Each and every one of us Pandas face so many problems in our daily lives. From the pressure to do well in our work and studies to worrying about loans and feeling deeply anxious about the smallest things (that totally throw our entire day out of whack, that’s for sure).
The bad news is, most people deal with the same problems. The good news? Most people deal with the same problems! And it’s a great feeling knowing that you’re not alone in this chaotic but beautiful journey that we call life.
The Average People Problems Instagram page, created and managed by writer, editor, and new mom Samantha Matt, is full to the brim with issues—small and large—that are as hilarious as they are intimately relatable, especially for us average adults. Scroll down for the best of the best, and remember to upvote your fave posts, dear Pandas. When you’re done enjoying this list, you’re welcome to drop by the comment section and tell us all about what problems you’re dealing with right now.
Bored Panda reached out to Samantha and she was kind enough to tell us all about the inspiration and history behind the Average People Problems project, her creative process for coming up with engaging content, as well as her book. The Boston-based creator told us that the project saw a bit of a metamorphosis. Scroll down for the full interview, Pandas!
More info: Instagram (APP) | Instagram (Samantha) | Website | Book | TikTok | Twitter
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Samantha, from Massachusetts, detailed the roots of Average People Problems. "The @AveragePeopleProblems Instagram originally started as @20SomethingProblems. It began as the Instagram account for the online magazine ForeverTwentySomethings.com, which I founded in 2011 and ran for nearly a decade," she told Bored Panda.
"As I, along with many of my readers and followers, aged out of being 20-somethings, I knew I had to change the page handle to widen the audience and make everyone feel welcome—because after all, we all related to so many of the same 'problems,' no matter what our age was. Why? Because we all feel average sometimes (or most of the time, to be honest). So, before my book, 'Average is the New Awesome,' was published, I changed the Instagram handle to @AveragePeopleProblems! "
The founder of APP, Samantha, opened up to Bored Panda that she uses her everyday experiences as inspiration for the content that she posts. She said that she tries to reference the experiences that she has had that others will probably relate to. However, not everyone is as open about these experiences. And that's where APP comes in, giving voice to all those problems.
And if it's a triple cotton layer you can quietly mutter and make faces at jerks and get away with that. I'm really going to have to pay attention now if I'm not wearing one.
"The difficulty or ease in coming up with this content is usually based on my life at the moment. There was a point where I was pretty much only coming up with jokes about going to Starbucks and I realized, wow, I should probably start doing more with my life than just... going to Starbucks," Samantha was candid with us.
"When I'm feeling uninspired, that's a good push to get myself off the couch and back into the world, although there are many mundane experiences and struggles we likely all have while sitting on the couch doing absolutely nothing, too. And, you can write about nostalgia always."
She told us that she targets a wide audience of people by striking a balance in her content. "A lot of memes and tweets have such wide appeal that anyone from a celebrity to a college student can relate, but other times, something can be specific to niche demographics, like moms, people who graduated from high school in the mid-2000s, or adults who are struggling to buy homes in today's housing market—all things of which I am," she explained.
However, there are times when the content doesn't hit its mark. Sometimes, the problems are very individual. "There are also many times when people don't relate to content like I thought they would, making me realize I'm alone in these few thoughts, but the more memes and tweets I throw out there, the more likely people are to relate to a good number of them."
OMG that is SO TRUE! My lovely wife is trying really hard to lose weight on some plan or other. Me, on the other hand, just casually could do to lose a bit, and so I embark on a half-hearted plan to eat less takeaways and rediscover fruit. After two months on our respective plans, my wife has lost three pounds and I have lost just over three stones. I'm feeling quite smug but very low-key smug because my wife is spitting feathers. Awks.
Samantha told Bored Panda that she works full-time in digital media, alongside being a mom and running the Average People Problems account. She also opened up about her book, 'Average is the New Awesome' which Seal Press/Hachette Book Group published two years ago, in January 2020.
"The book is based on many stories I wrote for my website, ForeverTwentySomethings.com. 'Average is the New Awesome' exists to help people feel better about wherever they are in life. There is such a stigma around the word 'average.' People are afraid to be normal and are terrified to be happy with anything less than what they've defined as exceptional," Samantha said.
