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30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner

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You can look at life as an unending chain of lessons. Some of them we learn incredibly quickly. Others might take dozens of mistakes for us to finally grasp their significance. Hindsight is 20/20 and it’s often hard not to blame your past self for not foreseeing all the consequences of your actions. But that’s life for you. And unless you’ve got a time machine hidden somewhere, all that’s left is either to embrace the hard-won lessons and teach others about them, or to live in regret.

One internet user, u/IndianaC0NES, went viral on the r/AskReddit online community after asking everyone about the important lessons that they had learned the hard way. Many folks were happy to share their wisdom about money, relationships, and health, so that others might avoid the same mistakes that they made. Read on for their advice and upvote the tips that you found the most helpful.

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#1

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner HR is there to protect the company, not you.

capresesalad1985 , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

359points

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#2

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner You can't use logical arguments to change the minds of those who don't value logic.

anon , Jarritos Mexican Soda Report

Final score:

320points

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#3

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner It's possible to make no wrong moves and still lose.

Tropicsenshi , whoislimos Report

Final score:

281points

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We firmly believe that it’s never—and we do mean never!—too late to learn from your mistakes. Changing your habits and your lifestyle, that’s something you can do at any point in life.

Would it have been better to have started living a healthy, frugal, and extremely social life years or even decades ago? Sure! But the next best time is to start developing those habits right now. Try not to be too harsh on your past self: you did the best you could with the knowledge, tools, and energy you had at the time.

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It’s easy to be critical of yourself for not going to the gym after a long day’s work, but people tend to overestimate their (past and future selves’) willpower, as well as their capacity for change and putting in massive, sustained effort. That’s why making incremental changes works far better than trying to do everything all at once.

#4

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Just because a person with authority tells you to do something, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.

queloqueamigo , Lukas Report

Final score:

271points

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#5

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Not everyone is a good person. Some people actually want to see you fail. Stop oversharing. These nasty people will use it against you.

Ko_ogs72 , Helena Lopes Report

Final score:

266points

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#6

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Dumb people get old too, age doesn't equal wisdom, nor does it earn you respect.

this_guy_here_says , Pixabay Report

Final score:

265points

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No, you won’t fix your messy diet, excessive expenses, and floundering social life all in a day or a week. But over the next few months and years, you can radically change your situation for the better.

So long as the discipline is there. And you can maintain that discipline by genuinely being proud of every victory. No matter how small. Whether it’s remembering to brush your teeth before bed (instead of crashing on the sofa in front of the TV) or getting slightly closer to doing the recommended 10k steps per day.

#7

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Using substances to cope is actually the opposite of coping and the only thing you can be sure of is the eventuality of everything blowing up in your face.

139 days sober.

The_AmyrlinSeat , rebcenter moscow Report

Final score:

263points

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#8

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Your family doesn't always have your best interest at heart.

OhMyGodBearIsDriving , Kevin Delvecchio Report

Final score:

261points

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#9

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Making jokes about my trauma makes my trauma easier for me to deal with.

Making jokes about the trauma of others is f****d up and not my place.

astoneworthskipping , Jopwell Report

Final score:

255points

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Previously, fitness coach Anna Armagno Toussaint shared some great health tips to keep in mind as we all get older. According to her, the key to fitness and diet is consistency. That’s what lies at the core of healthy living.

"Losing and gaining the same weight is so bad for your body (and mental health). Focus on what you can, even if it's just drinking enough water or eating one serving of vegetables! And move a little even if that starts as stepping in place or simple short walks,” the fitness expert shared with Bored Panda during an earlier interview.

#10

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner 1000 is not a lot of money to have but is a lot of money to owe.

Daleee , Pixabay Report

Final score:

237points

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#11

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Loyalty to a company does not pay.

