1.
Be Happy
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Life is too short to be unHAPPY. So do things that make you HAPPY. If a certain job, person, place or situation is making you unHAPPY, then get out while you're young!
2.
Be Social
Get out. Go to lunch, dinners, bars, parties, the beach, hang around those you know, and make an effort to meet those you do not know...yet!
3.
Travel
You never know where you will be in years to come. You might have a family or a job that you can't leave. While you're young and have freedom, use it! Go travelling, big trip or small. Whatever you can afford, just do it!
4.
Party
Who doesn't love a party?! These are the years we can afford to have hungover Sunday's... or weekdays if you're really keen. But also, if you don't want to drink, don't! But definitely still go to that party! Don't hold back now, cause you might have to hold back in a few years!
5.
Spend your money...some of it.
Go travelling, buy a cocktail, buy that new outfit. They say 20's are your selfish years and that is completely true. I am encouraging you to spend, but also save a little bit, you never know when you might need or want it! (But mostly spend.)
6.
Work Hard
In saying all of the above, to be able to spend money you have to work hard as well. While you're not travelling, partying or out meeting new people, work hard on your passion. Start aiming for where you want to be in the future and you will find yourself loving life!
7.
Be Nice
Seriously! Be nice to people. It's not hard. Smile at strangers, help out a friend, give money to a busker, sponsor a child. The more you give the more you receive.
8.
Be Silly
Go crazy, pull faces, play childish games, go roller skating, blow bubbles, go bowling, whatever tickles your fancy. We are still young... so we can get away with still be silly.
9.
Challenge Yourself
Whether it be exercise, a passion of yours, a goal you have set in the past, something that you thought you would never be able to do, do it! Challenging yourself and succeeding gives you an amazing sense of fulfilment. You can do anything you put your mind to.
10.
Appreciate Your Parents
We don't do it enough when we are really young so now is your time. Thank them, take them to lunch, visit them often, and tell them when you will be home!
11.
Stand Up For Yourself
This is a biggy. Personally I find it so hard to stick up for myself because I hate confrontation. I'm making a bigger effort this year to do it. Don't let people treat you unfairly, or forget about you, or say things to hurt you so they make themselves feel better. It's not on!
12.
Go on a Road Trip
I've done it, and I've mentioned in my previous blogs that it was amazing! It gives you a sense of complete freedom. Travelling on planes and trains is different. You are in control in a car, you can go for how ever long you want, you can stop where you want, and you can sleep where you want. It's so exciting and such an amazing experience!
13.
Relax
Swim, read a book, take a nap, sun bake, listen to music, whatever relaxing is for you, do it now because once again, you might not get a chance in years to come!
14.
Write a letter to Yourself
I actually did this when I was about 10 but it is never too late! Write a letter and on it write "(your name) DO NOT OPEN UNTIL YOU'RE (however old you would like to be when you open it.)" Write little memories and stories that you might forget, or goals you want to achieve, maybe write where you would like yourself to be at that age. It will be an exciting letter to open!
15.
Join some sort of club
Being in a team comes with such a great feeling of community. Whether you join a sports team, a study team, clubs that stem from work places, schools or uni, I guarantee you a whole lot of new friends and fun!
16.
Get off your phone!
I am guilty of sometimes being on my phone too much, I think we all are. But every now and then, just put it down. I don't know why people think it is necessary to Snapchat every second of their life, or take 100 photos of the same thing. ENJOY THE MOMENT!
17.
Realise who your true friends are
It's time to get rid of those people who use you, or those who are plain nasty to you! There's no time for that, and at the ripe age of 21, you're now old and wise enough to see who your true friends are. The friends you have now will probably be the friends you have when you're 90, so make the right choice.
18.
LOVE
Let yourself love and be loved in return. What an amazing feeling.
19.
Volunteer
Something I'm yet to do this year, but it's on my list. I can just imagine how good it's going to make me feel giving back to the community.
20.
Set Goals
Pretty simple really. Set yourself goals and work towards them. Whether they be goals that can be achieved in a week, or years.
21.
BE YOURSELF
You're out of school now and in the real world. There's no point trying to be someone else whether it is to fit in or to impress someone. Be yourself completely, and people will love you for that. You will also be happier within yourself. Start accepting yourself for who you are and stop comparing yourself to others. Remember, there's someone out there who wants to be just like you.
September 7, 2015