Studies show that the rational part of the human brain isn’t completely developed until the age of 25. That means until your mid-twenties, you’re basically doing the best you can by making decisions based on emotions, impulses, and whatever cocktail of hormones your body has decided on for the day. It’s really no wonder kids make so many mistakes—I mean, we’re allowed to drink, smoke, and join the military roughly half a decade before our brains have even reached adulthood.
Life is hard during those teenage years for lots of reasons. You’re expected to make decisions that will affect your entire life—where you’ll go to college, what kind of work you want to do, and more—with zero life experience and, likely, a ton of self-doubt.
Hindsight is 20/20, and once you get past your teens there’s a good chance you’ll have a long list of things you wish you’d done differently. But what if you could go back in time and share those life lessons with your teenage self? These are some of the most important pieces of advice people said they’d give themselves as teenagers. As if teens care about anything adults have to say anyway.
It’s practically impossible to get through your teens without a few mistakes.
With the benefit of experience, it’s easy to look back and see how you could’ve done things differently for a better outcome.What if you could go back and actually give your teen self all the lessons you’ve learned since then?
@Twitter Save for retirement. It is not cheap.— Sue At 66 (@Sue At 66)1549159111.0
Or the importance of skincare.
#5WordAdviceForTeens Wear Sunscreen FFS. at your 20 year reunion, I promise you will see the difference.— Jessica schell (@Jessica schell)1523144740.0
The last thing most teens want to do is hang out with their parents.
@Twitter be nicer to your mom - she does everything for you and will be your bff in 5 years— Siobhan Murphy (@Siobhan Murphy)1548707551.0
Without the benefit of experience, distinguishing right from wrong is a little more complicated.
Do what's "right", not "easy" #5WordAdviceForTeens— Ray*mond Li*terally (@Ray*mond Li*terally)1523112113.0
Some advice is… very specific...
Just ignore all YouTube challenges #5WordAdviceForTeens— Jillian Mrs E (@Jillian Mrs E)1523111549.0
Other insights are universal.
@Twitter Read the terms and conditions— Ali©️iaDWS (@Ali©️iaDWS)1548706093.0
Then there are the classics.
@Twitter Do you're Homework for you're HS classes— TankMan959 (@TankMan959)1548724023.0
School is important, but it doesn’t define you.
You’re more than your grades. #5WordAdviceForTeens— Amanda Morin is weary (@Amanda Morin is weary)1523146934.0
Plus, some classes are useless anyway.
#5WordAdviceForTeens You will never use algebra.— 🎢🎪 ʆες 🎡🎠 (@🎢🎪 ʆες 🎡🎠)1523111398.0
Because even though it might seem like everything in your teens, high school is temporary.
High school is just temporary. Adulthood is responsibility, not freedom. Being cool doesn’t really matter. #5WordAdviceForTeens— Lauren Chen (@Lauren Chen)1523121317.0
Even though it’s, like, totally uncool to show emotion in your teens, it might actually make you feel great.
Love your people out loud. #5WordAdviceForTeens— Mollie Davis (@Mollie Davis)1523143023.0
Look, there might be some fashion casualties.
If only I could go back in time to tell myself skirts don’t belong over bell bottom jeans...But don’t let anyone stop you from living your truth.
@Twitter Do what you love and follow your dreams, no matter what anyone says 🙏🏻— Kim Shaw (@Kim Shaw)1548810840.0
No fashion faux pas is worse than this mistake.
Verify it's a costume party #5WordAdviceForTeens— A.P. Andrews (@A.P. Andrews)1523147097.0
No matter what happens, you are not your mistakes.
Your failures don’t define you. #5WordAdviceForTeens— Shadow (@Shadow)1523153078.0
Every mistake is an opportunity to grow.
Turn your mistakes into lessons. #5WordAdviceForTeens https://t.co/tQGC6vanGz— London Radcliffe (@London Radcliffe)1523152256.0
It’s okay if you need time to figure things out.
It's okay if you're unsure. #5WordAdviceForTeens— Ashley Hearn 🌖🌗🌘 BLAZEWRATH GAMES is out now! (@Ashley Hearn 🌖🌗🌘 BLAZEWRATH GAMES is out now!)1523144782.0
Being cool might be priority #1 in your teen years.
Being cool isn’t that important #5WordAdviceForTeens— Kareem Farah (@Kareem Farah)1523147191.0
You should be your only real priority.
It starts with loving yourself! #5WordAdviceForTeens— Cassandra Nicole Brewer (@Cassandra Nicole Brewer)1523145577.0
That means loving yourself through the tough times, too.
@Twitter Learn how to handle the valleys. The peaks will take care of themselves.— Rob Cleveland (@Rob Cleveland)1548815907.0
Moving on confidently can save you a lot of heartache.
@Twitter “You have to get up from the table when Love is no longer being served” — Nina Simone— Lourdes Orive (@Lourdes Orive)1548734985.0
Sure, actually moving on may not always be easy.
But your teens and young adult years are all about meeting new people, and deciding what you are and are not willing to compromise on in a relationship.Ultimately, everything will turn out okay.
@Twitter everything is gonna work out— clipz 📈 (@clipz 📈)1548706929.0
Finding the things that bring you joy is key to developing that inner peace.
@Twitter Your career isn't the most important thing in your life. Not even close.— some call me psyconic (@some call me psyconic)1549160422.0
You decide your value.
#london #teenagers #5wordadviceforteens https://t.co/WNCAbtdtPO— MentorMeToAchieve (@MentorMeToAchieve)1546947898.0
There’s strength in being vulnerable.
Honoring your emotions by feeling them without shame isn’t embarrassing, it’s key to your mental health.Yeah, those teen years are undeniably rough.
#5WordAdviceForTeens Enjoy it while it lasts.— Mikey Bonez 🔪Slasher Radio Podcast (@Mikey Bonez 🔪Slasher Radio Podcast)1523151217.0
Make the most of those years while you can.
@Twitter Eat like crazy before your metabolism slows— This Guy Ché 🎹 (@This Guy Ché 🎹)1548706033.0
Because you won’t be a teen forever.
This does not define you. #5WordAdviceForTeens— Michelle Bhasin (@Michelle Bhasin)1523145164.0