wear full PPE (gown, mask, and shield) every day for eight hours. I quit wearing anything but an eyebrow pencil and a little mascara. Now I'm at a point where I only wear a full face for REALLY special events because I honestly don't care what people think about how I look anymore."
16."Children. They are noisy, sticky little disease machines."
"I kept being told the older I got, the more I'd want kids because of biology, but my biology has been steering me further and further from kids every day."
17."Flying. I've gotten to a point where I can't stand it. Every part of it sucks and keeps getting worse. I'd honestly rather drive long distances."
"My wife wants to go on a big trip for our 25th anniversary. She was thinking of Ireland or Australia. All I can think about is the plane ride, both the cost and the pain in my knees and back."
18."Winter. I just hate the cold and the fact that it feels like it's permanently dark. I know we get daylight, but it's when I'm at work. The older I get, the worse it is."
"I hate going out in the cold. It makes my lungs hurt, my face hurt, my hands hurt, and my energy dissipates like I'm a cold-blooded reptile! It's miserable. I don't understand people who think it's fun. I keep trying, but I just don't get it at all."
What do you refuse to tolerate the older you get? Tell us in the comments or fill out this anonymous form.
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
