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Ah, life advice! It’s that wonderful thing that we just looove handing out (but hate listening to). Among all the pleasures in life, handing out life advice to a friend or even a complete stranger on the internet has got to rank among the top 100, for sure. And there’s hardly anything better than giving someone advice that we ourselves should be following but aren’t, am I right, dear Pandas?

For instance, I know so much about eating healthily, it’s ridiculous. Do I practice what I preach? Heck no! However, this list is about surprisingly good advice. Advice that’s useful. Timely. Concise. And, frankly, just spot-on. Internet users started sharing all these golden nuggets of wisdom after LA-based TV writer Amanda Deibert created a viral Twitter thread. Bored Panda reached out to her about her thread and you can find what she told us below.

Scroll down and upvote the advice you think is the best and be sure to share some of your own pearls of wisdom in the comment section below. But beware: even though these tips are useful, far from every bit of advice is good for us, as we’re about to find out.

More info: Twitter | AmandaDeibert.com

Image credits: amandadeibert

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tuzdayschild
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parents taught me that too. "If you can't afford to give it away, you can't afford to loan it."

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Deal _Anneal
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s better to have your nose in a book than someone else’s business. Periodt ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

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Amanda told Bored Panda that the thread had a lot of great advice and "a wealth of amazing wisdom." In her opinion, the reason why we're so great at giving advice instead of listening to it is that it's easier to see situations clearly for other people.

"When it is our own life, we also have to deal with our own emotions and attachments and habits. I can easily see something with detachment when it isn't my own issue. I think it is actually incredibly difficult to detach and really look at your own life," she explained.

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grace koncsics
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually a lot of babies (especially those with colic) cry no matter what. After Nannying for four years and having four younger siblings, sometimes no matter how calm the parents or caregivers are they just keep screaming. Obviously the parent and caregiver should stay calm no matter what and do whatever the baby needs to feel safe, loved and happy.

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El Dee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, if your baby, like mine many years ago. Cried incessantly (she had chronic colic due to being born premature) then you do everything you can and at some point you will have to put them down and go and take five for yourself. It WILL help both of you..

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Jo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or to use earplugs. You can still hear the crying but it takes the piercing part out.

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Tuna Fish
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son would scream cry for hours until I put him in the car and drove around. Then he would fall fast asleep. One night my husband said I was too tired and it would be dangerous for me to drive him around so I strapped him in his car seat and put him on the dryer and turned it on while I laid my head on the washer and we both got a few hours of shut eye.

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Trillian
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, buy yourself some simple ear protectors. I've found that the sound of crying makes me feel stressed. Wearing them, I could just rock my baby or carry her and felt much calmer.

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JensenDK
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best way to make a baby calm down is to have a walz with them. The 3/4-rythm is fantastic. Well, yes - you can feel a little silly walzing around in your house in the middle of the night - but it works.

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KT
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its ok to put them in crib and walk away for a breather

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Celtic Pirate Queen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a son with constant ear infections. Vacuuming was my saving grace - it calmed him down enough to sleep and it was kind of Zen for me - plus the house was ALWAYS company ready!

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von Krawall
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Earplugs also help lot. I always had my babies in my arms when they cried. But it was way easier to stay calm when I couldnt hear all of the noise and the screaming.

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Amanda Hunter
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or sit in the back yard where you can't hear them for a few minutes.

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NWB
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As long they are somewhere safe...take a wee break and regroup!

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We were also interested to get Amanda's opinion on how we can learn to follow our own advice better. After all, quite a lot of us know what we should be doing better in life but aren't following our own tips despite knowing they're good.

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"I think change is difficult and scary and most good advice revolves around change. Actually, that was one of my favorite bits of advice in the thread: not making a decision is a decision... and it's the easiest one to make. I think the best way around it is to remember that. Good things are difficult and take work, but sitting back and allowing life to just happen is a choice."

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Sum Guy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's something we all subconsciously do, we tend to pay more attention to people who are like us

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‘Inc.’ points out that successful entrepreneurs “know the value of listening to advice from others,” however, they suggest having a “buyer must beware” type of mentality. In other words, you can’t switch off your mind and follow someone blindly: you might end up in the middle of the woods with no road in sight.

For instance, ‘Inc.’ suggests keeping a keen eye on the context in which the advice was given: are you at a boardroom or a bar? Also, keep in mind that far from everyone is out to help you. They might give you bad advice to slow you down or send you spiraling in the wrong direction. (Yup, corporate life can be brutal.)

