Life is hard but we always need to rock on. Despite whatever life throws at us, it is important that we face these things head on. If we fail, we should learn from it and bounce back stronger. If we succeed, well…We then have to aim for something greater to fail on and eventually conquer.

However, this is easier said than done. Hence, many people feel anxious in trying something or get depressed when they fail. Of course, that is pretty sensible because we don’t want to waste time, effort, or anything that we give in exchange of achieving something in life. It is important to learn fast and learn from those who came before us or those who have more experience than us.

Still, giving life advice is easier when you’re just giving it and not following it. Putting words into action is something most of us are scared of doing. Even the wisest of people are often afraid of this. Let’s take a look at the common life advice people give but even the giver fails to follow.

20. Keep moving forward

Always keep moving forward. No matter how small the step you’re taking, just make sure that you are moving forward and not backward. You may fail now but figure out what went wrong, learn from it, and move on. However, many find this difficult to do because it is easier to stay with what we’re used to, which is why many go back. The familiar is comforting and it feels safe doing what we’re used to. However, if you want to grow, you should take a step towards the next unknown.

So when they tell you to just move on, just do it.

19. Most things are not as bad as you think

When something bad happens, you think that it’s the end of the world. That’s not true because oftentimes, even giant failures are not as bad as you think. Don’t overanalyze something because most likely it is fixable. Otherwise, just move on from it.

Never sulk and don’t think that things are worse than they really are. You’ll be surprised that something you think is huge, is actually just trivial. Just take a moment to assess the situation and calmly deal with the situation. There is nothing you can do that is so egregious that it cannot be fixed. It can.

18. Never lie

When we are in hot water, it is easier to lie than to suffer the consequences of our decisions and actions. However, what we don’t think about is the repercussions in the long run that result from the lies we tell. It can ruin relationships and destroy trust, which are important things that we should take good care of. If we did something wrong, best to just admit it and suffer whatever consequence there is. It is the right thing to do.

Also, as Mark Twain said, “You don’t have to remember anything if you tell the truth.”

17. Make today meaningful

As Hitch would say, “Begin each day as if it were on purpose.”

Every day you wake up, you have a huge opportunity to make a big difference in yourself and in the world. It is a gift to wake up every morning and it is an opportunity to reevaluate your purpose in life. Hence, before you actually leave your bed, you should take a few moments to rethink what your purpose is for the day and how you can make it better.

Unfortunately, the thinking of the purposes part is easy but most of us fail to execute these purposes.

16. Dress for success

Don’t just dress to impress but dress for success. They keep telling us to dress for the job that you want. Hence, you should follow this especially if you want to stay on top of your game. Remember first impressions make a difference. The way you carry yourself and the way you conduct yourself should be reflected in the way you dress.

However, the way we dress for success has changed especially with the advent of tech. Most of the successful big guys today don’t dress in suits like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. They dress efficiently and humbly.

15. Think before you speak

Before you say something, you should think about what you are going to say first. Ask yourself if it is sensible, if it adds value, and if it does not intentionally offend anyone. Although action speaks louder than words, words can cut through our hearts like a knife. They can still hurt.

However, human beings are designed to react. We are not wired to listen but we are wired to respond. Hence, most of the time, we just speak without thinking especially when triggered. You should try to always think before you speak especially if you are overwhelmed by emotions because you might say something you don’t mean, you can hurt someone and won’t be able to take it back.

14. Take time to breathe

Most of us forget to pause and breathe. Well, breathing is essential to living but the kind of breathing we’re talking about is the one that allows you to relax, stay calm, and have a better perspective on things. Some may even say that this kind of breathing is a lost art.

So, don’t always be in a hurry. You don’t need to be a professional yogi or meditator to do this. Once in a while, pay attention to your breathing. Don’t rush it because it has many benefits. It can relieve stress and anxiety, improve your health, lower your blood pressure, and more.

Sadly, in a world full of people in a rush to stay on top of their game, we neglect to do this right.

13. Don’t skip breakfast

When we were kids, our parents used to tell us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Hence, mom will never let us skip breakfast. It is a good life tip because not skipping this morning meal has many health benefits. As we all know, our health is our wealth so even if you are trying to make it on your own, you should always start the day with a good breakfast.

Sadly, with work almost always in our mind, we forget to eat right at the start of the day. This should be pretty easy so next time grab an apple or a sandwich before heading to the office.

12. Small can be large and large can be small

Ahhhh.. The paradox of life. But how can this be?

Small things, when you neglect them, can turn into piles of something that can affect your life. On the other hand, large responsibilities that seem impossible become doable when you divide them into smaller, simpler tasks.

Hence, it is just all a matter of perspective. Don’t neglect the tiny details and don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with the magnitude of a problem.

11. Don’t be late

If you are late, it means that you don’t respect the other party’s time.

