50 One-Sentence Reminders Every 20-Something Needs To Hear Right Now

Derrick Freske

1. You are your own greatest asset, and it’s probably time you started giving yourself more credit.

2. If you tell someone you care about them, the worst thing they can say is that they don’t feel the same way about you.

3. And hearing “no” is not nearly as scary as you think.

4. Anytime you feel like you’re making the wrong choice, remember that life is not built exclusively on perfect decisions and that your recoveries are just as important as your mistakes.

5. You don’t always have to be right, and people will respect you when you own up to your mistakes.

6. Shitty people will say and do shitty things, and the best thing you can do is ignore it.

7. No one has the right to make you feel guilty about having sex with someone.

8. But you also never need to do anything with your body that you don’t feel comfortable doing.

9. When people try to make you feel like less than you are, it’s because they’re insecure.

10. When your job gets really tough, that’s when you will see how much you care about your work, or how much you need to find a different job.

11. It is okay to binge-watch bad TV sometimes, but it’s not okay to drown yourself in the Internet and not let yourself see the light of day.

12. You probably shouldn’t get a dog if you can’t afford one.

13. Instead of spending your entire paycheck on Friday night drinks, consider setting up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings.

14. Call your parents and don’t be too proud to ask them for advice.

15. Sometimes your boss is right and sometimes your boss is just being unnecessarily rude to you, but if you always interact with them in a positive way, it will serve you better in the long run.

16. Stop looking at your phone when you’re crossing the street, having a meaningful conversation with someone, driving, and or standing in front of a great view.

17. Tell the people you love how much you appreciate them more than you think is necessary.

18. Every time you experience rejection, do one thing for yourself that pushes you forward, whether it’s applying for one more job or finally asking someone out on a date.

19. The friends who are only around for the good times and can’t be found when things get rough won’t last.

20. You don’t need to prove your beauty to anyone, but there’s nothing wrong with taking the time to make yourself feel beautiful.

21. Splurge on good alcohol for your house rather than top-shelf liquor at a bar.

22. February is a leap year, so on Monday, February 29, you get an extra day of 2016 which is an amazing thing.

23. You need to be taking advantage of Trader Joe’s more than you currently are.

24. Do not let anyone make you feel like you’re unlovable; you may be difficult to love, you may have baggage, but you are not unloveable.

25. There is no specific age at which you need to have a boyfriend, need to have an established career, need to have children, or need to get married.

26. Moving in with your significant other because it’s what everyone else is doing is not a good reason to move in with someone.

27. Losing love is better than never having that love at all.

28. High school and college friendships dissolve sometimes, and you don’t need to feel guilty about growing apart.

29. Don’t be afraid to be “selfish” at work by advocating for yourself and making sure your boss recognizes what a phenomenal job you’re doing.

30. You’re allowed to have different political views than your parents.

31. If you’re displeased with the way you’re eating or the fact that you’re not exercising because you’re always working, devote ten minutes per day to doing something about it.

32. At the age of 23, Oprah was getting fired and Walt Disney was declaring bankruptcy.

33. Ray Romano, Alan Rickman, and Danny Glover did not start acting until their 30s.

34. No one’s life is ever as good as it looks on Instagram, so you have no reason to be jealous.

35. It’s natural to feel like you have to run away — from people, from feelings, from places, from life — but sometimes you should challenge yourself to stay put.

36. Stop apologizing so much.

37. Being single isn’t a curse, it’s an opportunity to meet people, not answer to anyone, and not shave your legs.

38. You don’t have to make excuses for believing in whatever you believe in; you don’t owe people explanations.

39. Generally, if you show someone kindness and generosity (in life, in the workplace, when meeting new friends, and when dating), they will reciprocate it.

40. You cannot be best friends with every single person in your office, and, in fact, your work life will be better if you’re not.

41. Related: finding a coworker to vent to is incredibly helpful (especially if you both share an affinity for half-priced drinks after work), but be careful what you say.

42. You should never let your peers successes make you feel like you’re behind.

43. If you learn to make five easy meals at home (that you actually like), you’ll save yourself time and money, and you’ll eat some really good food.

44. Every once and a while, it might be a good idea to supplement your fifth cup of coffee of the day with a cup of tea.

45. If you have the opportunity to give someone who is kind, funny, well-intentioned but “not your type” a chance, take that chance.

46. There is nothing more crucial in your 20s than having an amazing friend, so don’t let something small get in between you and the person who’s always there for you.

47. Battling high rent prices, student loan debt, and shitty jobs is terrifying, but you’re not the only one going through these challenges, so find someone you can talk openly about these stressors with.

48. Finding purpose in your everyday life is essential, but stressing out about whether every little thing is meaningful isn’t.

49. The love of your life isn’t necessarily going to knock on your door because they got your mail thanks to a karmic twist of fate — sometimes you have to be proactive.

50. Feeling lost is just a gentle reminder that you are trying to improve yourself every day. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

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