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Health and Wellness

20 Things I've Learned Before Turning 20

From the big things to the small things, I've learned a whole lot the past 20 years.

Emily Smith

Feb 13, 2020

Rowan University

20 Things I've Learned Before Turning 20

Emily Smith

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the 20 years I've been alive, but this year, I want to try to do more to keep my roller coaster of a life a bit more consistent. I've made a ton of mistakes in these 20 years I have experienced, but from these mistakes, I've learned so many valuable lessons. Whether they're big or small, each lesson makes an impact on my life.

Everyone's life is different. We all go through different experiences and experience a boatload of emotions that feel very unique to our own situation. In reality, most of these experiences are super common.

Take heartbreak, for instance. Whether or not you've experienced it yet in life, you will. You'll feel like you're the only person in the world who ever felt like this. That's anything but the truth.

Most people can relate to your feelings and problems and can almost always lend a bit of advice to your situation. That takes me to lesson learned #1.

1. Let others help you.

Don't be stubborn and force yourself to deal with life on your own. Most times, hearing another person's perspective on things can make all the difference.

2. Fight that stubbornness.

I've found that being stubborn has been the main factor in most of my failures. Stay open-minded and always give things a chance.

3. Learn when to keep your mouth shut.

Sometimes, it's just better to shut up.

4. Show appreciation and gratitude where it's needed.

If you have a supportive family or group of friends, let them know you appreciate them. Life is short.

5. Go to class.

9 out of 10 times, you'll feel better getting out of bed and doing something productive with your day.

6. Don't count your calories.

Eat healthy when you can, but don't let eating healthy define your life. It can get unhealthy very fast.

7. Your mom is the best judge of character.

Trust her opinion because she definitely knows whether that new friend will screw you over or not.

8. Make time for the things YOU like.

Life can get very cluttered and hectic. Try to do something you like every day, even if it's as small as cooking breakfast. It makes living through the busy and boring parts of life a lot better!

9. Train yourself to be a morning person.

Even if you never fully adapt to becoming a morning person, forcing yourself to wake up early and be productive from time to time makes all the difference. There are going to be a lot more early mornings in your life, so it's better to train your body now while you're young.

10. Coffee is a lifeline.

There's never enough coffee in a day.

11. Don't buy textbooks until you know you need them.

Take it from the girl that wasted $100 on a textbook I didn't even need. Wait.

12. Stop worrying what others think.

No one cares about what you're doing. We live in a very narcissistic world. Everyone is just focused on themselves.

13. Don't push people away.

Pushing people away that don't deserve to be pushed away accomplishes nothing. You'll end up feeling very alone, and the person you pushed away will most likely not be willing and ready to accept you when your isolation period ends. Let people in.

14. Set aside time at least once a week to deep clean your room.

Having a busy schedule and liking to sleep a lot is the perfect recipe for a messy room. Most of the time I could spend cleaning, I swap out for a nap. Set aside a period of time at least once a week where you can go ham and clean. You'll feel a lot more productive after.

15. Don't buy the high-end brand leggings. They're on Amazon for $25.

Colorful Koala saved my life. You're welcome.

16. Drink water.

Obvious.

17. Enjoy your days off.

Having a day off and getting to lay in bed is the best feeling ever. Don't feel guilty for staying in bed and binge watching your favorite show.

18. Go on vacation.

If you have the money, book a trip and get away. You're only young once.

19. Always keep Advil in your bag.

It saves.

20. Drop the judgmental attitude. It doesn't look good.

It's 2020, people. Stop judging others.

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Recommended for you

20 Things I've Learned Before Turning 20

From the big things to the small things, I've learned a whole lot the past 20 years.

In This Article:

1. Let others help you.

2. Fight that stubbornness.

3. Learn when to keep your mouth shut.

4. Show appreciation and gratitude where it's needed.

5. Go to class.

6. Don't count your calories.

7. Your mom is the best judge of character.

8. Make time for the things YOU like.

9. Train yourself to be a morning person.

10. Coffee is a lifeline.

11. Don't buy textbooks until you know you need them.

12. Stop worrying what others think.

13. Don't push people away.

14. Set aside time at least once a week to deep clean your room.

15. Don't buy the high-end brand leggings. They're on Amazon for $25.

16. Drink water.

17. Enjoy your days off.

18. Go on vacation.

19. Always keep Advil in your bag.

20. Drop the judgmental attitude. It doesn't look good.

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Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

1. When he just wanted bacon from his George Foreman grill

2. When he had money (and Jan) issues

3. When he got upstaged at Phyllis' wedding

4. When he unintentionally saved Meredith from rabies

5. When he wore a "bisexual" suit

6. When he had to apologize to Jesus

7. When his GPS drove him into a lake

8. When he had to deal with Ryan as his boss

9. When he couldn't fulfill his most generous empty promise

10. When this happened

11. When he struggled with a X-Mas break up

12. When he had to defend his generosity

13. When he threw a classy Christmas party for Holly but she had a boyfriend

14. When he had to stand up to peer pressure

15. When Toby was "Toby-ish"

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

Run Around Clanging Pots and Pans in Everyone's Face

Eat the Last Few Pigs in a Blanket

Pop Twelve White Grapes

Burn Something

Smash Things Against a Wall

Spontaneously Begin an Irish Jig

Call Your Mother

Throw a Coffee Table Out a Window

Sing "Auld Lang Syne" at the Top of Your Lungs

Do Some Squats

Swan Dive into a Nearly Freezing Body of Water

Take a Shot

Time to be merry and bright.

"First Noel" by Leslie Odom, Jr

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Kelly Clarkson

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home" by Michael Buble

"Last Christmas" by Taylor Swift

"The Christmas Song" by Josh Groban

"White Christmas" by Idina Menzel

"O Holy Night" by David Archuleta

"Believe" by Josh Groban

"Les cloches du hameau" by Celine Dion

Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

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