However, you might have planned ahead but unexpected things popped up. You struggled to find your phone. You got stuck in rush hour traffic. You got lost on the way to a meeting. Whatever the reason may be, it just messed up your schedule and you arrived 15 minutes late. People waited and as they waited, they probably talked about your tardiness. Is that something you want?

Of course, not!

So always aim to arrive 15 minutes before the agreed time. Leave a buffer time for when the unexpected might happen because most likely they will.

10. Take advantage of the power of good habits

Even the smallest activities can mean a lot in the long run if you turn them into daily habits. Eat breakfast, make your bed, meditate, brush your teeth, and so on and so forth. These trivial things can lead to better health and a better outlook in life so don’t be lazy and skip them.

Moreover, giving up the bad habits also helps out a lot. Quit smoking or drinking, and later on, you can reap the benefits of giving these up. You don’t need to quit cold turkey because you can do it slowly but surely.

9. Be positive

Even when things are going the other way, stay positive. Keep in mind that your mood is contagious so share that positive energy. What you give is what you get so if you give out something positive, you get something positive in return. The same goes when you give out something negative.

However, it is extremely difficult to stay positive especially when life keeps jabbing at you. Therefore, our advice is difficult in situations when you actually need it most. What you can do is pause for a moment, breathe, and try to look at what’s happening from another angle. There might be something you’re missing to make sense of it all.

8. Agree to disagree

Respect what other people think even if their thoughts are different from yours. This is easier said than done because when this happens, it often ends in arguments and conflicts. It is important to keep in mind that there will always be people who will disagree with you because they have different experiences and beliefs. So, learn to just let it go instead of spewing hate that can lead to damaged relationships. It is interesting to live in a world that is filled with so many different perspectives, so embrace it and don’t let disagreements escalate into a screaming match.

Give value to their opinions as you give value to yours. Agree to disagree?

7. Take control of your emotions

This is especially applicable when you’re angry. Keep everything in check – your words, the way you act, the way you respond, the way you treat other people, and so on. Learn how to deal with your emotions without becoming overbearing. Emotions can be very tricky, we know. However, one of the perks of being an adult is that you have tons of tools available to you to help you understand and process your emotions, especially when it feels overwhelming. Seek out therapy, or a good self-help book, or listen to your favourite band if you need to.

Remember that you are in control of everything in your life but not of others. You may not be able to change the situation but you can change how you react to it.

6. Socialize

Talk to other people. Get to know another human being. Build lasting friendships. Go to parties where you can meet other people to widen your social circle. This is easy if you are outgoing but is difficult especially for introverts who hate shallow socializing. Find ways to deepen the way you socialize. Sadly, some people may feel that this is a lot of work and is not worth it so they don’t follow it. But just think about that great feeling when you find a kindred spirit in someone else, which can then lead to a strong and rewarding friendship.

5. Find time to disconnect

With FOMO (fear of missing out), we tend to be constantly tethered to our phones or laptops. What we don’t realize is that doing this is unhealthy and it strains our relationships with other people. We are with them physically but our minds are wandering somewhere in the virtual world. Without realizing it you actually miss out from your own life because you are so disconnected from your surroundings.

Every now and then, turn off your phone. You’ll feel a sense of freedom even if it’s just for a few hours (or a few days, if you can). You’ll have a better appreciation of life when you do this.

4. Words matter

Always watch what you say because they can make or break a person, a relationship, or even an opportunity to be successful. Your words can sting like a bee or cut like a sword, but they can also be like a shot of happy hormones to someone who is feeling down. With what you say, you can destroy someone or catapult them to greatness. The sad thing is, we often forget to put value on our words such that we just speak without realizing the impact of our words. Words are important and they wield power. So, be more mindful about what you say to others.

3. Keep your desk organized

An organized desk means efficiency and clutter-free perspective. But don’t stop at your desk. Do this at home as well. Having an organized environment will make you do things faster, will lessen delays, and will make you a lot happier.

Still, even if the benefits of doing this are amazing, many people don’t follow this advice because it takes a lot of effort to keep a neat desk. But if you make a little effort each day to make sure your desk does not collect clutter than you don’t have to be daunted by the idea of cleaning a super messy and disorganized desk in one shot.

2. You are your thoughts so keep them good

Whatever you think is what you become. All day, every day, it’s just you and your thoughts constantly together. Do you think positively or negatively? Do think of helping others or hurting them? It is easy to think of ill-fated things concerning others especially when you are mad at them but it can be dangerous. Suffice to say your thoughts affect you as well. If you are constantly swamped in negativity you may effect your own well-being, your productivity, your happiness. Your thoughts tell who you are, so keep them clean, good, and positive.

1. Live your life to the fullest

All of us get only one life, but if we live it to the fullest, it is enough. Do all the things you have to do so you can do the things that you want to do. Don’t hold yourself back from greatness and happiness.

Still, this can be scary because when we live life to the fullest, the journey towards that can be filled with rejections and failures. Don’t be afraid to take a shot because it is always a miss if you don’t. How would you know if the answer is yes, right?

So live your life the best you can and have no regrets!