26 Things I've Learned In 26 Years

Yesterday was my birthday and now I'm 26 years old. It's crazy to me that I am now closer to 30 years old than to 20 years old. I still feel like I'm still figuring out adulthood. Although in my 26 years in this world, I feel like I've learned a lot and maybe I can pass my wisdom onto you. Here are 26 things I've learned in 26 years.

1. You don't need to rush everything

It may feel like you're falling behind in life especially if everyone around you is having babies or getting engaged while you've never had a long term relationship. Honestly, there's no rush at all. Everyone is going at their own place. I didn't even have my first kiss until I was twenty one and as you know if you've read my blog, I've never had a boyfriend. You may think you're falling behind in life but you're really not. There's no set time limits on what you should be doing by certain ages. Just go at your own pace and everything should fall into place at the right time for you. Trust me. Everything will be okay. 

2. Life doesn't always go to plan

Whether you like it or not, things sometimes don't go the way you expect them to go and that's okay because life is full of surprises. These things can be for the best. Just keep on moving forward and soon you'll be content with the life you're meant to have. Everything happens for a reason. 

3. Don't waste time on negative people

Honestly, there's constructive criticism and then there's just being plain mean. If someone in your life is constantly bringing you down for no real reason other than the fact they're a bitter person then you need to step away from them. Keep your distance because you don't need negative people in your life upsetting you. It's not fair on you when you're trying to live a more positive life. 

4. Friends come and go

It's a given fact as you get older that your friendship group becomes smaller and smaller. That's okay though because the friends you do have in your life will mean a lot to you. Of course life gets in the way with conflicting work schedules that make it a struggle to meet up but when you do have that time to meet, it feels like no time has passed at all. Hold onto those kinds of friendships because they are worth it.

5. Dating is a struggle

At the age of 26, I'm still single and have never had a boyfriend. I've tried online dating but after the last guy ghosting me for whatever reason. I've given up dating because it's just a confusing world. One minute you think everything is going well and the next they forget you even exist. Like the two of you never even met. So yeah, I'm giving up dating because I'm tired of trying to find something long term by scraping through all the talking stages to see who is being genuine and who's not. Don't let my non-existent love life put any of you off your dating game but when you have a fragile heart like myself, you need to step away from dating because as someone who gets attached easily to people who give them attention, it's really hard when they just give up on you so easily. Anyway, dating is still something I need to figure out at the age of 26.

6. My mum is my best friend

As a teenager spending time with your parents felt sad and lame. As you get older though, you realise nobody knows you better than your parents. Especially if you live with them. I live with my mum and she's definitely my best friend because we do so much together. Whether it's going out for meals or going on holiday. The person I hang out with the most is my mum and I'm so happy to have that kind of relationship with her where we literally tell each other everything. Sometimes a little too much but it's all good. I feel so lucky to have a good relationship with my mum and I've learned at the age of 26 that it's not a bad thing. It's the best thing in the world. 

7. It's okay not to be okay

Everyone has bad days and that's okay. Sometimes you realise you have no motivation to do anything and you may think to yourself what is the point of existing. However, even in the dark times, you'll find the light and get out of it. It's okay not to be okay. 

8. Be yourself is the most important thing you can be

Trying to be like other people just never works. People can tell when you're not being genuine. Trying to be someone you're not to impress people is not worth it. Those people aren't worth being around if you can't be yourself around them. If you are your unique self then you will find the people that love you for you so just stay true to yourself. 

9. You can do things by yourself

As a lonely person with a lack of friends and love life, I used to think you couldn't enjoy things on your own. How very wrong I was. You can have a good time even if you're by yourself. Treat yourself to a meal or go to the cinema alone. You may think you can't do it but you honestly can. If you look around, you'll see that you're not alone. Other people go to the cinema alone and other people eat on their own. Who cares what the other strangers will think? If anything they'll be jealous that you can do these things by yourself with no cares in the world. So treat yourself to a day out on your own and you'll see what a great time you'll have.

10. Self-Care is crucial

It's really important to look after yourself whether it's your health, skincare or just your own happiness. It doesn't mean you should develop a huge skincare routine but start taking little measures to look after yourself. Even if it's by eating more healthier, drinking water, indulging in a pamper session every week. Whatever it is that you can do everyday or in the evenings just before bed to make you feel relaxed then do it. There is no right or wrong way to do self care, just do what works best for you and you'll see a difference in yourself both mentally and physically. Trust me. 

11. Make more memories

Some people laugh at people constantly taking photos and not living in the moment. Granted you don't need to document every single second of the experience, otherwise we'll all be living through our screens. However, there's nothing wrong with taking a few photos and printing them out into a photo album. Even start making a scrapbook of your experiences. A physical copy of your memories is better than just on a screen. Of course, you can't do these things unless you actually go out and make some memories for yourself that you can look back on and smile about. Don't live a boring life. Go out and do more things. Make those happy memories. You won't regret it. 

12. Nobody's perfect

As Hannah Montana says "Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days" which is a phrase that I live by. Don't believe the picture perfect instagram photos you see online because reality may be a whole different story. We all have our faults and imperfections. It's better to just embrace them because they make you the person that you are. Who cares if your nails look normal and not glamorised? Who cares if you're not dressed like you're going to Paris fashion week every day? We all have our good days and bad days. If we all lived a perfect life, none of us would be fulfilled. We won't be able to look back and see how far we've come to get to the place we were meant to be. So just remember the next time you're having a bad day, nobody is perfect. 

