As you go through life—whether walking gently barefoot or dashing through the undergrowth without a care in the world—you naturally pick up some wisdom and experience along the way. And like the pebbles you’ll find on the beach, all of these insights can look very different, ranging from the practical (‘lift with your legs not your back’) all the way to the cliched but deeply true (‘spending time with your loved ones is far more important than your career’). Though some people simply advise you to regularly sharpen your shovel because it makes a world of difference.
Twitter user @Dustmopp31 made a lot of people smile when he asked them to share random but great bits of advice they’d like to give others. The question quickly spread beyond the boundaries of Twitter, however, and drew quite a lot of redditors from the r/MadeMeSmile subreddit into the discussion as well.
We’ve collected the very best, most interesting, and even quirky pieces of advice shared by these internet users. Scroll down, upvote your fave posts, and if you have any advice to share with all the other Pandas reading this, consider dropping by the comment section at the bottom of this article. Got your notepads ready? Let’s go!
I reached out to a couple of experts in their fields to hear what advice they'd give others. I spoke to British comedy writer, author, singer-songwriter, and all-round creative person Ariane Sherine in order to take a peek at the pearls of wisdom she's collected over the years. "What you give is usually what you get back. I’ve given my daughter endless kindness and love and she’s turned into a very kind and loving girl. But there are adults who don’t respond well to kindness and will throw it back in your face, so with adults, the lesson is: only love those who love you," she told Bored Panda how she approaches life. Scroll down for my interviews with Ariane, as well as with fitness expert and entrepreneur Jack Bly.
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Leave the first time he frightens you. Because it won't be the last.
Also "leave the first time she frightens you". It's not always the man.
I asked comedy writer Ariane what advice she'd give anyone who keeps failing at something. Her approach is to be flexible while staying persistent and try something else. "Either another way of doing what you failed at, or something else entirely, but do persist. Not every seed you plant will grow, so you often have to plant many seeds in order that one will sprout."
I was curious if Ariane would do anything differently or give her past self any advice. However, she told me that she doesn't regret anything. "I wouldn’t tell my teenage self anything, as if she’d done anything different then I wouldn’t have my wonderful daughter now! But for other teenagers, I’d say: don’t waste yourselves on people who don’t care about you. Give your love to people who do."
Apologize to your children. Genuinely. If you were wrong, say sorry and mean it.
I'm amazed how many adults can't bring themselves even to admit that they were wrong to a child, much less apologize for what they did.
When you're cooking the recipe is only a reference. When you're baking the recipe is the work of the law.
Meanwhile, fitness expert Jack told Bored Panda that the very best advice that he can give people is to start controlling their inputs in life. You are what you consume, not just what you eat. "Be mindful of what you put into your mind. Music, TV shows, social media, politics, etc. Think about if they are creating negative or positive thoughts and beliefs, he told Bored Panda.
"Inputs lead to beliefs and beliefs lead to your actions."
According to Jack, he's been "hardwired for optimism" since birth, so he has a better time facing challenges. "Whenever I face hardships, I always try to view it as a blessing. It will force me to grow in some capacity and get better."
As for advice that he'd give his younger self, Jack believes that authenticity and being your true self are the most important things. "Stop caring so much what others think. Be 100% authentic to you and chase what you want."
Never take criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from.
I just posted this on my Facebook 3 days ago, after I saw it on one page.
When a kid shows you a drawing, instead of saying “what is it?” Or guessing, which could upset them, ask them
“Can you tell me about it?”
The kid will be excited to tell you all about it and they don’t get upset that their nonsensical squiggles weren’t immediately recognized.
Check-in on people who always seem strong. Sometimes they’re not doing well but think they can’t say anything because they’re the “strong one.”
Advice comes in all shapes and sizes. And two areas that we definitely need to work on to create a solid foundation for our future include our finances, as well as our relationships.
Some time ago, financial expert Sam Dogen, the founder of the popular Financial Samurai blog, shared how we should approach work when we’re young. “In your 20s and 30s you need to work BOTH smarter AND harder, especially if you are of average intelligence. The world is a brutally competitive place with some of the smartest people also working the hardest. So working long hours while you’re still young and learning is a matter of practicality,” he shared with Bored Panda. However, just hard work by itself isn’t enough.
