Some Life-Advice to Take Into 2016
You always need more moisturizer than you think you do
Resume: education, experience, references. Cover letter: Intro/education, why you are qualified, why you want to work there.
Don’t underestimate how much a cheap-ass throw blanket can brighten up a space.
If you’re going to ignore that “hand wash only” label, at least use the gentle cycle.
Honestly, eat your vegetables. Get your nutrition. Even if it’s the cheap generic canned kind, your body will be thanking you so much.
Eating breakfast can really unfuck your morning. Even just a granola bar or piece of toast or something.
Go with Colombian or Cuban or Puerto Rican brands for your instant coffee.
Learn how to make at least one impressive dish. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming or super fancy, but it should be something that will impress if you bring it to a party.
No one is going to know what brand your clothes or makeup or whatever is, so if you’re using Dollar Tree lipstick or wearing Faded Glory jeans, there’s no need to be ashamed.
Dollar Tree has a pretty decent selection of food and seasonings in most cases. Just putting it out there.
You are never annoying anyone as much as you think you are. You’re actually probably gonna make them smile with that message you want to send.
Generic/dollar store cleaners work just as well as the expensive shit.
If it says “Imitation Cheese Product” on it, stay away. Far away. “Processed Cheese Product” is good though.
If a store has a free rewards card, get it.
Indulging in something frivolous for yourself once in a while is good and important, whether it’s a sweet treat or a bubble bath or buying yourself something.
I’m personally a big fan of showering at night. Saves you time in the morning, makes you feel nice and fresh when you go to bed, and you get to sleep in a little later.
If you don’t want to/cant handle your usual makeup routine, just conceal and do your eyeliner/mascara and lips the same way you normally do, then put on a little translucent powder. It’s a great fakeout for a full face.
A little vinegar, baking soda, OR bleach (NOT AND. OR. USE JUST ONE) down your drains every now and then is a good idea.
Speaking of vinegar, if you have a dishwasher, running a little vinegar through it every now and then is also a good idea.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have cash on me!” will get most people selling shit off your back. If not, try “I’m actually in the middle of something, do you have a card or brochure?”
Shocking yourself awake isn’t good for you, so choose a gentle alarm. I personally like nature sounds or opening songs to soundtracks (”Me Hele No Lilo” from the Lilo and Stitch soundtrack is an awesome one) because they feel like they give me more of a “time to get up, time to get going” feeling. “Morning Song” by Edvard Grieg (a.k.a. the sunrise music in every cartoon short ever) is another excellent choice.
Also on the subject of alarms, you may read things that tell you to put your alarm clock or phone across the room from your bed so you’re forced to move to turn it off. This is a trap. There will come a day when you don’t hear that alarm all the way across the damn room and you will be fucked. Trust me on this. Put it by your bed.
Places like Marshalls, HomeGoods, Burlington Coat Factory, and Big Lots usually have gourmet-type food and seasonings and things like that for pretty cheap. It’s a great way to expand your tastes/try new things without breaking the bank.
Wash or change your pillowcases and sheets about once a week. It REALLY makes a difference.
If you’ve been feeling disconnected or kinda rootless, I’ve found that doing super local things, like going to a mom-and-pop place or some local event, or even just going to a local park or library, is a GREAT way to feel more connected to your community. Even if I don’t particularly like the community I’m in, it still makes me feel more grounded.
If you’ve been washing your hair every day and you’re not getting crud/sweating profusely/somehow actively dirtying it every day, stop. You’re stripping your scalp and hair and making it dry and weak. You’ll probably be super oily at first, but just style your hair with product or put it up or use dry shampoo on the days you don’t wash and it’ll calm down eventually and be sooo much healthier.
Life can get pretty boring, so find something you want to keep learning about and explore it. Go on Wikipedia, borrow library books, peruse Google Scholar, listen to lectures on Youtube. To paraphrase Ingrid Nilsen, the cure for boredom is curiosity.
Wiping down your counters, sink, and stove with a little bleach solution or something at the end of the day helps you not get bugs.
Keeping a few magazines or books on your side and coffee table with a candle makes you look like you have your life together.
Depending on your morning routine, you want to try and wake up around 30 minutes to an hour before you need to leave your house.
Life is too short to pretend you don’t like harmless things because you’re afraid someone will make fun of you. Watch that show, read those books, listen to those songs, do those things, and to hell with anyone who gets uptight about it.
*all advice based on what has worked for me. Your mileage may vary.
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