Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cheat sheet that offered us the dos and don’ts of living?
We’re bringing you just that, sharing life advice to help you thrive.
The Best Life Advice to Live By
As a certified life coach and person who’s made far too many mistakes over my 40+ years, I’ve learned a tidbit or two about life and happiness.
Please don’t learn these lessons the hard way (like I did!). Follow my sage advice to avoid life’s biggest pitfalls.
Never Lend Money You Can’t Afford to Lose
As social creatures, many of us are driven to help our friends and relatives in challenging situations.
But heed my warning, mixing business with pleasure rarely works out.
If you’re going to lend money, make sure you won’t miss it. Don’t give your friends your rent or grocery money. You’ll probably never see it again, and you’ll risk your own living situation.
Only lend money with the understanding that if you get it back, it’s a bonus.
Never Cosign for Anyone
Do you know what’s even worse than lending your friends money?
Cosigning a loan for someone.
Take it from me, as I learned this life lesson the hardest way possible (multiple times, I’m a slow learner). Cosigning for people hurt my credit score for years and made it difficult to buy a house.
It impacts your credit score and your long-term financial stability.
Trust me – if someone can’t get a loan without your signature, they probably don’t deserve it.
If you don’t believe me, read How Cosigning Nearly Destroyed My Life.
Your Partner is Your Teammate
In relationships, it’s sometimes easy to lose sight of your significant other as a partner. When arguments and differences in opinion arise, we sometimes see it as us versus them and stubbornly refuse to compromise.
That’s the wrong way to approach a problem.
Instead, reframe it as the couple versus the problem, not the couple versus each other.
Remembering that you’re on the same team can go a long way toward maintaining marital bliss.
Stay Hydrated
When I was a kid, we had water faucets around the school that nobody ever used. I think we were all chronically dehydrated.
Nowadays, I carry a water bottle everywhere, and I can’t imagine how I ever survived without it.
Are you drinking enough water? Most people don’t drink, but those who do reap numerous benefits. In fact, CNN recently released an article discussing the benefits of staying hydrated.
Drink more water. You’ll feel so much better.
Enthusiastic Consent Matters
If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no.
Although this life advice rose to fame in the wake of the “Me Too” movement, where we learned how common sexual assault really is, it’s actually applicable in nearly every aspect of our lives.
Stop badgering people. If someone doesn’t want to participate in anything, from sexual activity to attending a get-together to drinking a beer to trying a new food, don’t try to force them.
Accept their “no” and move on with your life.
You Need a Plunger
“Buy a plunger” seems like silly life advice, but imagine a clogged toilet at 2 am without one.
All the stores are closed, so you’ll have to wait until morning with a backed-up toilet. No one wants that. Get a plunger before you need one.
You’ll thank yourself later.
You Can’t Buy More Time
Money buys many things, but time isn’t one of them. Our time on this planet is fleeting, so it’s crucial to make every moment count.
It gets worse the older you get. Decades seem to fly by without warning. One day, you’ll wake up as a fifty-year-old and wonder where all the time went.
Use it wisely now.
Nothing Lasts Forever
When making big decisions, remember that nothing is permanent. Jobs come and go, friendships fade, and the world around us constantly evolves.
The lack of permeance may seem terrifying, but it can be a benefit.
You’re never stuck with a bad decision. If you try something and hate it, you can always change course.
Changing your perspective can help you open yourself to new possibilities you’ve never imagined.
No is a Complete Sentence
When we don’t want to do something, we often offer lame excuses to ease the impact of saying no. Stop doing that.
Not wanting to do something is enough. Learn to say no without offering excuses.
People who don’t accept it are likely boundary stompers, and you don’t owe them an explanation.
Don’t Take Your Pain Out on Others
Hurt people hurt people. When people are mistreated, they often lash out at others, furthering the cycle of pain.
It takes a bit of introspection to realize you’re doing it, but once you understand this toxic behavior, you can take control and stop doing it.
Mistreating people because you’ve been mistreated in the past doesn’t help anyone.
Show Up and Look Good
In the military, we say you have to do two things to be successful: “Show up and look good.”
This life advice applies in the corporate world as well. I’d wager that about 50% of success comes from showing up in the appropriate attire and knowing when to speak.
Of course, knowing when to stay quiet is also helpful – you’ll have to figure out for yourself whether speaking up or shutting up will make you “look good” in each situation.
People Lie Constantly
We all want to trust others, but learning you can’t is essential for a happy life.
Some people lie constantly, others lie when it suits them, and a few always tell the truth.
When you understand that people will lie to protect their interests, you have a better understanding of humanity and can live your life accordingly.
Financial Planning is Crucial
Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. The adage stands true, especially in the realm of financial wellness.
If you want long-term happiness, you need to get your financial life in order. You need a plan.
On the plus side, you don’t need to pay a financial advisor to craft one. You can do it on your own! Here’s How To Make a Financial Plan.
