Early adulthood
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Focus on self-love, since you are the primary source of love in your own life.
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Stop striving for a magical end state where you will finally be happy.
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Practice self-acceptance and avoid routines that make you feel stale.
Every year brings a new version of you.
one person who lived it
Compare yourself only to your past self, not to others or societal timelines.
Everyone progresses at a different speed; it is acceptable to feel you are not where you believe you should be.
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Show up for work, friends, family, and partners consistently.
Time is precious.
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Seek a mentor to accelerate your learning, as one approach suggests it can halve the time required to master a skill compared to learning alone.
A good mentor can reduce the time needed to learn from 10 years to 5 years.
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Let yourself rest to avoid burnout.
Burnout is beyond real.
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Hack your life to make it easier and keep things rolling smoothly, rather than just working harder.
To grease the wheels, not to be lazy.
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Do not do things for others solely because you believe it will guarantee their love.
It won't make them love you.
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Delete social media if it causes fear of missing out.
You are not missing out; you are prioritizing.
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If you find running or gym workouts boring, try bouldering as an alternative.
It feels like solving a problem rather than a chore.
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Focus on sleep as the most critical component of basic self-care.
Sleep is more important than you think; prioritizing it leads to being happier and calmer.
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Focus on showing up to the gym, work, or wherever you need to be, as this constitutes the majority of the effort required.
Showing up is described as 90% of the battle, after which the remaining tasks happen naturally.
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Journal about your problems to process them.
It actually works.
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Stop despairing about aging and view each decade as an opportunity for increased self-understanding.
Life keeps getting better because you learn more every day.
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Create a checklist of goals and achievements to track progress and see your advancement.
To see your progress.
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Be willing to switch career paths if you discover a better fit or stronger aptitude elsewhere.
One person switched from physics (small job market) to computer science (easy for them, huge job market) and never regretted it.
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Ignore calls from government agencies demanding immediate payment via gift cards or money transfers.
Government agencies will never call to pressure you into sending money or paying fines to avoid arrest.
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Observe in class and ask only one genuine question if you are truly confused.
Lecturers remember those who ask real questions rather than performative ones.
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Major in a field that generates income and minor in something you are interested in.
College is an investment.
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Get off the internet and pursue a hobby.
The internet makes everyone appear cool while hiding that everyone is actually pathetic.
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Connect with people out of genuine interest in their experiences rather than focusing on what you can gain from them.
Connection is important for human wellbeing and people have interesting experiences to offer.
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Purchase a small fireproof document safe to keep important papers.
It keeps papers safe even in a catastrophe.
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Limit phone usage and set boundaries to protect dopamine levels.
Phone usage is a distraction that kills dopamine and limits motivation.
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Rely on discipline rather than motivation.
Motivation is fleeting; relying on it ensures you give up when the project becomes work.
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Talk casually to a couple of people in class to build momentum through simple, consistent interaction.
Casual conversation goes a long way without requiring full-on networking.
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Combine trade skills with business and strong people skills to get extraordinary success.
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Incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine.
It helps relieve stress, keeps you positive, and improves sleep quality.
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Continue your education while simultaneously seeking a job.
This provides independence and experience.
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