What I Wish I Knew At Age 16

Here's everything everyone wish they knew at the age of 16. 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 16 year old, If you want to start lifting, you're going to feel weaker than you actually are for a couple weeks because your brain is lazier than your muscles and doesn't want to change.

Hey 16 year old, You'd be surprised how much practical life advice you can find on Wikipedia. There are Wikipedia pages for love, relationships, friendship, adolescence, puberty, emotions and more.

Hey 16 year old, When anxiety causing thoughts arise, start mentally describing objects or actions you see in your vicinity, as if you were narrating a story. This will distract your brain from spiraling down that dreaded black hole.

Hey 16 year old, Many processed foods that are advertised as 'Low Fat' have a lot of added sugar to make them taste better, so read the nutritional labels!

Hey 16 year old, Two less talked about symptoms of ADHD are poor mood regulation and rejection sensitivity, which means poor emotional control and extreme anxiety around rejection more than the norm.

Hey 16 year old, You are not a professionally trained therapist and that the burden of helping someone who is suicidal is not on you. If a friend is suicidal, call for professional help because you can support them, but not cure them.

Hey 16 year old, Always google a company name + scam before buying anything from them, to check if there is any news out there mentioning if a company is full of scams.

Hey 16 year old, If you want a distraction for stress, "I'm Feeling Lucky" on Google Earth is an awesome feature that helps users to travel to random locations on our planet and learn new things about new attractions in different countries.

Hey 16 year old, If you want a website to offer calculations for different types of math problems, that a normal calculator can't, there's Wolfram Alpha. There's also a free alternative to Wolfram Alpha called fxSolver for solving Math and Engineering problems.

Hey 16 year old, If your teacher or professor doesn't want you using Wikipedia, you can go to the References section and use Wikipedia's sources. You can see it at the bottom of the Wikipedia page, and you can make use of those instead. Take a look.

Hey 16 year old, If a job makes you pay money to work for them, it’s a scam. Period. If you have to pay for a membership, a "limited edition" pack, a set of products first, a ticket to an event, and so on, it's a scam. Jobs pay you and not the other way around.

Hey 16 year old, If you're one of those aesthetic book loving teens who enjoy the artistry of classic novels, you can get a lot of free classic ebooks from Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org/) if you can't afford as many books as you want to.

Hey 16 year old, When a friend is upset, ask them one simple question before saying anything else: 'Do you want to talk about it or do you want to be distracted from it?' This will change everything when it comes to trying to comfort a friend.

Hey 16 year old, After a bad break up, do 10 things that your ex would never do with you. You'll feel better and realize how much of yourself was being held back.

Hey 16 year old, Always be prepared to leave your employer because they are prepared to leave you. Most employers, especially if you have a low ranking job, will quickly be happy to replace you if you're gone. Some people even die, and employers don't care.

Hey 16 year old, It is important to know when to stop arguing with people, and simply let them be wrong. You don't have to waste your energy every time.

Hey 16 year old, if you're looking for a job, mention it to everybody that you come in contact with. You never know whose sister's neighbor's uncle is hiring.

Hey 16 year old, You may not like being in pictures or taking them, but you will hate that you have no photos of some time period when you’re older. Take pictures even if it is out of your comfort zone occasionally, for your future self.

Hey 16 year old, Unless it harms other people, make it a rule for yourself to NEVER insult how another person finds joy or expresses joy, such as the way people, smile, laugh or their interests and hobbies.

Hey 16 year old, if you're unable to fall asleep at night instead of closing your eyes do the opposite. Keep your eyes wide open. You'll feel drowsy and will automatically close your eyes. If your mind starts racing again open your eyes again.

Hey 16 year old, If you ever feel lonely just watch streamers with 10 viewers on twitch. They will always listen to you, appreciate just you being there. Win-Win for both.

Hey 16 year old, If you have to make a presentation in front of a group of people volunteer to be the first one up as everyone else will be so nervous about their own presentation that they won't pay attention to yours and will more than likely forget any mistake.

Hey 16 year old, Responding to everything with negativity is a terrible habit that's easy to fall into. Internet culture rewards us for pessimism, but during personal interactions it's a huge turn-off. Don't be surprised if friends leave if you always complain.

Hey 16 year old, If you're making fun of someone online for no good reason, know there is an increased risk of self harm for people your age, or even in other age groups. In cases of suicide, some say the reason is suicide, while others say it is murder.

Hey 16 year old, If you're sending nudes of yourself to people you don't know, or even your boyfriend/girlfriend, know that having nudes on minors on hand, even of your own self, is a criminal offense. It might even circulate throughout the internet.

Hey 16 year old, If a man makes an indirect sexual comment about your body as a woman without your consent, ask him, "What do you mean?", "Can you be more specific?", "I'm not sure what you mean?" or "Can you repeat what you said? I didn't hear it."

Hey 16 year old, Do chores when you feel angry. Keep to yourself and wash dishes, gardening, sweeping the floor, etc. Use all that adrenaline towards something that will benefit you instead of doing impulsive stuff.

Hey 16 year old, When you have a 3 day weekend, do all of your chores (laundry, cleaning, homework, projects, etc) the night BEFORE your 3 day weekend begins. You may have to stay up late that night but you'll thank yourself later when you have 3 full days to relax.

Hey 16 year old, Don't watch too much news if you want to stay sane. Limit news to a chosen specific number of minutes per day to stay informed, and then go distract yourself with something else. Even video games and Netflix is a better choice than the news.

Hey 16 year old, Try not to create your image as an introverted person. This image sticks and you cannot for the life of it come out of it. Don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself. Never. I repeat Never compromise on your studies.