"But lack of major success, as defined by one person—because everyone looks at this word differently—doesn't mean failure. We need to be able to celebrate small victories and be happy about how far we've come, even if we're not where we ideally want to be yet—and this book helps people come to terms with this and embrace their own average."
The author feels "extremely passionate" about helping people feel good about their lives and making them laugh. "This is my mission in all the content I create, and I can only hope it continues resonating with people." Now that's a mission that we, and anyone who's a fan of wholesome comedy, can get behind.
Agreed. I try to normalize my period, but whenever I mention something to my male colleagues (like, it's so annoying to do field Work when I'm on my period, or, I have such a terrible migrain when I'm on my period), they turn green in the face
Tell them to man up and stop being chickens about it (politely or sarcastically, your preference. I'd probs go polite first and if then later sarcastic). It's normal and no more gross than peeing or any other body thing imho. If they saw me holding a tampon (unused) and got visibly grossed out I'd probs wave it in their face and say "ooh scary tampooon!". Be nice and understanding but have fun.
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I mean unused tampons aren't any more gross than unused toilet paper. We don't hide that.
Ew @ Ivana Watson... are you joking? Nobody is asking you to s**t in front of your coworkers so take a chill pill but as ADULTS (which I assume you are!) you and your coworkers UNDERSTAND human beings pee, s**t, fart, have periods, sweat, produce ear wax and mucus, etc... so, carrying toilet paper, a tampon, a cotton swab, tissues is not that big of a deal... grow up!
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I hope the next generation of kids of all gender are getting a much better education when it comes to their bodies and reproduction.
Don’t care anymore. You came out of a women who got her period, and if she didn’t you wouldn’t be here. My friends always know that I have tampons and I will hurl that life saver like a football over to you in the middle of a crowded restaurant should the moment require it. It’s how we all got here. Deal with it.
I was irrationally excited when I saw the scene in the Birds of Prey movie where they pulled a tampon out of Harley Quinn's pocket because it was the first time I had ever seen one in a movie.
I just do it anyway. Somebody has to start doing it. If guy get grossed out sucks for them lol. If anything I'll probably just find it entertaining.
I don't get the problem with sanitary products. My wife was sick and had run out. She asked (very sheepishly) if I'd consider getting her some more. I just got the packing of the old ones, went to the store and found the matching box. I got a few weird looks carrying them through the store but idgaf, she needs them.
It sad that you got any weird looks. Why shouldn't you buy them like a normal adult. Do people expect the woman is the only one who grocery shops, or worse, she takes separate time out to get them so her partner doesn't have to?
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I must admit that my practical experience with periods and tampons is rather limited but don’t you only need one at a time? And aren’t they small enough to be pretty much invisible if you just carry them in your hand like any other item? I just don’t see the point of hiding them, nor to put them on display. Just take one and walk to the bathroom.
The ones with an applicator can't be hidden by a hand. Otherwise, yes, the non-applicator type can be. Though agree totally that there is no point in hiding them. If anyone has a problem seeing a tampon it's a tad wet to be honest.
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Men spend one day or so coming out of a woman's private parts, most of their life trying to get back in, but don't want to know how the basic anatomy works!
I took a tube of concealer out of my bag the other day and my colleague thought it was a tampon and he literally. Ran. Away.
Maybe I should become a royal tampon butler in front of public toilets. Display them on a golden plate with a nice cup of tea for the ladies and insult all men with a british accent who walk by and look irritated. "Aye.. mind ya own business you bloody unrepentant Muppet Uphill Gardener."
Can we PLEASE stop being embarrassed about everyday normal bodily functions?
I think some people are misunderstanding, just because you don't hide your sanitary products doesn't mean you are randomly walking up to others to announce your period or talk about it in detail. The point is, it should be a natural thing that no one notices because it is normal, just like if you walked to the toilet in general. I do think you should also feel free to talk about periods when you feel you need to, but that is a separate issue.
I don't hide them in my sleeve because I'm embarrassed about having a period. I hide them in my sleeve because I'm a fairly private person and also because I'm embarrassed that I even exist.
Out of respect for your own privacy and that of others? Because the fact that bodily functions are normal, necessary, and not at all shameful in no way suggests we're entitled to inflict awareness of ours on others? Or, to put it in more modern parlance, because nobody else gives a flying f at a rolling donut about the bloody tears of your disappointed uterus, and your insistence on inflicting others with the knowledge of your messy, stinking internal processes is nothing more than oh-so-fashionable but nonetheless disgusting narcissism.