“You can’t expect to go straight to the corner office without putting in your dues. At the same time, you can’t expect to outperform your peers simply through hard work, You have to be strategic by building a strong network of relationships internally and externally (clients) who will pull to get you promoted and help you get paid at your next job.”
Never lie to your doctor.
This is super important. I understand that people are scared of being judged, but lying could lead to big problems. And chances are, the doctors probably aren’t going to judge you since they see odd things all the time.
TURN ON SUBTITLES FOR YOUR KIDS!!! Studies have shown it’s proven to help with reading.
Never answer a kid's joke. Always let them tell you the punchline even if you already know it.
You wouldn't answer an adult's joke even if you knew the punchline, or at least most people wouldn't. There's a broader issue of paying kids the same respect that we pay adults.
However, we shouldn’t work ourselves to the bone. It’s important to recognize when we’re burning out and take the necessary steps to recharge. “Take sick days and mentally recharge. Don’t just think being ill is just a physical thing. There are plenty of mental illnesses. They are just not as visible. There is no better time than right now to take sick days due to the pandemic and the greater awareness of mental health issues. There is simply no shame in healing the mind!” Sam said.
He added that some people boast about how much they work because they feel like nobody’s noticing their efforts. “The irony is, if you have great results, there’s no need to tell anybody how hard you work,” he noted.
Use turn signals when driving.
Never insult someone who is going to prepare your food or has access to your data.
Meanwhile, relationship expert Dan Bacon, the founder of The Modern Man project, said that honesty is vital to the long-term success of any serious relationship. It’s important to have honest conversations about practical issues like divvying up the housework in order to prevent resentment building up and to avoid unnecessary arguments.
“Housework used to be seen as women’s work only, due to a man traditionally being the breadwinner and the woman staying at home all day. Yet, in today’s society, if both the man and woman are working, it’s more fair, loving, and respectful for both of them to contribute to keeping the house clean. On the other hand, if a man is the sole breadwinner and the woman stays home all day, many people would agree that she should do most or even all of the housework. That said, no one actually ‘has to’ do anything in a relationship,” the expert told Bored Panda.
Get everything in writing, even if you think you don’t need it. An email, a text message, something in case things don’t go as planned. Has saved me countless times and burned me by not having it.
Don't smoke. Don't even start.
I've never even tried a cigarette. My friends in high school offered me one quite a few times, but I always said I don't want to. Because "No, Thank you" is a valid answer. I said, I'm not judging you for smoking, but I don't have to smoke to be friends with you. Good friends understand this.
“A woman shouldn’t ever force a man to do housework and a man shouldn’t force a woman to do it either. Instead, the couple should honestly agree on what they feel is fair and then go with that. If it feels unfair to one of them, resentment will build up, arguments will happen and they will feel less connected and happy as a couple,” Dan said.
According to him, if we feel that we’re left doing all the chores at home, we should ask our partners why they think we should be doing all of the housework by ourselves. “Then, ask if they honestly think that is a fair, loving, and respectful way for them to be approaching the relationship.”
If you see a bathroom in your dream, don’t use it.
Hahaha, I actually used it but I just couldn't go, even in dream, my body knows something is odd.
The best advice I ever got was from a Veterinarian when I brought him a newly adopted old dog with many health issues: "I will help you prolong his life, I will NOT help you prolong his death." Words to live by when you have pets and have to face "the decision".
I wish more people would see it this way. It breaks my heart to see pets suffer because their human can't let them go. It's not fair, they don't even understand. I realised this when my senior dog had cancer and I made the decision to let her go, and my older colleague (who herself had a long and hard battle with cancer) said to me "Thank you for not letting her suffer, this is what she would have wanted."
This is bery good advise- look at it as a gift of love to your pet not to prolong their life at all stakes, just because it saddens you to let them go. A month ago our family saud goodbye to a 20 year old cat that has been with us since she was 7 weeks old- it was heartbreaking to take her to a vet and put to sleep, but we could not expect her to get any better and wanted to rescue her from pain. We miss you Nusia😥
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And when that time comes, stay with them. It'll be hard on you, but don't let them die scared and alone in the vet's office. Be with them and comfort them to the end.
