10 Things Your Parents Wish Someone Told Them When They Were Your Age

It’s always wise to take advice from the older generation; they’ve been through more and they can impart some knowledge to you. Parents definitely want to help their kids grow up to be fine ladies and gentlemen.

But your parents were once young too, and there was probably some point in time where they regretted some of their actions.

So to compile a short list of life lessons, here are 10 tips I’ve received from the older generation over the years. Get your notebooks ready if you want to heed some of these advices.

1. Maintain Your Physical Health

Health is the most important thing in life; what’s the point if you’ve got all the money in the world but you don’t have the life to spend it?

Many elders I spoke to said that they wished they took better care of their body, like the knees and back. Your bones, joints and muscles are all going to deteriorate as you get older, but the least you can do is to not abuse them.

See a doctor immediately if you feel pain anywhere on your body, and don’t put too much stress on your joints.

2. Solve The Small Problems Now

There may be certain issues that seem like no big deal right now, but if you don’t deal with them quick, they might just snowball into a bigger problem.

This also applies to the little things in life; for example, if your toaster is broken, fix it now. Or else one morning you’ll wake up craving for some toast, but realise you can’t have any, and then next thing you know, your oven is broken too.

Of course, this advice has to be applied to relationships as well. Don’t let the little things build up and before you know it, it’s too late to salvage it.

3. Take Care Of Your Hair

I think most of us still want a full head of hair even when we’re 60. You may not think much about the condition of your hair now (especially for the guys), but you will start to once you realise you’re losing hair.

Don’t wait till then! Wash your hair using a suitable shampoo for your scalp, and try not to dye it too much. Also, maintain your stress level as this might lead to hair loss; or you might just start yanking on your hair if you’re too stressed.

4. Stop Working Overtime

If you find yourself constantly working round the clock, then perhaps you need to try and relax a little bit. Not only does it lead to stress (which leads to hair loss, remember?), but it would also mean that you’re not spending enough time with people who care about you.

Take a break and go on a vacation if possible. You got to spend some of the money you earned, right? Those times spent with friends and family will be the best memories in your life, and it also helps you recharge so you can get back to work more efficiently.

5. Date Somebody Who Cleans Their Room

What’s the reason for this? Very simple; you wouldn’t want a partner who can’t even be bothered to keep his or her living conditions clean. It’s all about the attitude towards life.

In the future, do you want to be living with cockroaches, and your husband is just throwing his old underwear on the kitchen floor? I don’t think so.

A partner who can get his or her s**t together, is a partner who can keep a family together.

6. Be Picky About Your Friends

At a young age, you may want a lot of friends. It doesn’t matter who they are, but you just want a hundred of them. But don’t fall into that trap. It’s great to make more friends, but you can never be too picky when it comes to choosing the right ones.

The right friends will stick with you throughout your life, and you’ll even grow old together and live long enough to see each other start a family. The right friends will give as much as they take, and they are always honest with you.

Most importantly, the right friends will insult you because that’s the highest level of friendship. Take that you f**kface.

7. Keep A Straight Posture

A mum shared this advice with me, and I’m sure many of your parents have done too: you should always keep a straight posture and walk with your back straight.

If you don’t, you’ll grow up to have a hunchback. Also, don’t sit at a desk all day using the computer. You should get up and move more so the stiffness in your spine won’t set in.

8. Wear Nice Clothes

When you’re young and good-looking, it’s the best time to dress up and look the best that you can. Not to mention, it’s always nice to look presentable.

If you’re going out for a date, always dress to impress. When you look good, you feel good; and a great mood can go a long way in your productive day.

9. Save The Extra Cash

When you get a bonus at work, or if you have a part-time job to earn some extra income, those extras should almost always go into your savings. I know it’s incredibly tempting to spend the money on things like clothes and whatnot, but resist that temptation.

Sure, you can reward yourself once in a while, but never go overboard and always remember why you’re saving money in the first place; it’s for a bigger goal in the future or for a rainy day.

10. Believe In Something

You should have a strong belief about something in life, sort of like a guiding principle that you never stray from. It can be anything; from simple things like always going to bed before midnight, to maintaining a strong sense of loyalty.

These convictions can build character and make you a better person. So find something you feel strongly about, and stick to it.

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Despite all the advice that we hear from others, we will still end up having disappointments in life. That’s inevitable though, because we all live life a little differently.

But while you’re still young, take the chance to make sure that you will have as little regret as possible. Go out there and do things that you’ve always wanted to do!

Excuse me while I knock off from work now. No working overtime today.