52 Things I learned in 2017
People who don’t want to stay in your life will leave regardless of how hard you try to keep them.
The only person who is guaranteed to be there for you at the end of the day is yourself.
That said, treasure the people who’ve been with you through thick and thin.
Cut people who make you feel lesser out of your life.
Stop telling personal details to people who don’t care.
The end result is the same whether you stress over it or not. If you get a bad grade, examine what you did wrong and move on - there’s no point dwelling over things that already happened.
Spending time alone helps you reflect.
Keeping a journal is very cathartic.
Chamomile tea eases symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Getting enough sleep works miracles in keeping panic attacks and mood swings in check.
Too much noise is an anxiety trigger.
Zinc helps heal acne.
Wait two weeks in between introducing new skin care products so you can actually identify what’s causing what.
Reading the ingredients list on skin care and hair care products makes a big, big difference. Some things to avoid, personally: Alcohol denat, fragrance, essential oils, products heavy in silicone, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
Coconut oil is actually highly comedogenic and may be breaking you out.
Don’t trust those Pinterest “DIY beauty hacks”. Some of them are downright dangerous. See below:
Don’t put lemon juice on your face.
Baking soda will destroy your skin’s protective layer.
Wear your sunscreen! Every! Day! Even in the winter, because snow reflects UV rays.
A nice jacket and boots make you look polished even if you’re wearing an old sweater and jeans that haven’t been washed in a week along with it.
A mesh washing bag will greatly extend the lifespan of your knitted and delicate clothes.
You really don’t need as many clothes as you think you do.
No, seriously, the fashion industry is the world’s second largest polluter.
Nobody really cares what you’re doing at the gym. It’s fine if you’re lifting less weight than the person next to you. It’s fine if you’re not running as fast on the treadmill. People are too busy worrying about themselves.
Yes, she’s very pretty. Yes, her eyelashes are very long and her nose is perfectly shaped and boys swoon when she looks at them. But beauty fades. One day we’ll all be wrinkly and saggy. Wouldn’t you rather have someone who loves you for your quirks and habits and knowledge?
Your environment influences your behavior more than you might expect.
Vodka is disgusting.
Boxed wine, however, is surprisingly nice.
Good quality stationery makes taking notes and doing homework much less painful.
Similarly, a nice water bottle (one that keeps your drink insulated, maybe?) helps you drink more water.
Habit is a powerful thing. Use it to your advantage.
Buy gift sets when they’re on sale and stockpile them to give as gifts so you don’t spend as much on presents.
When online shopping, add things to your cart and then close out of the tab. Sometimes you’ll get coupons from a desperate retailer trying to win you back. Sometimes you’ll realize you didn’t need the item at all.
Change is inevitable. There’s no point in holding on to the “good ol’ days” - There’ll be more of them, I promise.
Your health is your first priority. Without it you won’t be able to enjoy your other accomplishments.
Life is the amalgamation of tiny moments. Appreciate those moments, and you’ll enjoy life more.
Grades are secondary to learning. Did you get a bad grade? Did you learn something? If so, you still came out ahead.
It’s better to spend 3 focused hours working on schoolwork than 6 mediocre hours where you’re half distracted. More time doesn’t equal better grades, and wouldn’t you rather be doing something you enjoy?
If you’re not getting the results you want, you might have to switch methods.
Prioritize. Every minute you spend doing an activity that doesn’t contribute to your life is a minute you could have spent doing something meaningful.
Squinting your eyes in photos just a tiny bit makes your smile look more authentic.
A good pair of winter boots can save yourself from injury. Invest in a pair with good traction!
Thermal athletic gear will keep you warm even when it’s 2 degrees outside!!!!
Make an effort to remember people’s names. It gets awkward very quickly when someone remembers your name but you don’t remember theirs.
Befriend people who inspire you to be better people.
Success isn’t final, but neither is failure. Don’t let either one stop you from working towards improvement.
Invest in experiences, not things. Spending money to go karaoking with your friends is very different from spending money on another jacket because you think it “looks nice”.
Time flies by strangely fast as you get older.
Stop chasing boys who don’t care. The right one will make an effort for you.
It’s really hard to be friends with someone after a breakup, especially if it was a serious relationship. Take the time to remove them from your life so you can properly grieve and heal.
There will be times you want to text them in the middle of the night and beg them to take you back. There will be evenings where you suddenly miss them with an intensity that aches. This is a part of the healing process, an emotional scab that is itching at you to pick at it. Don’t do it, it will only cause you more pain.
Hard work pays off in the end, even if it’s not in the way that you imagined.