Yes, yes, yes. I can't say this more. I get very frustrated with people that say "they can't handle it". Well guess what, your pet has to handle dying, the least you can do is nut up and take the emotional hit. You get to go home, they don't.
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Very wise words. Recently, we had to let our young-ish (8 and 9 months) pup cross the rainbow bridge. He had a condition from birth so we only expected to have him for up to 18 months but he proved them all wrong and battled on until a huge tumour stopped him in his tracks. We were devastated of course, but our feelings were irrelevant compared to his pain. The vet said they could operate but even if succesful his little body was so weak that she said he would be gone in two weeks anyway. With heavy hearts, we decided to spare him the agony. As the vet administered the pre-euthanasia anaesthetic he left this world, so he wouldn't have survived the surgery anyway. Luckily, we had time to say goodbye and he feasted on cheeseburgers, fillet steak, chicken nuggets and ice-cream. We would not have had that special time with him if we had gone down the surgery avenue so I'm so grateful for that. Please give your pet a special hug. They are gone so soon but much loved by all of us, I'm sure.
Wish we used this same logic with people. I watched my father slowly die over the period of two weeks as his lungs filled up with fluid and they had to keep him knocked out because the paid was too great. Traumatizing for everyone involved. They knew he was going to die soon and wasn't going to recover, but I just spent two weeks by my father's bed and listened to his labored breathing and just waiting for it to stop.
I agree 100%. I've worked in nursing homes & took care of too many people who should have been allowed to die peacefully. Instead, they were kept alive by all possible means, only to lie in a bed for years, unable to even have an intelligent conversation, with useless bodies. It was horrifying to think there was a conscious being trapped in a body & unable to enjoy life.
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We really need to do the same with people. We keep our loved ones in hospice where they are either in constant pain or too doped up. Sometimes we need to let them go.
My husband tells me that I let both of our previous dogs go too long before putting them down. I, of course, disagreed. I was taking the advice from my vet. Who told me as long as they were eating, eliminating properly, etc. they were fine. I even asked, several times, "is it that time". I was met with a very firm, no. But, I do question myself about it sometimes. Did this particular vet simply want to make money? I honestly didn't think they were that bad, until they were, of course.
If ever in doubt again just ask your pet and then listen to your heart! If you asked yourself several times if it was time deep down you already had your answer. Unfortunately, there are vets that want to make more money. A friend's senior dog was terribly sick (cancer) but his vet refused several times to put her down - it was heartbreaking to witness! I told him more than once to take that poor, sweet old girl to my vets for a second opinion. They are by no means "quick" to put animals down, however, so far they have always been very clear to me about the possibilities...
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You'll always question if it was too soon or did you wait too long, no matter what. Go with your gut and let your pet tell you when it's time.
I don't believe animals see it as yay I get a longer life...in unbelievable pain. Just bcuz u can't stand to lose them. I don't really know how their thought processes work, but I'm pretty sure of this. Just went thru this.
I had a disagreement with someone on Facebook who posted a picture of a person who built a ramp for their dog who could barely walk. I said that the poor dog was obviously in pain and it was selfish for the pet owner to put the dog through all that pain.
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Also, get pet insurance...would have saved me untold thousands over the years..
From domestic abusers to supposed experts to politicians. If someone tells you not to seek out another's opinion, they're lying to you.
Within reason, yes. That being said, people who love you may be trying to pull you out of MLM schemes, cults, or cesspools of fake news. In those situations, they really are trying to help you cut ties, and it's reasonable for them to discourage you from letting MLMers/cultists/fake news weigh in on your leaving. That being said, they should 100% be in favor of you talking with neutral third parties, like other friends, a therapist, librarians, your doctor, even random strangers.
If you love someone, tell them. Friends, family, coworker. It doesn’t matter. This may be the last time you talk to them.
If your friend is starting a new business, don’t expect a discount. Instead, support them with sales as much as possible.
I never expect discount from a friend for something, I only ask them to do it well.
If a kid ever hands you a banana, you answer it like a telephone.
If a kid ever hands you a telephone, you eat it like a banana.
When you are on a job interview, don't forget that you are also evaluating whether that job is a fit for you. Ask about benefits, work culture, what the interviewer personally finds valuable about working there. 1. This makes it appear that you have self-worth and eases your nervousness. 2. The answers they give can tell you a lot about whether you actually want to work there.