2bornnot2b , Anna Shvets Report

Final score:

236points

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#12

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner When people show you their true colors, believe them.

bellygrumbles , David Garrison Report

Final score:

211points

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"It is so important to improve your sleep hygiene: turn down the temperature in your room, turn off your phone and all screens an hour before bed, keep the room neat, and get at least 7 hours! Sleep impacts so much of our motivation and energy levels, even days after a rough night," she shared.

"Pick one thing to start, stop, or swap. Take a daily walk in the morning or evening (or whenever you want, but I prefer when it is cooler), drink more water (set a timer if you're not good about and add in a fun liquid or powder or flavored seltzer if you don't like water), or focus on eating more whole foods (especially vegetables and fruit),” the fitness coach said that it through all the “little victories” that you’ll get where you want to be.

#13

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner if something feels wrong, it likely is.

Final score:

195points

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#14

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Don't let love blind your eyes, red flags are real.

Fxk07 , vjapratama Report

Final score:

194points

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#15

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Dental care is expensive!! Never be lazy with oral hygiene.

the_rice_life , Cedric Fauntleroy Report

Final score:

192points

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#16

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Learn when to stop drinking and call it a night.

Gadrilor , Aleisha Kalina Report

Final score:

175points

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#17

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Stand up for yourself. If you get in the habit of letting people walk all over you, it'll be extremely difficult to reverse. Even if you're not confident, just fake it till you make it!

MISTERDIEABETIC , Kindel Media Report

Final score:

174points

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#18

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Never have kids with someone you don’t want in your life forever.

pntszrn74 , Ben Wicks Report

Final score:

166points

Zephyr 1 year ago

True but people change for the best and for the worst

42points

The Original Bruno 1 year ago

NEVER have kids with someone who needs to change for the better.

6points

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Ken Beattie 1 year ago

And often the biggest changes are because of kids. Stress, fatigue, money problems and lifestyle changes all contribute to that.

2points

Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 1 year ago

True, but a lot of people don't mean to have kids and/or have them for the wrong reasons, with the wrong people. Wear condoms, guys.

1point

Legendbird 1 year ago

Yeah, postpartum can be a b**"h

0points

CD King 1 year ago

It's amazing how people think kids will fix a bad situation.

8points

Josh Gilland 1 year ago

Don't have a kid if you can't take care of yourself and don't have savings. If you're living pay check to pay check before kids don't make life worse for everyone.

7points

Yvette Desmarais 1 year ago

Don't have kids unless you are ok with dealing with the good and bad of parenthood for the rest of your life.

7points

Loverboy 1 year ago

People change. A lot of the time for reasons that you can't control. Sometimes you just don't see all of them.

7points

tabithapaquette98 1 year ago

And never have kids just because everyone expects you to. Please take the time to make sure they are what you really want and the person you are with will make a good coparent.

4points

Afradite 1 year ago

My ma used to say "never date someone you wouldn't marry" and I get that. If you know for any reason that you wouldn't marry someone, don't waste your time or theirs. Feelings get invested, sometimes children are born, etc. and you were never meant to be permanently attached to that person.

3points

Jacob Bissey 1 year ago

This is why I won't have sex with someone until we've been in a committed relationship for at least a year. I figure if we can love each other and make things work for a year, we can tolerate each other and make things work for 18 (I don't mean as a couple, but rather as co-parents).

3points

Minino 1 year ago

never have children with someone who would not make you proud to call them the father/mother of your children

3points

LuLuBelle 1 year ago

This is ridiculous advice masquerading as wisdom

2points

Shiva Ho 1 year ago

Never have kids if you don't want them in your life!

1point

Stay Off My Lawn 1 year ago

Also, don’t have kids because you feel powerless or unloved. Children are not the cure to poor self-esteem. Work on yourself, by yourself.

1point

Cat Meyers 1 year ago

Remember that having kids is a lifelong commitment.

1point

A.E.P. Face The muddy professor 1 year ago

FACTS

1point

CC Boom 1 year ago

Too late

1point

Michael Gilbert 1 year ago

I'm 61 and never had kids. It was the best decision I've ever made. These days, once you give a woman all the children she wants, she's done with you. She becomes obsessed with her kids and you fall to the bottom of the totem pole. She might keep you around for your paycheck, but she's just as likely to divorce you and sue you for child support. Young men, you have been warned. Don't do it...

