Want To Keep Your Sanity? Here’s 17 Things To Remember

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1. Friends will come and go, but that’s okay.

This is one of the hardest lessons to learn: your best friend from kindergarten might not be your best friend in high school, let alone college. It’s common to grow up and grow apart. Friendships are hard to keep up with, especially when the distance that comes with college becomes a factor. Don’t hang onto a friendship due to guilt; this will only hurt the friendship in the long run. What’s important to remember is that the memories are still there, even if the person isn’t.

2. Gossiping never ends well.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve done my share of gossiping. Not that it’s necessarily unwarranted, but the end result is never good. Eventually the truth comes out, and what has been said on the issue can be traced back to you. My advice for the serial gossipers: find your solid group of close friends and contain your gossip to share to them.

3. It’s okay to have never been in love.

At the age you’re at, relationships truly aren’t anything. They’re fun, but they shouldn’t be your focus. You shouldn’t force yourself to fall in love with the wrong person just because it seems like everyone around you has fallen in love. To be honest, half of them are probably faking it. It might seem cliché but it’s okay to take your time, not jump in to relationships, and be okay with being single.

4. Your mom can turn into the best friend you never knew you had.

When you’re young, moms are viewed as a protector and primary caretaker, as you get older they become so much more than that. When I left home for college, my relationship with my mother shifted. I’ve always been close with my mom but all of a sudden she became someone who I text constantly throughout the day with complaints and gossip. I’ll call her nightly and just ramble; yet she’ll always pick up the phone and listen. It’s nice having your mom as one of your best friend.

5. Take good care of your skin.

As weird as this sound, one day, you’ll look back through Facebook pictures and thank me. Going to bed with makeup on after a long day is always tempting, but it’s not worth it. Going to bed without washing your face even if there is no makeup on only leads to acne. Everyone should find the right soap and moisturizer for themselves and stick to a daily regimen.

6. There will be some people that you don’t get along with. Don’t force it.

A Lauren Conrad quote explains this concept in the best way possible:

As people grow up, they realize it’s less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones.

No one needs fake friends. Enough said.

7. It’s okay to care about what people think.

Here’s the thing: people are going to talk, and you’re going to care. You can’t prevent someone from having an opinion. The one thing you can do is process this information. Separate the good from the bad, and focus on the good things that others are saying. Usually the negative things that people say are due to much deeper issues that the other person has.

8. People will break your heart.

As I said before, don’t focus solely on relationships. It’s normal to get your heart broken, but the easiest way to handle this is to learn from it. Heartbreak is unpreventable, but the lessons learned are valuable.

9. Save money, spend wisely.

Sure, being able to have food delivered all the time is tempting, and online shopping during a boring lecture class can seem like the only way to pass time, but spending money on things you don’t truly want or need isn’t worth it. The more you save, the more options you’ll have in the long run. Just stop and think: is that late night Domino’s truly worth it?

10. Things that once mattered won’t matter nearly as much once time passes.

Who you’ll take to the dance? Who just saw you slip on ice? Will someone judge you on your music choices? How do you look at the gym? In the grand scheme of things, these worries are miniscule. There are much bigger things to focus your attention on.

11. Don’t become jaded.

It’s so easy to become bored and upset with life. Try not to. There are so many ways to fall back in love with life. Try something new, travel, or spend a day in a city. Once you take yourself out of your normal routine, it’s easy to see how wonderful life can be

12. Know when to say you’re sorry.

Being the first to admit you’re wrong or getting the courage to say sorry is hard. This can be one of the most valuable traits that someone can have; most importantly it shows humility. Holding out on an apology due to pride can ruin a relationship and you look bad.

13. Don’t make decision when you’re mad, don’t make promises when you’re happy.

This one is pretty straightforward. Judgment is easily swayed by emotions. When emotions are running high the choices made aren’t always great ones. If it’s nighttime, sleep on it; things are always clearer in the morning.

14. Leggings are pants — just not if they’re see-through.

Jeans are overrated, and yoga pants are so last year. Leggings can be dressed up or dressed down, yet they are always so comfortable. The downside to leggings is that if you wash them enough times, they become see-through. Always make sure that the pair you wear aren’t.

15. Take time for yourself.

This is the best way to stay sane. Life can get hectic very quickly, and it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. What’s important is to take a step back. Whether it’s 10 minutes to an hour, sometimes it’s necessary to relax and be alone.

16. Don’t trust or forgive too easily.

Sometimes it’s easy to trust someone or forgive them for convenience. The problem with that is that if there was an issue, it probably never got resolved. If you trust someone so quickly, you might find that you don’t truly know him or her.

17. Take risks.

As simple as this sounds, it really isn’t. Stepping out of a comfort zone can be challenging. It always pays off in the end though. Find something you’re interested in or love and go for it. It can only add to the lifelong memories you’ll have. It’s the best way to live without regrets. Live life to the fullest — after all, it’s the only life you’ve got.

featured image – Lookcatalog