It’s okay to like things that are considered “cringey” or unpopular. You decide what you like, not everyone else.
Brush your teeth no matter what just brush em before you lose em
Whenever you’re stuck in a situation where someone starts to cry, offer to get them water. It gives them the space to express their emotions privately for a bit and feel cared for as you are trying to help by getting water. Also helps if people crying makes you uncomfortable.
Forgive your younger self.
Most importantly, start small. Pick one moment of the past - start small- and view it through your current self. Oftentimes, our mistakes make a lot of sense considering our age/situation. View your past self as if it was your friend or child and comfort accordingly.
TLDR It’s forgiving/understanding your past self by understanding WHY you made that mistake.
Just don't dwell on the past, regret nothing, it can't be changed and live for the now.
When in doubt if you get a weird email, text, letter; never click any links in the text or email. Always go to the bank to verify if it is real.
Its been two years and I still wait for the person who sent me an email saying that they will send proof of weird porn I had been watching to everyone I know if I didnt transfer money within the next 48 hours after opening the mail. I dont even watch porn so I was really excited to see what they had found.
Waste is generated at the time of purchase, not disposal. Holding onto junk just because you paid money for it isn’t being thrifty, it’s hoarding. Your mental health and your wallet will both be better off if you get rid of it to make space for the things you actually need.
Make sure you drink enough water. Every cell in your body needs it
Never send an angry email or text immediately. Wait at least an hour and read it out loud or to a friend.
Keep learning new things
And what you learn doesn't necessarily have to be useful. It's okay to learn how a nuclear reactor works just because it's interesting. It's okay to spend close to 2 hours listening to a documentary on bloody queuing if that keeps you entertained. Not everything you learn has to be a skill, just a new fact here or there will keep your brain healthy.
From argumentative a**holes at the grocery store to bullies in public school, this is my best advice:
If someone tries to give you a hard time verbally and wants to start crap with you, insult you, or just get you going in some way, always remember:
You allow conversations to happen. You can control the length by simply not engaging. Remember: anyone who tries harder to get you to respond is losing and getting desperate.
Source: former Correctional Officer. People talking s**t to you from behind bars doesn't matter when you never acknowledge it. Eventually, you stop caring when you hear instigation and you hear it for what it is: a power play. The only winning option is not to play.
I am not sure I like this. First: It places the responsibility on the victim. Never a good idea. Second: I think you totally underestimate the persistence of especially kids. When bullies want to get a reaction out of you, they will. No one has that kind of self control. They just wear you down. You can walk away from a stranger in street most times, but bullies will literally follow you around. Advice like that just makes it seem too easy and as if victims are just not trying hard enough.
Don’t feel upset if you can’t find a nice woman/man to date/spend time with. Rather be the loneliest man alive than being attached to the wrong one. It only takes one wrong one to never make this mistake again. Take your time, you are beautiful and there is no rush.
Isn't there a rush? I am almost 50 now, and I started to collect cats.
Take care of your Mental health. It should be a priority. Once you lose your health, life sucks.
Ditto physical health. You've only got one meat suit to occupy in this life. Do your best to take care of it.
Work will never love you back.
As someone who’s just gone into remission after getting a chronic illness by overworking, I’ve always found this a bit condescending. My employer does things like profit sharing in addition to full overtime pay; the issue is that he works a lot himself and so when I went to unhealthy levels, it flew under the radar. And the reason why I overworked was because I finally had the opportunity to work in a job that didn’t make me feel like s**t all time, plus I have a general background of struggling to say no. Doesn’t mean it was healthy, but I hate it when people forget that people who get into these kinds of situations are human beings.
Learn how to say no, and learn how to have tact and grace towards others.
Remember that "No." is a complete sentence. You do not have to justify that answer. "I have other plans, but thank you for thinking of me" is just as good. The fact that my plans are to stay in my jammies and binge watch Downton Abbey are completely irrelevant.
Always budget for less money than you have, that way if you make mistakes it’ll be ok. Leave room for error
Round up when budgeting how much you owe, round down when looking at what you have. Save ~6 months of expenses in a liquid (readily available) savings account. Invest anything else that's not daily spending money. Invest for retirement first, followed by personal insurance, like personal disability plans. After that look to 5-15 year investments. And start young!
