Take it from me because I am also 20 years old and am currently working 66 hours a week that requires manual labor.

I used to worry about what life will be like when it’s 30 years down the road and i’m pushing my 50s and can feel my body start to break down. But now that i set myself up this early on in my life I don’t even think twice about future health issues.

I worked for a plumbing company after high school bc college wasn’t an option and I knew I could earn a living as a plumber. Even at 18 I was scared I’d end up like the blue collar workers of the generation that raised us and regret not going to college when I’m old.

But I was lucky enough to get into my local plumbers Union at a very young age. If I stayed non union i’d probably work until i’m 60 before retirement but now I get to look forward to the option of retiring after 30 years and collecting my pension. Physical labor is apart of many successful occupations. You just have to be smart enough to choose the right one

I'm 41 and I work in a ware house lifting the same amounts as you do every day. I know that later on I can request to go on light duty if I can't continue with the heavy lifting. Imagine 9 hrs a day of walking, lifting, climbing ladders, and crawling around to find products.

If you have the option you can ask if they can give you lighter work, so you're not lifting anything too heavy too often. You can go to school part time, you would have to ask and see if your job would be flexible to work with your school schedule.

Make sure you're lifting properly, one wrong move and you can tweak some thing or injure yourself.

Take care of your self too, work out regularly, do some stretching and make sure you're getting enough sleep and you could do your job for a long time. Make sure you're getting enough calcium which can help prevent you from getting brittle bones.

You have 30 years to worry about it. Most people would move up to a less physically demanding job.

When I was a cook, I had to lift 40-50 pounds, assistant manager up to 25, manager, Maybe a few pounds. Area Manager & above even less. (I never made it past manager, started my own business)

You become the boss and get a strong 20 yr old to handle the big dogs. {But you will still be strong and capable at age 50 (generally speaking).}

thought about that because i work as a line cook which is physical labor. your on your feet all day, cooking for long hours in the heat, fast paced, lifting heavy pots full of stocks and soups or w.e., etc..

i decided to double major into a field that i enjoy more then cooking and pays more as well so i can transition into that field while im still young. i've worked other labor intensive jobs as well. my dad owns his own contractor company where he basically goes to peoples houses and fix them from the inside out. not just houses but apartments with no elevators. imagine carrying heavy loads up 5-8 stories by hand that shet is hell on your legs and back. he works alone so i usually am forced to help him since i was a little kid trust me my back is all fked up just from helping him but he has been doing it for years.

That won't happen when you are 40 or 50 and not likely even 60. 70 - perhaps, perhaps not until you are 75 or 80. By that time, you should be retired.

Every vet tech I've met in my life has injured his back on the job.

When or if that happens, it can crush your spirit and you feel useless. Often the injuries or arthritis makes it impossible to even work at Walmart as that's all standing and walking. Unless you saved money and also learned to do some desk job you can end up homeless

Well, there are many options. Why not go to a subcategory of similar work? How about teaching others that wish to know what you do? A desk job at a vet is also good. You may even learn new things! And yes, hatred to the school and studying, but learning the basics and more advanced stuff in classes is just too important when you have found something you love to do. What if you miss out on something that could help that huge dog you are restraining? The new generations older people are getting more healthier and fit, i guess you actually dont need to worry as much as you think as long as you dont have an accident or get sick! After work, even if you are tired, stretch out your legs, arms and most importantly, your back. Its simple, but oh so important. Its like brushing your teeth; do it everyday, and you keep em from becoming bad. It piles up the longer you hold it off. Be stubborn, you can do it champ!

Googke it