What I Wish I Knew At Age 13

Here's everything everyone wish they knew at the age of 13. If it's good advice, hit the upvote button. The number next to it indicates the age the author wrote it at. Feel like there's something missing? Add a new message!

Hey 13 year old, It's okay to not be happy all the time. It's okay to be sad, anxious, stressed, angry or hurt. It's normal. It's natural. It's human. If you feel it doesn't work if people try to cheer you up without listening to how you feel, it's valid.

Hey 13 year old, It's normal to be slower or faster when it comes to puberty. Some change very early, and some change late. It's all normal. Everyone is different.

Hey 13 year old, If you suspect you have a neurodevelopmental condition like ADH, autism or dyslexia, do not diagnose yourself on the internet. Ask for professional help, but also listen to the experiences of those with the condition too, rather than only experts.

Hey 13 year old, It's normal to not figure things out the first time you try it. Just try again and again. It's no shame to fail, or make mistakes. Everyday is a second chance. No one is born knowing how to speak, walk or even dress themselves. Try.

Hey 13 year old, Work hard in school, but know school isn't everything. There are so many life skills out there to be considered a grown up, than just having good grades. You can be smart without being a good person, after all.

Hey 13 year old, Never give anyone any nude pictures of yourself online at this age. Someone getting nude pictures of a minor can send them to jail, and so you are dealing with a criminal here.

Hey 13 year old, Don't be friends with people who don't value your worth. You deserve more than that. No one is a real friend when they're just trying to use you, and don't really like you.

Hey 13 year old, I know being kind doesn't make everyone be kind to you, but if you're unkind to others, DEFINITELY people won't be kind to you. If you want to prevent as much drama as possible, be kind without being a doormat.

Hey 13 year old, learn how to do a middle split! It will get harder to learn once you're older

Hey 13 year old, If you feel already much older than you were as a little kid, know you're just starting in life. That doesn't mean your opinion doesn't matter, but if you fail or make mistakes at a lot of things now, you still have a lot of time to learn.

Hey 13 year old, You're still very young. If life seems confusing to you, then know that things aren't supposed to make complete sense at this age. No adult knows everything, but being young makes things extra confusing, which is normal.

Hey 13 year old, Video games are fun, and I'm not saying you can't play any. Just know that there are a lot of mean jerks that are much older than you in the gaming world, and you have to be cautious about talking to them in multiplayer.

Hey 13 year old, If you want to accomplish something, first write down what you want exactly, and keep a copy of your goals somewhere in your room. Tell your family or friends if you want support on that.

Hey 13 year old, If you want to be tall, big and athletic, go to sleep early and eat a lot of healthy meals. Ask for help if you're confused on how to do that, and research some ideas online on how to do that together.

Hey 13 year old, It's annoying to clean your room or clean all kinds of things, but if you're feeling stressed, you're going to feel much more stressed in a cluttered and disorganized environment.

Hey 13 year old, Learn to enjoy your childhood while it lasts. Don't grow up too soon. When you're older and have more responsibilities, you'll likely regret not savoring childhood, so enjoy it as much as possible.

Hey 13 year old, If you don't have the stereotypically happy and perfect family of one father, one mother, two or more children (not adopted), and a stable home, know that it's normal and natural. Different families exist, but people don't talk about them.

Hey 13 year old, Not everyone on the internet is telling the truth. If everyone else seems to have it good, then usually they're lying about it or they're hiding something by distracting you with only the good side of their lives. Maybe you do the same to them.

Hey 13 year old, If your parents separate in a divorce, know that you don't have to spend your time trying to pick sides in trying to please them. That's for the adults to figure it out themselves, and they shouldn't let their kids fix their problems.

Hey 13 year old, Talking about female puberty is not just for adults, when male puberty is treated as something for preteens and teens. Talking about female puberty is for preteen and teen girls too. Have any questions? Ask it or ask google.

Hey 13 year old, If you have hobbies you enjoy now, take time to remember them as you grow up, and don't lose them by becoming too distracted with work. As people get older, some people can start losing their interests to fit in with others, so don't.

Hey 13 year old, As people get older, it's harder for people to try new things, whether it's as small as trying a new type of food or as big as traveling somewhere else. Don't lose your curiosity for trying new things as you get older. Don't get too old fashioned.

Hey 13 year old, The Barbie vlogs on YouTube actually have some decent advice on mental health aimed for kids, especially little girls or anyone else who might be into that. Surprisingly helpful advice for older people too. Yes, she has an official YouTube channel.

Hey 13 year old, You can look up mindfulness for kids online to help you calm down, or if you want something for grown ups, just look for a 5 minutes or 10 minutes guided meditation on YouTube.

Hey 13 year old, I know, we’re the same, but listen. Just do it, ask them out, I wish I had. I’ve fucked up by not, and I don’t want you to feel that same pain.

Hey 13 year old, Bring a good luck charm around you. It doesn't matter if it's real or not. Whether it's due to the placebo effect or actual magic, it'll help you gain confidence if you bring something around you like that. Imagination can really give you confidence.

Hey 13 year old, Fidget toys, such as fidget cubes, fidget spinners, pop its, stress balls, ASMR sensory toys, slime, and so on, can be really useful when you need a way to relieve stress, especially if you're always fidgeting when you're staying in one place.

Hey 13 year old, Make a mental health first aid kit to gather the things that calm you down. It can be sentimental photos, toys like rubix cubes, plushies, accessories, pillows, calming notes, journals, coloring materials, stickers, geeky collectibles, and so on.

Hey 13 year old, If you want help calming down, try looking up "calming games," or "relaxing games," online. There are more of these types of games beyond just Animal Crossing, if you're into that kind of game. Try looking up "Zen games," too.

Hey 13 year old, If you're worried about the world and what's on the news today, look up "volunteering ideas for kids," or "volunteering ideas for teens," if you want an extra challenge. Doing something active helps calm you down better than watching the news.