Life Tips

I keep seeing these lists of "life hacks" and stuff like that. But what if you're not 25? All those lists seem irrelevant to me- I'm a few years outside of their target demographic. So here's a list that's from me and the reason I'm posting it is to serve as a reminder for me. 

1. Use conditioner. 
2. Don't neglect your eyebrows. If you're concerned about aging, use a brow powder. It will take years away immediately. 
3. Your skin changes colors with the seasons. So should your foundation. 
4. If you say, "be honest." to a friend/sister/mom/coworker, expect them to be honest. Don't be butthurt when they are. 
5. If they're not honest, ask someone who is.
6. If you don't want the truth, ask yourself what you are afraid of. 
7. Recognize that you have the freedom to make choices. 
8. Recognize that you are not free from the consequences of those choices, either positive or negative. 
9. Apologize when you've done something wrong. 
10. Don't apologize when you've not done something wrong. 
11. Buy clothes that fit well. 
12. If they don't fit well, either get rid of them or get them tailored. 
13. Don't keep clothes because you spent a lot on them. If they are out of date, faded, or just in general look bad, let it go. 
14. Don't buy something just because it's on sale.  
    
15. Don't apologize for your taste in music. 
16. Don't apologize for who you are. 
17. Comfort does not always equal sloppiness. Wear what makes you comfortable but be neat.
18. Jeans and a t-shirt are perfectly acceptable. 
19. Don't wear tennis shoes, running shoes, sneakers, trainers, whatever you call them- with boot cut jeans. 
20. Read more. 
21. Listen to podcasts. Especially ones that make you laugh. 
22. Give to charity. You'll feel good about it and have a tax deduction. 
23. Save some money. 
24. If you're loyal to a brand, subscribe to their emails. Take advantage of their discounts and bonuses. 
25. Your feelings are valid.
26. Your gut instinct is valid. 
27. While your feelings & gut instinct are valid, it's not always wise to display them publicly.
28. Be skeptical. 
29. Consider the information you're sharing. It can be used against you. 
30. It's ok not to love someone as much as they love you. 
31. You need people in your life who love you as much as you love them. Find and cherish those people.
32. Friendships have the same arc as romantic relationships. It's ok to let them go. 
33. It's also ok to grieve those friendships. 
34. As you get older, you'll realize it's easy to alienate other women by asking, "where do you work?"  Try phrasing it differently, "Do you work?" is a safe choice- it gives them the opportunity to say what they want about their career choice (or lack thereof). 
35. Whether you carry a huge purse or a tiny wallet, make sure what you need fits inside. An overstuffed handbag looks ridiculous. 
36. Subscribe to a fitness email- even if you don't read it, it will remind you to get active. 
37. Find a physical activity you enjoy and do it. 
38. Become part of a team- either at work, or elsewhere. Independence is good, but teamwork reveals things that you need to know. 
39. Honor your commitments. 
40. Realize when your commitments are draining you and excuse yourself gracefully. 
41. Learn the phrase, "I'm sorry, that won't work for me." and then use it. 
42. Glitter is the herpes of the craft world- if you love it, use it anyway. 
    
43. Learn how to use power tools- especially a drill & circular saw. 
44. If you're learning from the internet, watch more than one tutorial video. 
45. When making a choice that affects others, prepare to defend your choice. You may not have to in public, but you will quell your self doubt. 
46. Know that sometimes you'll have to do things you won't really want to do but that won't hurt you to do them. Look for the benefit in doing them anyway.
47. Find people who share your sense of humor - or at least appreciate it. 
48. Hopefully, the same people will be ones with which you can disagree and still remain friends.
49. Makeup can be fun and you are not less of a strong woman if you enjoy it. 
    
50. Dance at weddings, even if you are a crappy dancer. 
51. Be proud of where you come from. 
52. Be proud of where you're going. 
53. Accept that weight loss will not make your life better. 
54. Don't put your life on hold for anything- better job, more money, weight loss, relationship. You may find what you want when you're doing something completely unrelated. 
55. Make goals. 
56. Reward yourself for reaching those goals. 
57. Establish traditions for yourself.
58. Embrace change.
    
    The next part is the if you're a mom or ever plan to be a mom section. 
59. Be the kind of mom your kid(s) need, not the kind you wanted.
60. Don't tell your kid(s) that they will be good at something before they do it. They might not be good at it. 
61. Don't force your kids to bring younger/older brothers/sisters along when they play with their friends. Let them be their own people. 
62. It's ok to enjoy time away from your kids. 
63. Your kid(s) will get mad at you. That means you're doing your job. 
64. Be a good example- what you do is a lot more noticeable than what you say.
65. Hold your kid(s) to a high but not unattainable standard.  
    
66. You will fail at parenting. Learn from it and let it go. 
67. Rewarding every little effort sets kids up for failure. 
68. Encourage your kid(s) to continue what they enjoy even if it's not a choice you would make for them. 
69. Make sure your kid(s) learn the value of honoring their commitments.
70. Don't force your kid(s) to do an extracurricular they hate. But honor the above - if they're in the middle of a season or production or whatever, they should finish it.  (See also: teamwork)
71. Teach your kid(s) manners.