If you're an artist or in a job where you type a lot, take breaks and do wrist stretches! Carpel Tunnel sucks.
also, Google: "Breugger's Postural Break". Upper and Lower Cross Syndromes might be minor but can lead to more serious issues later on.
Don’t expect ‘you’ from other people.
Note: this post originally had 85 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
Take photo's. Memories are one thing, but photo's of events, get-togethers, friends and family will be worth a million words after a decade or so.
Don't always be the photographer - get in those pictures.
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Property is not only money and valuables. Be respectful of the things you have. Wash the colors separately, and wash delicate items by hand. If you are doing something dirty, cover the whole area. Remember that you had to buy everything you have.
Learn how to do basic mending and (if you own a home) basic home repair. It'll save you SO much money!
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I find that when I have sudden thought about a task that needs doing, but don’t have the time at that moment to do it and it relates to a specific object, e.g. a house plant that needs repotting, I’ll put the object somewhere in an odd place, e.g., put the house plant on a toilet seat. This simple act will be the reminder.
Have you sorted your lightbulbs / led lamps out yet? ;)
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When driving on a multi-lane road, if people are passing you on the right, you're in the wrong lane. (In countries that drive on the right)
Don’t throw out egg shells. They’re the most useful thing ever! Pop them in the freezer for a week then pound them up into grit. You can use that grit; to clarify stock; to put around plants in the garden; to add to cleaning products to make them “scrubby” without micro plastics; to add to your washing machine (honestly, try it). It’s the most versatile stuff ever! I’m still finding uses.
Sorry for stupid question but does this go for cooked or uncooked eggs?
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“Better to be happy and not please someone, then to not be happy and please someone”.
Learn to say no and be selfish when you are young. When you are young, you need to focus on you and not break your back trying to help everyone around you when you are the least able to help. This will help you get to a place where you can help others early on in life. I always would lend money to my parents until my husband step in and said I was giving them my student loans that I have to pay interest on when they are the adults and shouldn't have asked that of me in the first place. I cut off my parents and life got a lot easier and I was able to become financially secure enough to provide for my father during the last few years of his life.
Parents shouldn't ever put their children in the role of parent.
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Be kind. Listen to others. Always treat everyone with respect. Take people seriously when they talk and forget about what your view is, try understand their view before disagreeing. Help everyone who asks, in whatever way, as long as it's not illegal and you can definitely afford it. The following people are your order of priority when choosing tasks: Kids, Partner, Boss, Friends, Siblings, Parents, everyone else. Any other prioritisation will make you poor.
No matter how good the soap smells, never leave the bathroom sniffing your fingers!
Take your time and do the job right the first time. I remind my 8yo of this often regarding her homework. Taking the time to do it right and only doing it once will be far less time consuming than rushing through it and having to do do-overs.
1. Teach your kids to not be afraid of being smart or to be threatened by smarter people than them. 2. In the end, most people regret the things they didn't do over the things they did. Unless your behavior hurts the people you love, don't hesitate to not play it safe or follow the rules all the time. 3. Learn to be social, even if you have to fake it. "Be yourself" is the biggest lie you'll ever hear and unless you can find a way to use it to make a living, you'll have to find compromises. You are neither unique or special and I promise whatever your weirdness is, there are 1000s more just like you. So learn to hold a conversation or at least how to behave like a human in public. Being able to do what you want often depends on who you know who can help get you there.
My dad always told me when doing a task assume everything will all go to hell, this way you can be surprised when it goes well.
PETS AND KIDS: Don't punish bad, reward good. Make them WANT to do what you wanted them to do. Start early and they won't see it as anything to rebel against. PEOPLE IN GENERAL: To get someone to do a thing, give them the choice of two different steps that get the same result. ie: you have to wash a tabletop at school. Don't chide people and tell them to move their stuff already. Ask them; "Do you want me to move it or do you want to?" Either way, the stuff is moved. Or you need your teen up by a certain time on their weekend that's usually a free schedule day. Don't tell them to get up. Ask the day before: "Do you want to set your alarm or do you want me to come wake you up?" People like to feel in control, even if it's something minor.
Be careful with cameras. A gun may kill you but a camera can wound you for the rest of your life.
