As teens, we often feel as if we’re invincible and nothing can hurt us. We have this “I’m invincible” mindset and it causes us to think irrationally. Well, let me be the first to tell you that you are not invincible and bad decisions do come back to haunt you. The teenage years are the years when you start making decisions on your own and start understanding the world around you. The decisions you make now will affect your future, so take them seriously and make wise choices.
There are a few things I think every teenager needs to accomplish before they get too old.
Love yourself more
Most teens struggle with self-esteem issues. It’s a critical time for you, as it can either make or break your confidence as an adult. You need to learn to love yourself first before anyone else can love you back.
One way to increase your self-esteem is by taking care of how you look and feel each day. Self-care involves improving your physical health and mental wellness, so you can function better in life.
Do something you love
Find a hobby or activity that brings out the best in you and that makes you happy. It can be anything — from playing sports or musical instruments, to painting, singing, writing, and dancing. Spending time doing these things will help boost your mood and improve your mental health.
Learn to drive
It’ll make life easier for everyone if you learn to drive at least the basics before graduating high school. From getting groceries to carpooling or going to work, it’s incredibly convenient to be able to get wherever you need to go whenever you want instead of waiting for a ride.
Start Saving Money
Being a teenager is the best time in your life to start saving money. You have very limited expenses and you are able to save more of your pocket money than ever. It’s just the right time for you to start saving money.
Travel
Traveling is one of the best ways to learn more about yourself and the world around us. Start exploring new places now because as you grow older, traveling will become more difficult for you.
Take an awesome road trip with friends
Get in the car and start driving. Keep going until you find something fun. You’ll have tons of memories with your friends that will last forever.
Learn new skills
You can take up music or learn a foreign language such as Korean or Japanese. You can also learn how to cook or how to drive a car if you haven’t done so yet.
Explore your hometown
This might seem like a strange one. You live here, right? Surely you’ve seen everything there is to see by now. But I’m willing to bet that there are things in your town that you haven’t done yet. Take a walk around town, check out the local museum, and try some of the weirdest restaurants that you can find. It’ll be fun.
Register to vote
In most countries, the voting age is 18 but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare now. If you’re 16 or older, register so that when it comes time for the next presidential election (or local elections), you’ll be ready.
Do one thing you’re scared of
Everyone has something they’re afraid of doing — whether it’s jumping out of an airplane or riding a rollercoaster. Do something that scares you at least once before leaving high school. This will help build confidence and make sure that you don’t miss out on any big adventures in life.
Eat better and exercise
Regular exercise is really important for good health. The best thing about exercise is that it can help you sleep better, among many other things. The best exercise plan for teenagers is to get involved in a sport or some type of activity where you’re moving around.
If you can’t find a sport you like, there are still ways to get moving, such as bike riding, walking, or going to the gym with a friend. No matter what type of exercise you do, it’s important to try to be active every day.
If you don’t eat well, your body won’t grow properly. This means that you’ll be short compared to other kids your age and you may not have enough energy to play sports or do other activities with your friends.
Try more fruits and vegetables each day (try five servings) and have a balance of protein, grains, and fat in your diet too. It’s also important to drink enough water so that you stay hydrated throughout the day.
Get a part-time job
Working teaches responsibility and time management skills, plus it can give you some spending money. And when it’s time to apply for colleges, colleges want to see that you’ve been working while in high school, even if it’s just part-time work like babysitting or working at a fast-food restaurant. Become employed.
Learn how to manage your money
You can start now and learn how to manage your money. Most of the lessons I’ve learned about managing my money have come from experience. You should start learning how to manage your money from an early age. Seek out information that will help you make better decisions in the future.
Get involved in your community
There are so many ways to give back that it isn’t hard to find an opportunity that interests you. Even if you don’t think you’re making a difference, you probably are doing more good than you think.
Be confident in who you are
A lot of people struggle with confidence. It’s important to be comfortable in who you are as a person. If something is holding you back, find out what it is and take steps to eliminate it from your life. Being confident doesn’t mean being arrogant or overly cocky.