0points

Jane Hower 1 year ago

Had to give up a 'date rape baby' just to be sure his trailer trash family and he stayed out of my life.

0points

Lynn Morello 1 year ago

When we have kids, we do tend to think that our partner will be in our lives forever.

0points

Gypsy Lee 1 year ago

Never have kids with someone you haven’t lived with for at least 5 years.

0points

Pandasizing World Peace 1 year ago

When my marriage ended due to abuse, I really felt like I had dodged a bullet in that we never had children. What a nightmare it would have been to have had to stay connected to that monster, due to the shared responsibility of children!

0points

Parriah 1 year ago

Ugh, shoot.

0points

lonesoul 1 year ago

What is wrong with the comments saying "people can change" lmao

0points

The Original Bruno 1 year ago

Kids are the only reason why the state has an interest in marriage. The state has no valid interest in affirming your religion, your lack of it, your sexual moral beliefs, your desire to show off in front of your friends, your welcoming each other into each other's families, etc. Much of that is very important, but has nothing to do with the state. To the state, a marriage is a contract: palimony, shared resources, healthcare, shared responsibility for and over children, and before DNA testing, exclusivity so parents know they're investing in their own offspring and to minimize risk of disease.

0points

MontanaMariner 1 year ago

I'll never have kids because it's the only way to be certain that I'll never be a terrible father like my own.

0points

bunhop7 playz 1 year ago

but people can change :/

0points

rob 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Mmmm 1 year ago

it’s not that easy for some people don’t be a b**** about it

4points

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rob 1 year ago

Its hard to understand if you don't really want to be with someone you should not have kids together?

-1point

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#19

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Always take a chance to tell someone you love them. To give them a hug.

Never end a conversation on a harsh word.

Both for the same reason. **You never know if you will get to see that person alive again.**

I learned both those lessons from each of my parents.

Edgezg , Stanley Morales Report

Final score:

155points

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#20

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Sometimes bad things happen to good people.

S**t happens and it doesn't really need to have a reason.

Sometimes you will be the bad guy, and sometimes you will be the good guy.

It happens.

KaiJonez , Ethan Sykes Report

Final score:

154points

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#21

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Nobody is coming to save you. Get. Off. The. Ground.

YourOldManJoe , Ono Kosuki Report

Final score:

149points

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#22

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Money doesn’t exist until the deposit hits your bank account and business promises mean nothing until legal documents are signed

FriscoFrank98 , Romain Dancre Report

Final score:

145points

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#23

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Not everyone has the same heart as you do

Accomplished_Hat2770 , Keenan Constance Report

Final score:

138points

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#24

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Don’t marry someone with mental illness that refuses treatment.

Cuiscool , Vera Arsic Report

Final score:

135points

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#25

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Do not spend like there’s no tomorrow. Tomorrow will come and it won’t be pretty.

cpu5555 , Christian Dubovan Report

Final score:

132points

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#26

Don't ignore red flags. Don't be afraid to get help for dealing with an abusive partner. Don't be afraid to walk away.

chiknfingaz Report

Final score:

132points

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#27

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner WEAR A HELMET

It's an easy safety precaution you can take when rollerblading, biking, skateboarding, scootering etc. And it can literally save your life

Went all through the 90's thinking helmets were lame... Fell while rollerblading in my 30's and got a subdural hematoma, I wasn't going fast but the momentum from how I fell just slammed my head into concrete.

HELMETS SAVE LIVESSSS

Shortiie5115 , 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič Report

Final score:

125points

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#28

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner A falling knife has no handle.

el_monstruo , wu yi Report

Final score:

125points

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“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

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#29

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner There’s always other jobs out there. Don’t stay in a s****y one just cuz you think no one else would hire you.