Sort of like hiding your undies under your clothes when at the gynecologist.
You make a good point. I don't care that people know I'm on my period, but I don't want my gyno knowing what kind of panties I prefer. Why is that? I admit that's a bit inconsistent.
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Why are you even talking about your period? Is it interesting to someone? To anyone? Why is anybody supposed to care? I'm a woman and I would offer sympathy and move on and men can do the same.Or is your period the most interesting thing about you?
It's still looked on in offices from some males and females as though it's their business. Sympathy looks, embarrassed, disgusted. Those who try look ok with it but actually look uncomfortable 😆 and some, in a judgemental way like 'you shouldn't have that in your hand in front of everyone' 🤦♀️🤦♀️ I'm 42 n experienced it my whole life. As I get older I have become accustomed to making a point of taking it out of my bag and just getting up and going to the loo. I make a point of acting absolutely normal and I get such a buzz. 🤸🥰💃💃💃💃🕺🕺 You experience a whole new array of reactions, it really lifts your mood. I have hit an age where I couldn't give 2 hoots of you see it or not, it's your issue not mine so you deal with any shame, embarrassment or worry. You did it to yourself 😋😋 it gives you such a feeling of power and owning it..... Maybe that's just me 😉😉
Not really just you. I'm way younger and I find it hilarious how uncomfortable a packaged unused tampon can make some especially since there is no reason (do we need to start hiding unused toilet paper in the bathroom? I don't think so).
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I like to March to the bathroom and twirl them like a baton! Relive my old majorette days ! Jkjk I shove them under my sleeve too ! I don’t care if someone sees but I don’t want to make a production either :)
I don’t know, even a pack of wet wipes is not something I want to openly carry to the bathroom and that’s not a period product. Generally bathroom hygiene products make me want to keep them private on the way to the bathroom
This is why I'm glad I had two older sisters I shared a bathroom with I can deal with it like I have since 5 years old just when a female coworker has a 'period' every week I think she must have some funky problems 🙃
Literally held one in my teeth while wrestling a toddler (my offspring, to be clear) to a public toilet once... I have no shame anymore
No. I'm sorry but no. Not even in an all woman working place. After all, HOW large is your tampon!!!
I keep mine out. Sometimes I even wave it around a bit so my supervisor will understand why I'm spending extra time in the bathroom. It doesn't actually take me long I just use it as an excuse to hide for a few minutes.
I put mine in my pocket or purse, but I don't try to stealth it in there. I don't need to *advertise* being on my period, but I also don't care if they find out through conversation.
I never did because I went to an all girls catholic school for the majority of my life, you don't need to hide anything from other girls who also get periods so to me it was always normal and natural to visibly and casually carry my tampons and pads... and once I got to university I saw other girls hiding their period products and I was shocked they felt they had to.
Men! They are the strong ones - We the weaker sex bleed for 7 days a month and work too. I'd like to see them do it!
The same people who think "No, I have my period" is the worst, most offensive TMI ever are also the ones who think that teaching kids in elementary school that gay people exist and some kids have two moms or two dads is "teaching our kids how to have gay sex!!1" There're never any gray areas.
So would you leave the bathroom stall door open too? Just don't understand why the need to announce to the room what you intend to do in the restroom. Do you tell them if you are going in to poop? It's your business, not theirs. Not a dirty secret, just not anyone else's business. IMHO
Just do it! Who cares! I’m a guy and I know it’s normal. My ex used to have me buy her tampons all the time! Let them see!
I completely agree, but on the other hand, I hide them not because I don't want to damage your delicate sensibilities, but mostly I feel that what I do in there is none of your business.
Yes, women do bear a lot of difficulties and pain to sustain the species. It does not seem fair. Menstruation and painful childbirth. Well, it must be wonderful to be a mom....but a lot of hard biological work.