So is Money Management
The best financial plan won’t help you if you don’t follow it.
The sooner you learn to manage your money, the better. You must learn how to budget, separate your needs from your wants, and develop a positive relationship with money.
And trust me, I absolutely know how hard it is, especially if you had parents with poor money management skills who lovingly taught you everything they knew.
That’s why I developed the ultimate DIY financial coaching bundle. It’s packed with over 90 pages of content designed to help you with everything money, from setting financial goals to building your very first budget. It even has journal prompts to help you gain a better understanding of your relationship with money and shift your money mindset.
And at just $40, it’s much, much cheaper than any financial coach or therapist. Give it a shot – it can help you build better financial skills.
If you feel weird about buying a printable on a random website, you can also grab it on Etsy, for a slight markup.
Date Everything
Every time you receive an important document that needs saving, write the date at the top.
Keep all records of home repairs, car maintenance, health records, and more. You never know when you will need them, and you’ll be so glad you took the extra five seconds to scribble that little note across the top.
Protect Your Back
Young people dismiss proper lifting techniques, thinking they’re immortal.
It will catch up to them sooner than they think.
Protect your back by stretching, getting the right mattress, wearing support, and using proper techniques.
It may not seem like great life advice in your twenties, but when you reach your forties, you will be so thankful that you’re not experiencing the same back pain your peers constantly complain about.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Talk is cheap, but far too many of us get sucked into the false promise of convincing lies.
I’m one of them. I’m a little naive, and I used to take people at face value. I trusted partners based on what they said, and it’s hurt me far more than I’d like to admit. I learned the hard way that you must look to someone’s actions – but you don’t have to.
For a happy life, watch what people do, not what they say. When they show you who they are, believe them.
Floss
Our dentists may as well be talking to themselves. How many of us ignore them when they tell us to floss every day?
Dental problems cause a whole host of health issues, and many would be avoided if we spent five minutes following their advice.
You should also invest in an electric toothbrush. It’s much better at cleaning your teeth.
Wear Sunscreen
Young people love sun-kissed skin, but it will come back to haunt them when they hit middle age and start dealing with sunspots and skin cancers.
Wear sunscreen whenever you are out in the sun. Yes, it’s annoying to slather yourself in cream, but it’s way more annoying to cut off chunks of your skin due to cancer.
Protect Your Reputation
It takes years to build a positive reputation, but it can vanish instantly with one wrong move.
Be careful of what you post on social media. Think before you act.
Protect the reputation you spent so much time carefully crafting, because once it’s gone, it will be so much harder to get back.
The Company You Keep
The people you spend time with reflect your values. If you’re hanging out with the wrong crowd, you’re part of the wrong crowd.
Choose your friends wisely.
Spend time with people who lift you up, promote positivity, and make the world a better place.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
When we’re young, every little detail could mean the end of the world. It’s hard to understand that those things don’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but once you get it, you’ll be much happier.
One thing that helped me let go of things that don’t matter is asking, “Will this matter in five years?”
Usually, it won’t. And you don’t need to stress too much about it.
Stop Procrastinating
So many of our problems could be solved if we stopped procrastinating.
We let minor problems grow into massive burdens because we refuse to deal with them immediately, and we stress out over deadlines we knew were coming months ago.
I know it’s hard, but you must face it head-on (not directly to the forehead!).
Other People’s Opinions
Why do other people’s opinions matter so much to you?
Humans crave respect and connection, but sometimes we crave it so much that we let people we don’t even like dictate our lives.
The best life advice is to live your life on your own terms. Don’t let other people’s opinions prevent you from living a life true to yourself.
Embrace Failure
Our society puts so much emphasis on success that everyone fears failure.
Failure is a gift.
It teaches us valuable lessons we can use to better ourselves. The sooner we stop fearing it, the more successful we’ll eventually become.
Take chances. Allow yourself to make mistakes. Learn from them and move on. You’ll be so much happier.
Stop the Comparison Game
Too many people are unhappy with their lives because they can’t stop looking around at what everyone else has.
If you stop for a second and look at what you have instead, you’ll realize you have a lot to appreciate.
Take this life advice to heart: grab a journal and write down three things you’re grateful for. Do it every day for a week. You’ll start to realize that your life is filled with abundance.
Save Money Now
You need to start saving money as soon as possible. Ideally, you started in your twenties, but if you didn’t start now.
The sooner you start building your nest egg, the better off you’ll be, because you’ll have more time for your savings to compound.
If you don’t follow any other life advice on this list, follow this one. Put money away today. Start with as little as $5 if that’s all you have, but do something.
Take this Life Advice to Heart
I know, you want to live your life your way, and I applaud you for that. But you really don’t need to learn some of these lessons the hard way.
Take this life advice to heart starting today. Trust me, you will be so much happier and healthier in the long run.