8-Bakugo-8 , Cytonn Photography Report

Final score:

121points

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#30

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner You are not your emotions. You are an awareness who observes them.

Medium_Dare_6657 , Annie Spratt Report

Final score:

120points

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#31

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner Not everyone deserves your niceness.

glamazon_007 , Start Digital Report

Final score:

38points

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#32

Don't tell people if you have money

theAdvancedBeginner Report

Final score:

34points

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#33

Don't give in to someone being "persistent" in pursuing you. Only date people you're sincerely attracted to. Reluctantly giving in to someone because they keep making advances and won't stop isn't consent.

"If they're this interested, maybe I should give them a chance" is a thought best ignored. Dating is risky enough. Better to minimize the risk by not gambling on people you aren't even attracted to to begin with.

iamyoofromthefuture Report

Final score:

34points

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#34

Being the smartest person in the room isn't always a good thing.

Dizzy-Particular-258 Report

Final score:

30points

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#35

if someone told you a their secret, dont tell anyone.

cpe200711760 Report

Final score:

30points

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#36

30 Life Lessons That People Wish They’d Learned Sooner That you can't take anything for granted in your life. At some point, everything can be taken from you in a second.

wiremux , Karyme França Report

Final score:

30points

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#37

Learn to distinguish between women being polite and women being attracted to you. It both cost me and saved me a lot of time and aggravation...

Funny_Disaster1002 Report

Final score:

28points

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#38

True love, love that isn’t confusing, judgmental, suffocating, or comes with a price isn’t easy to find so if you catch it hold on to it.

Jred1990D Report

Final score:

27points

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Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

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#39

I don't need validation from others.

juggernaut261 Report

Final score:

26points

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#40

The pull out Method works until it doesn’t

Lovingnature412 Report

Final score:

22points

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#41

When you see changes in ur company or at ur job, like ceo leaving, cro leaving etc, it’s time to look for a different job or you might get laid off. Learnt that the hard way.

mchief101 Report

Final score:

18points

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Jonas Grinevičius

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Mindaugas Balčiauskas

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

What do you think ?

Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago

If you are constantly walking on eggshells around your partner, you need to have a serious conversation, or many, or you need to get out--but something has to change.

14points

Cat Bessing 1 year ago

"No" is a complete sentence.

5points

Wintermute 1 year ago

Mike Birbiglia, the comedian, has a profoundly important piece of advice that he named a whole show for. It's called "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing," and it'll change your life.

3points

Nonna_SoF 1 year ago

It's okay to admit you don't know something.

2points

Cat Bessing 1 year ago

What people say when they are drunk is likely the truth, especially if the next day they say "but I was drunk when I said that"

1point

VegasMade09 1 year ago

Bad people are capable of doing good things, it doesn't make them good or trustworthy people. Good people can mess up and make a bad decision and do something awful, It doesn't make them a bad person.

1point

Darren A 1 year ago

This list makes me think about the Sunscreen song, by Baz Lurman if you've never listened to it, you should.

0points

Vishy 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago

If you are constantly walking on eggshells around your partner, you need to have a serious conversation, or many, or you need to get out--but something has to change.

14points

Cat Bessing 1 year ago

"No" is a complete sentence.

5points

Wintermute 1 year ago

Mike Birbiglia, the comedian, has a profoundly important piece of advice that he named a whole show for. It's called "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing," and it'll change your life.

3points

Nonna_SoF 1 year ago

It's okay to admit you don't know something.

2points

Cat Bessing 1 year ago

What people say when they are drunk is likely the truth, especially if the next day they say "but I was drunk when I said that"

1point

VegasMade09 1 year ago

Bad people are capable of doing good things, it doesn't make them good or trustworthy people. Good people can mess up and make a bad decision and do something awful, It doesn't make them a bad person.

1point

Darren A 1 year ago

This list makes me think about the Sunscreen song, by Baz Lurman if you've never listened to it, you should.

0points

Vishy 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

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