Every woman has a duty to educate the men in their life about periods & normalise it. Especially boys - I always put tampons out on display when my teen nephews visit - tell them when I have pwriod pain & complain about my anemia. One day they'll have girlfriends* & need to be ready with sympathy & chocolate! (They are straight so far but making no assumptions)
I never have. Maybe once or twice in school but I got over that real fast. I was poor and my stepmom wouldn't only give me so many so many times I had to ask friends for some. I had an extremely heavy period and she would act like I was wasting them or something
You know, I've made friends with some incredible blokes these past 4 years or so, who are just so unfazed about periods and female stuff in general...it is very refreshing and I don't even think about it anymore. In fact, one of those guys and I were crying with laughter yesterday over a joke about my mooncup...you had to be there...
My periods are like next too nothing so I'm a lucky gal. But I've experienced a miscarriage so kinda know that feeling. Womanhood is hard.
Yeah in my old and bitter age I don't care anymore and don't have the energy to allocate ro caring. Though I do use some energy to find and text my boyfriend bloody attacking shark pics so he knows I'm on my period.
I like a little mystery in life, especially concerning the bathroom. Every morning my coworker disappears into the bathroom for 40 minutes with some dude wipes and his cell phone. We all know what's going down- but do we need to?
Just think that when women have their periods is because you can become mothers. Something that we men cannnot do. I just think it's beautiful.
Fine to feel that way so long as you don't be a Chant Until Nuetral and Tranquil about it to others
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The Average People Problems social media project is a celebration of ordinary awesomeness. It’s a bittersweet acknowledgment of the fact that even though we were told that we could do and be pretty much anything we wanted to, reality had different plans.
Real-life kind of just…happened to us and here we are, surrounded by a small heap of anxieties and problems that are, at the same time, very personal and incredibly universal.
Because dog knows we have to spend enough time in line that we can make really close friends, and maybe even find family we never knew existed.
Samantha, the founder of APP, wrote a book about mediocrity called ‘Average is the New Awesome: A Manifesto for the Rest of Us’ that deals with the idea that ‘good enough’ really is good enough. And that we can define greatness even if we don’t end up as astronauts and billionaires.
The APP project currently has just over 87k eager followers over on Instagram with many more to come.
I hate summer, you're sweaty and uncomfortable and it's exhausting to move, can't sleep at night because it's so hot, catch a cold when you crank up the fan too much, cat is constantly trying to escape onto the roof so you can't open the windows . I can always add a layer of clothes or blankets and make myself comfy with a hit beverage and a book.
Hey! The container store is fun. And you meet so many people with a common interest, which means for an exchange of great ideas, so you can buy even more cool containers. 😳 It's a conspiracy!
One incredibly relatable problem that many of us Pandas deal with is overthinking. Suzanne Degges-White, a Licensed Counselor, Professor, and Chair at the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University, recently explained to Bored Panda why we overthink and how it’s related to perfectionism and anxiety.
"One of the primary negative consequences of overthinking is that you end up missing opportunities! Overthinking can lead to procrastination as you try to examine choices or circumstances too closely and for too long,” Professor Degges-White told Bored Panda.
Me.....every......damn.......day! Cube neighbor constantly sounds like she' asleep!
How to cancel plans with Ashley: I'm so sorry, but I'm going to have to cancel. I just remembered that I'd planned a sleep over at Justine's.
But if you have trouble with this, there's always binge watching.
“Overthinking can also lead to paralysis and not moving forward or taking a chance as the overthinking creates stress and anxiety as you spend too much time focusing on the 'What can go wrong?' versus the 'What Ifs' in life," she warned that overthinking leads to a lot of missed opportunities.
"Overthinking and anxiety have something of a 'chicken and the egg' relationship—if we're prone to anxiety, the more likely we are to engage in overthinking, and the more we overthink something, the more anxious we tend to become.”
Good point. I never thought of that. But as far as making my bed, at 65 I'm listening to the Admiral.
Like a lot of other tendencies, overthinking exists on a spectrum. It isn’t a binary situation where you’re either an overthinker or you aren’t. “Some of us overthink things, but still commit to something before the metaphorical bell rings. Others, including those who tend towards obsessive compulsiveness, get so locked into overthinking that they can't move forward,” the professor pointed out to Bored Panda.
Performance anxiety, making wrong choices, or our past experiences can make us more prone to overthink things because we’re more anxious about the future. Meanwhile, some folks are simply born and raised to over-analyze things.
I am 39. Bought some Red's at the Walmart. Instead of being carded, lady hit the "does the customer look over 50?" button. I dont like you either walmart lady!