13. Treat yourself more

Sometimes you gotta treat yourself more because who else will? The best feeling in the world is saving for something and finally being able to buy it. Of course it may take time but you'll get there. Remember you are worth it and are allowed to spoil yourself sometimes. So go ahead and treat yourself.

14. Take more chances

Honestly, you don't want to live life with regrets. If you like someone, tell them. If you want to go somewhere, go for it. Embrace the unknown because it could be full of surprises that you never expected and may even change your life for the better. Take more chances, it'll be worth it. 

15. It's never too late to change your life

Whether it's being stuck in a dead end job, wishing you went for that degree or just wanting to go for a whole different career. You can do it. Of course, it may take some time and effort but you're allowed to change your mind. Society puts pressure on everything to decide what to do with your life by the time you reach eighteen but that's too young to figure it out. There's no time limit to change your life. Your twenties is the perfect time to experience what you really want to do with your life and where you want to be. Don't think it's too late to change your life because it's not. So just go for it. 

16. Life's too short to be petty

Trust me, there's no point doing petty things for someone that has done you wrong. Whether it's an ex you're struggling to get over or a toxic friend. Stop trying to grab that attention because it's not worth it. It really doesn't matter so you shouldn't let those less important things control your life. You never know how short life can be and there's no point having arguments over little petty things that literally mean nothing.

17. Open up more

As someone who is a bit like a closed book as I've been through a lot of heartbreak and disappointment in my life. It can be a real struggle to open up to people for fear of them letting me down. However, this is something that needs to change. Opening up more can really benefit you whether it's just talking about how you feel or letting someone you trust know what's going on in your life. It may be scary but if that person really cares about you then they will support you no matter what. Be more open with people because you'll feel like a weight has lifted from your shoulders if you do. 

18. Get off your phone more

We as a society spend way too much time on our phones. If you turn on your screen time and see how much you spend on your phone then you'd be shocked. Sometimes I can get up to six to seven hours on my phone. That's changed since being at work but if you think about it your day is like fourteen to sixteen hours and if you take away how much you spend on your phone you realise there is very little time that you're not on your phone. Try to limit the time you spend on your phone. Don't feel you have to update your stories with what you're doing all the time. Try new hobbies whether it's cooking, art, sports or just gaming. Try to limit your screen time to certain times of the day so you're not constantly staring at a screen all the time. 

19. Get yourself a decent everyday bag

In my 26 years of living, one important thing to have is a decent everyday bag. Something you can take to work or just to leave the home with whenever you need to. I'm not saying spend lots of money on an expensive bag but by now you should know what kind of everyday bag you prefer whether it's a backpack, tote or shoulder bag. Get yourself a decent everyday bag that will last you for years. Trust me, it'll be worth it. 

20. Always carry a book on you

Something I've learned is you can never go wrong with carrying a book on you. Sometimes you may find yourself alone in a cafe, why not read a book? You're delayed on a train or bus so why not do some reading. Trust me, you can't go wrong with having a book on you and especially if you're trying to read more then why not take a book with you wherever you go.

21. You control your happiness

Time to get a little deep here but happiness comes from within. You own your own happiness. Nobody else is allowed to control whether or not you're happy. So if something is bringing you down, try to change it or walk away from it. You deserve to be happy and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

22. Journal more

I love journaling because it allows me to write down everything in my mind and it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I highly recommend journaling more because it can really help you.

23. Always be nice and be the bigger person

The best revenge in life is to kill them with kindness. Being nice to people will always get you far and if someone is being mean to you, gaslighting, ghosting or just being an asshole. Be the bigger person. Ignore them and walk away. Don't show that it bothers you. Most bullies want the reaction and to know they've touched a nerve, don't give them that reaction. Just be the bigger person and walk away. That's the best thing you can do. Be nice to people because you never really know what someone is going through and it pays to be nice.

24. Forgive, but never forget

Although sometimes people do things that could be seen as unforgiving, whether it's cheating on you or not being there when you were down or just stabbing you right in the back. You may never want to forgive them again, but as I said it's better to be the bigger person. Forgive them for what they did but don't forget it because they may see your forgiveness as a sign to do it again. Just keep them at a distance and don't let them get so close to you again. Never forget if someone has wronged you then understand they could do it again so forgive them but don't forget what they did. 

25. You don't have to like everyone and not everyone will like you

Unfortunately, as much as we'd love to have a big group of friends but as you get older that's just not possible. For starters, you may not like certain people whether it's their interests or personality that bothers. It's okay. You don't have to like everyone but it works both ways. Some people may not like you for whatever reason. That's okay too. The good thing is you just accept that fact and move on with your life. You'll find your people and focus on them rather than people who don't like you. There's not a lot you can do about it. 

26. Live your best life

Finally, it's really important to just live your best life. Try your best at everything life throws at you because that's all you can do. Put effort in things you want to work and reevaluate things that you're not so sure about. We only get one life in this world so make the most of it and just live your best life. 

Anyway, those are 26 things I've learned in my 26 years. Let me know one thing you've learned in your life that you think would be useful to know in the comments below. 

Thank you for reading my blog and I'll be back soon with another post. 

See you then.

Megan x 

*This is not a sponsored post* 

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