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't have to be liked by everyone, just as you don't like everyone you meet! :)

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Scagsy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone who thinks dogs are obedient all the time clearly haven't had any experience with Chihuahuas

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Furthermore, you really should be wary of unsolicited advice. Always ask yourself: what is this person’s motivation? What do they gain from me following their advice? Is there any substance to it? Is it self-serving? Do they simply like hearing themselves talk? When you really start digging deep, you’ll find that there are few diamonds in the rough among the lumps of coal. But the gems you find—they’re priceless when polished with practice and proper application.

The thing about advice is that there’s no panacea, no single cure-all tidbit of wisdom that’s going to apply to everyone equally. Some relationship advice is going to be fantastic for somebody going through a break-up but not for someone in the middle of a marriage crisis.

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BorPand8
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Besides, if you stay in that marriage you're teaching your kids that this is what marriage looks like and all the stuff your spouse is doing is okay.

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Similarly, specific dieting advice might work for a small handful of pro-athletes, but it might be barely effective for someone looking to lose weight. It’s all about weighing in and evaluating each bit of advice separately. What works for someone else might not work for you and vice versa.

However, we can over-think things and we might get analysis paralysis if we only think about which advice is good for us without actually testing some of it out. At least some experimentation is necessary for us to determine what tips and tricks work for us and which ones are best left for someone else.

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Kari Panda
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the company and the person you answer to, sadly. Many bosses do want to be asked about every little thing.

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El Dee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fly in the ointment here is that it isn't always apparent to you that you are ill. By the time it is you are probably VERY ill and going for help may be yet more difficult than normal..

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The problem is that most of us have an opinion about most things. And it can be… difficult to see the difference between somebody’s opinion masquerading as advice and actual advice that the person has applied in their lives and found success. So asking a few follow-up questions is always a plus. Best-case scenario? You go in-depth and fill that noggin of yours with even more useful knowledge than you thought was available. Worst-case scenario? You find out that the person hasn’t been following their own advice and is only speaking on a theoretical level.

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El Dee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup, especially her age group laundry WAS a nightmare. More handwashing, no dryers, irons were antiquated and made heavy work of shirts etc. No materials that DIDN'T need ironing!

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achilles get down from there
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wasn't there a study done investigating a correlation between severity of criminal conviction and time since the Judge's lunch break?

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Speaking of which, isn’t it amazing how bad some of us can be in following our advice? We know what works. We’ve seen it work. We’ve doled out the advice to others and watched it work miracles, but we still won’t cut back on our sugar intake/go for nature walks/try meditating every day. Sometimes, it all comes down to just doing it because our minds can (and will) find every excuse known to humankind just to keep you in your comfort zone.

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Monday
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure the first part always applies. You being afraid of emailing them could be just as much a reflection of your personality as it could be of theirs.

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Aragorn II Elessar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I run for President in 20 or so years, I’m going to go for the philosopher angle. Hopefully, the difference between me and the other candidates (and previous presidents) will make people at least stop and think. I don’t want to win, but if I can just make two people closer or make one cop stop and think before he shoots, that will be worth everything.

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This isn’t the first time that Bored Panda has written about TV writer Amanda. We’ve already featured her threads in articles before, including about a seemingly ordinary-looking house listing that’s actually got tons of mannequins posed inside, as well as her thread about women sharing all the ways they protect themselves while running.

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Sheila Stamey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some days when you can just barely show up are because of the day before. But show up! Today is the day to start making your happy ending. Until the day they put you in the grave, is never too late to have one.

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Fred Van Der Zee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just make a decision. If it turns out wrong, learn from it. If it turns out right, learn from it. And: not making a decision is also a decision.

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Dippin Dot
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In addition, stories make the interview feel more like an informal chat instead of being stuffy. And chatting makes you more relaxed, making it easier to show your true self!

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Sara Elizabeth
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always try to give myself overnight or at least a few hours after writing something important for work. Fresh eyes let you see a lot.

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love cooking, but every now and then I will indulge myself to a souvlaki! :)

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Monday
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except when it is your job to educate somebody. Then you should do it.

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Stille20
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't plan everything and sometimes the things you don't plan on are the best things that happen to you.

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El Dee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even people who own taxis have to take them off the road to service them. If you treat yourself at least as well as that then it won't be JUST as bad..

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