"Perfectionists are definitely overthinkers as they worry about minor flaws and what they can do to avoid them. Perfectionists can get tripped up by their need to achieve perfection and focus on the minor details and be unable to fully commit to something, whether it's turning in a project at school or work or committing to a relationship if they feel it or they or their partner isn't 'perfect.'"
Like in most areas of life, the first step to fighting back against a problem is recognizing that there is a problem. "Once you realize you are overthinking things, it's time to tell yourself that 'enough is enough.' Our minds will go where it's comfortable for them to go—and for whatever reason, our brains seem to enjoy worrying a bit.”
Considering she was marrying him for his money and intended to ship them off to boarding school, I would say she got what she deserved.
Professor Degges-White had some advice on how to stop overthinking. "Replace the worries of 'what can go wrong' with thoughts about 'what could go well.' Rather than wasting mental energy on negative thinking—especially when it's cyclical and going nowhere—intentionally remind yourself to focus on the positive possibilities,” she said.
“Accept that your best effort is enough and that perfection in most things isn't achievable. And that's okay,” the professor continued. “When trying to make a decision, practice going with the first response that comes to mind. Most of us do know what we want to do, but let our heads get tangled up in knots by overthinking the possibilities—just follow your gut and see what happens.”
YES! When we're both talking at the same time it sounds like we're working in a call center.
Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
She added: “Set a time for thinking about a problem. When you contain the "space" for overthinking, you give yourself parameters and lose less time in overthinking and deliberating. Some people begin to stop the overthinking well before the timer goes off—they learn that it's not productive."
This went on for far too long. I had to stop at 61. Lesson: always wait until the late afternoon to check out BP. That way they've been narrowed down to somewhere between 30 - 50. You may end up wasting the same amount of time, but you'll get to check out everything for the day.
I kinda feel sorry for Samantha Matt. She seems to be in her late 20s, already contemplates her life choices (cmon you don't have to be married and have kids yet) and complains about being cold, bored and having to go to work, while getting excited about organising her pantry instead of going out. Lighten up Sam
Life is gonna sting hard if it actually happens too her.
Load More Replies... Way too much stupid s**t on this one, it’s life. She has way too much time for complaining and not getting out of bed. These kind of posts are getting very irritating.
She isn’t as funny or clever or original as she thinks she is
Not a single tweet about how horrible her student loans are. Complaining about mundane s**t leads me to believe she has a great safety net named Daddy.
So being financially able to afford student loans means daddy takes care of it? I wish it was that easy. I had to pay mine I just didn't complain cause it wasnt that bad I guess.
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It definitely says that it's an article about Average People problems which was created by Samantha Matt so it makes sense that it's mostly from her.
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Still ...a better format where after every screen capture they spend 2 paragraphs describing everything in the screen capture.
I hope she gets some help for her financial irresponsibility. She's going to have a really hard time once she's starting to age and needs to slow down for her health.
This went on for far too long. I had to stop at 61. Lesson: always wait until the late afternoon to check out BP. That way they've been narrowed down to somewhere between 30 - 50. You may end up wasting the same amount of time, but you'll get to check out everything for the day.
I kinda feel sorry for Samantha Matt. She seems to be in her late 20s, already contemplates her life choices (cmon you don't have to be married and have kids yet) and complains about being cold, bored and having to go to work, while getting excited about organising her pantry instead of going out. Lighten up Sam
Life is gonna sting hard if it actually happens too her.
Load More Replies... Way too much stupid s**t on this one, it’s life. She has way too much time for complaining and not getting out of bed. These kind of posts are getting very irritating.
She isn’t as funny or clever or original as she thinks she is
Not a single tweet about how horrible her student loans are. Complaining about mundane s**t leads me to believe she has a great safety net named Daddy.
So being financially able to afford student loans means daddy takes care of it? I wish it was that easy. I had to pay mine I just didn't complain cause it wasnt that bad I guess.
Load More Replies... It definitely says that it's an article about Average People problems which was created by Samantha Matt so it makes sense that it's mostly from her.
Load More Replies... Still ...a better format where after every screen capture they spend 2 paragraphs describing everything in the screen capture.
I hope she gets some help for her financial irresponsibility. She's going to have a really hard time once she's starting to age and needs to slow down for her health.
