You don’t become an adult just because you stop being a teenager. Here are 30 things that we wish we had heard more when we were younger.
1. Say No
“It’s ok to say ‘no’ to anyone. Don’t let anyone in your life guilt trip you into doing something you don’t want to do or are uncomfortable with”.
2. Do What You Want
“It’s exactly as lame to not do something you want to do because it’s too mainstream or popular as it is to do something only because it’s cool and the cool kids are doing it”.
3. Learn A New Language
“Learn a second language. It’s good for your brain, and it’s a lot easier when you’re young”.
4. Save Now
“Start trying to save money now. You will definitely thank yourself later on”.
5. Make Diverse Friendships
“The measure of whether someone has the potential to be a new friend of yours is NOT whether they like a bunch of things you like. It is entirely possible to become friends with people who like a ton of things you’ve never heard of, or even already decided you dislike”.
6. Own Up To Your Mistakes
When you make a mistake, own up to it. People are more willing to help you when you admit you did a dumb thing. This goes for school, work, and personal life.
7. Learn Marketable Skills
“Get a marketable skill, unskilled labor sucks. You need something that’s going to pay you, it doesn’t have to be your life’s passion but you do need to be able to tolerate it”.
8. People Just Don’t Care
“Cashiers don’t care if you buy condoms. Just buy them”.
9. Acquire Knowledge
“If you don’t have a passion, learn new skills. You might find your passion or something you’re good at”.
10. Stay Away From Toxic Friendships
“Most of your friends are the product of geographic convenience. Just because you grew up being friends with a neighbour or a fellow student, doesn’t mean you owe them your undying loyalty when they start mistreating you”.
11. Trust Your Gut
“Learn to trust your gut when in strange situations. If something feels off / wrong, it probably is. Don’t go along with something if it feels wrong”.
12. Time Flies
“Life moves very quickly after leaving school, years go by so quickly. Please don’t be scared, adult life is great but you just have to keep yourself active and doing different things. Just make sure to appreciate everything you have and try not to have regrets”.
13. Nothing Lasts Forever
“There’s always more to it. Right now isn’t the be all and end all. Everything is temporary”.
14. True Love Evolves
“The person you love at 17 may not be the person you love at 30. You change. They change. And that is OK”.
15. Be Yourself
“I graduated 10 years ago from high school, and none of those people are in my life now. So, take your time being you and grow your self esteem and talents now over wasting time trying to impress those kids you won’t even remember in a few months after graduation”.
16. Learn How To Cook
“Learn how to cook. It’s way cheaper and usually faster than takeout”.
17. Do Not Let People Take Advantage Of You
“People (employers, etc) will take advantage of your naivete. In many cases, this will be illegal”.
18. Learn How To Deescalate Difficult Situations
“And how to disagree with a teacher/someone in authority without sounding like a know-it-all or in a condescending manner. A situation with differing opinions doesn’t have to be confrontational”.
19. Prioritize Your Mental Health
“Don’t put off dealing with mental health issues. Developing unhealthy coping mechanisms for emotional issues will screw you up big time down the road. If you have issues, deal with them head-on, right away. It can take time, but start the work now”.
20. Be The Change
“Hold yourself accountable for how you want the world to be. Be a part of the world you want to live in”.
21. Drive Safely
“When you get to driving, you need to realize that the laws of physics apply to you. Slow down and don’t horse around; you’re driving a very heavy machine at speeds we did not evolve to deal with. Be safe”.
22. Exercise
Create a habit of exercising (even just small exercises) every day. Move your body and you’ll feel better.
23. Live Your Life In Reality
“Do not base your life and personality around social media, and the façade that you are trying to create”.
24. You Are Smart Enough
“Everyone is smart, just at different things. People can be book smart or people smart or machine smart, etc. But the difference between successful people and not so much is the application and dedication you give”.
25. Hygiene Is Important
“If you don’t brush your teeth, you will regret it. Take care of your body and overall health”.
26. You Can Be ANYTHING
“I’ve said this before, but it’s important. When someone says you can’t do something in life, it means they can’t do it, not that you can’t”.
27. Read And Educate Yourself
“Reading has numerous benefits that go beyond entertainment. It has the power to improve your vocabulary, your critical thinking skills, and even improve your social skills”.
28. Find Your Passion
“Don’t stay in a job you hate. Find something you can enjoy. It sounds silly, but it helps to find something positive about your line of work. If you can’t, work towards a new career. Value yourself and your time. Don’t let work walk all over you”.
29. Try To Eat Healthy
“The best way you can maintain a healthy weight is to eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, no-fat or low-fat products, beans, eggs, fish and nuts. Eating healthfully means getting the right balance of nutrients”.
30. Nothing Is As Important As It Seems
“You don’t matter. I don’t matter. None of us matter. Kill your ego, feed your soul. Nothing is as important as it seems”.