Do a physical milestone
Whether it’s running a mile, walking up 10 flights of stairs at once, or holding a plank for 30 seconds, set a physical goal for yourself and work hard to achieve it. You might even be able to use it as motivation for other goals, like getting better grades or eating healthier.
Cake baking
Baking is super fun and it’s also a great way to learn some life skills. Baking teaches you creativity and measurements as well as patience and practicality. You’ll also have an awesome cake to eat when you’re done.
Do backyard camping
Do you want an adventure? There’s nothing more adventurous than sleeping outside when it’s completely dark and completely silent — and spending the night in your backyard is perfectly safe. This is something that even adults sometimes struggle with, so if you’re too scared to do it as a teen, don’t expect yourself to enjoy it much when you’re older.
Visit a museum
You don’t have to be studying art history to learn something new at a museum. And if you are studying art history, then go anyway! It’s good practice for when you become an adult and have more free time to explore museums on your own.
Spend time with people who are older than you
It can be easy to get wrapped up in your own life and forget about the people who came before us — especially if they aren’t in our lives anymore (like grandparents). Spending time with them will help remind you that there’s more out there than just yourself or your friends…and it might even make them feel better too 🙂
Read a book recommended to you by someone you love
One of the best ways to find out what kind of person someone is is by their book recommendations. If someone recommends that you read something, it’s a good idea to listen to them because they probably want what’s best for you.
Spend time with your family and friends
Your closest friends and family members will always be there for you, so if you have some free time, why not spend it with the people who love you? It doesn’t matter whether you prefer a big group or just hanging out with one person, as long as you’re doing what you enjoy.
Learn how to swim
Summer is the perfect time to learn how to swim. If you’re living near a lake, beach, or pool, there are tons of opportunities to get wet and practice your strokes. Take a class if you want to learn quickly, or just dive in and make it happen!
Volunteer at an animal shelter
If you love cats and dogs, why not spend some time with them? It’s easy to volunteer at a local animal shelter and will make everyone happy. Even if you can’t adopt a pet right now, spending some time with them will brighten your day.
Learn how to change a tire
Aside from swimming, it’s good to have practical skills like knowing how to change a flat tire. At some point in your life, you might need this kind of knowledge! It’s smart to be prepared for anything.
Have a job for at least one summer
Having a job as a teenager is important because it teaches you responsibility, work ethic, and money management skills. Plus, you can earn money that can go towards college savings or whatever else you’d like.
Learn how to cook for yourself
As soon as you can boil water and make mac and cheese, start experimenting with different recipes. Try out a new one every week to broaden your culinary horizons. Not only will you become a better cook than most of your peers, but it’ll also be cheaper (and healthier) than eating at restaurants all the time.
Create a budget for yourself
Budgeting is an essential skill that most people learn too late in life. To avoid this mistake, start budgeting as soon as you can, whether it’s just tracking how much money you’re spending or creating a spreadsheet with all of your expenses included. A few months down the line, you’ll be amazed by how much money you’ve saved.
Learn how to manage your time effectively
Learn how to manage your time effectively by setting aside time each day for studying or doing homework, as well as time for socializing with friends or relaxing at home. This will help ensure that you’re able to complete all of the activities on your schedule and not miss anything important because of procrastination.
Explore what career options interest you
Talk with your school counselor about what career paths are available for someone with your skillset. There are a ton of great career options out there that don’t require a degree; learn more about them and see if any of them spark your interest.
Go on vacation outside of your country (if possible)
Look into flights and places to stay and plan out a fun vacation that will allow you to explore new cultures and broaden your horizons.
Go on vacation outside of your state (if possible)
If traveling internationally isn’t in the cards right now, take a trip within the US instead. It doesn’t have to be somewhere exotic like New York or Los Angeles; just go somewhere that’s different from where you live.
Final worlds
Achieve all you can throughout your teenage years. Don’t hold yourself back; if you’ve got a dream, run for it, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t succeed. Believe in yourself, work hard, and find time for fun and relaxation on top of everything else. As long as you stay focused and keep moving forward, at the end of this period in your life, you’ll be prepared to step out into the world with a good head start in life.
