I could have put these all in one post but it was over 1000 words long and I didn’t want to take up too much of anyone’s time so here is the second part to 10 Lessons To Learn Before You’re 20 – I hope you take as much from this as you did the first post! (If you read it and took anything from it anyway)

1. Stay up past midnight with someone

A lot of your real friends, the lifelong friends, will be made from the ages of 16 – 20, because that’s when you lose contact with friends that go off to uni or move in with partners and you have to find people that are on the same page as you again. At 16, you’ll probably be going to parties a lot and, if you’re in the UK, out clubbing. This means, you’ll be out past midnight quite a bit – this is probably where you’ll make most of your friends. People seem to be more open and less apprehensive to talk when it’s late, especially if they’re inebriated so if you ever want to really get to know someone, the witching hour is the time to do so.

2. Make now count, tomorrow is never promised

Try to get into the habit of actually living life rather than simply existing and expecting things to fall into your lap, it doesn’t work like that. If you want to get in shape for the summer, go for a run today, you want to get with that boy, shoot your shot now. You have nothing to lose by growing, just gain, so take your opportunity, you might not get another chance.

3. Travel

This is probably my favourite, it’s not really a lesson itself but you can learn a lot from it. Even if it’s just an hour away on the train, get out and explore, experience people and different cultures. The world is your playground, go have fun.

4. Learn how to prioritise

This one is quite important, from big situations to small, prioritising is definitely something you will need to learn to do if you ever want a stress free equilibrium in your life. Balancing a social life, work, health and various other things is difficult so make sure the important ones come first. And remember, what is important to everyone else, might not be the most important to you so be smart but don’t be easily lead.

5. Anything worth having is worth working for

You are never too young, or too old for that matter, to start building an empire. Work hard, you will be rewarded, not always immediately but it will pay off, just keep swimming.

6. Learn to look after yourself

If you’ve read my last Dear Lacey post on self care, you’ll know that I am a big advocate of self-love and appreciation. Understand that your mental, physical and emotional health are very crucial to your life, nothing will work properly if you don’t.

7. Be open minded and accepting

There have been loads of articles recently about famous YouTubers, Bloggers and politicians being racist in the past on their social medias and so on, don’t be ignorant and risk your future, accept people. Unless someone’s life decisions directly impact your life, it’s none of your business and you should withhold judgement.

8. You can start over

Don’t think your decisions now can’t always be changed later if you’ve made a mistake. Nine times out of ten, you can change and rectify things. People make mistakes and change their minds all the time. Just because something took a long time to make, doesn’t mean you can’t let it go. You’re not starting again, you’re starting with experience.

9. Don’t screw yourself over out of spite

This is kind of hard to explain without getting personal but long story short, don’t react out of anger or sadness towards anything. Pettiness is all fun and games until you ruin your own life. Know when to drop something if it gets too hot.

10. Consistently grow

You are not always going to be the person you want to be or should be and that’s okay so long as you’re constantly working towards it. Make sure you’re always growing, take in the life lessons and better yourself everyday.

Good luck in your adult life, the fun begins here if you do it properly. Also, if you feel like I’ve missed something important in these lessons or if there’s anything you’d like to add, comment down below!