Never stay in a bad relationship (in my case DV) for the sake of the children. They are better off living with one parent or sharing their time between two parents( depending on circumstances) than witnessing arguments and fighting.
Take photo's. Memories are one thing, but photo's of events, get-togethers, friends and family will be worth a million words after a decade or so.
Don't always be the photographer - get in those pictures.
Load More Replies... Property is not only money and valuables. Be respectful of the things you have. Wash the colors separately, and wash delicate items by hand. If you are doing something dirty, cover the whole area. Remember that you had to buy everything you have.
Learn how to do basic mending and (if you own a home) basic home repair. It'll save you SO much money!
Load More Replies... I find that when I have sudden thought about a task that needs doing, but don’t have the time at that moment to do it and it relates to a specific object, e.g. a house plant that needs repotting, I’ll put the object somewhere in an odd place, e.g., put the house plant on a toilet seat. This simple act will be the reminder.
Have you sorted your lightbulbs / led lamps out yet? ;)
Load More Replies... When driving on a multi-lane road, if people are passing you on the right, you're in the wrong lane. (In countries that drive on the right)
Don’t throw out egg shells. They’re the most useful thing ever! Pop them in the freezer for a week then pound them up into grit. You can use that grit; to clarify stock; to put around plants in the garden; to add to cleaning products to make them “scrubby” without micro plastics; to add to your washing machine (honestly, try it). It’s the most versatile stuff ever! I’m still finding uses.
Sorry for stupid question but does this go for cooked or uncooked eggs?
Load More Replies... “Better to be happy and not please someone, then to not be happy and please someone”.
Learn to say no and be selfish when you are young. When you are young, you need to focus on you and not break your back trying to help everyone around you when you are the least able to help. This will help you get to a place where you can help others early on in life. I always would lend money to my parents until my husband step in and said I was giving them my student loans that I have to pay interest on when they are the adults and shouldn't have asked that of me in the first place. I cut off my parents and life got a lot easier and I was able to become financially secure enough to provide for my father during the last few years of his life.
Parents shouldn't ever put their children in the role of parent.
Load More Replies... Be kind. Listen to others. Always treat everyone with respect. Take people seriously when they talk and forget about what your view is, try understand their view before disagreeing. Help everyone who asks, in whatever way, as long as it's not illegal and you can definitely afford it. The following people are your order of priority when choosing tasks: Kids, Partner, Boss, Friends, Siblings, Parents, everyone else. Any other prioritisation will make you poor.
No matter how good the soap smells, never leave the bathroom sniffing your fingers!
Take your time and do the job right the first time. I remind my 8yo of this often regarding her homework. Taking the time to do it right and only doing it once will be far less time consuming than rushing through it and having to do do-overs.
1. Teach your kids to not be afraid of being smart or to be threatened by smarter people than them. 2. In the end, most people regret the things they didn't do over the things they did. Unless your behavior hurts the people you love, don't hesitate to not play it safe or follow the rules all the time. 3. Learn to be social, even if you have to fake it. "Be yourself" is the biggest lie you'll ever hear and unless you can find a way to use it to make a living, you'll have to find compromises. You are neither unique or special and I promise whatever your weirdness is, there are 1000s more just like you. So learn to hold a conversation or at least how to behave like a human in public. Being able to do what you want often depends on who you know who can help get you there.
My dad always told me when doing a task assume everything will all go to hell, this way you can be surprised when it goes well.
PETS AND KIDS: Don't punish bad, reward good. Make them WANT to do what you wanted them to do. Start early and they won't see it as anything to rebel against. PEOPLE IN GENERAL: To get someone to do a thing, give them the choice of two different steps that get the same result. ie: you have to wash a tabletop at school. Don't chide people and tell them to move their stuff already. Ask them; "Do you want me to move it or do you want to?" Either way, the stuff is moved. Or you need your teen up by a certain time on their weekend that's usually a free schedule day. Don't tell them to get up. Ask the day before: "Do you want to set your alarm or do you want me to come wake you up?" People like to feel in control, even if it's something minor.
Be careful with cameras. A gun may kill you but a camera can wound you for the rest of your life.
Never stay in a bad relationship (in my case DV) for the sake of the children. They are better off living with one parent or sharing their time between two parents( depending on circumstances) than witnessing arguments and fighting.
