A lot of people answering this struggle to understand what highly-specific means. I’m looking to, for the sake of experiment, highly-specific advice that gives a reader clear understanding of what they should do. Unlike the vague advice, on the contrary, that may be too abstract to get implementing it right away.
Inspired by this post but I wanted to change the question a bit to avoid the really vague answers as well as lower the age bar of target audience for the advice.
I’ll start with a bunch myself, to give a better example of what I’m talking about:
- Read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Ironically, because this is a post about specific advice, dude wrote a book with vague rules on how to do war, but the way it is worded is ridiculously good. If you take your time to think about the advice, you can find their appliances in the most unexpected fields.
I, for example, have improved my skill in videogames, out of all places, after reading the book. Sun Tzu said “If it is not advantageous, do not move”. Instead of rushing into combat, I now consider whether my position, current health, location of health packs etc. work to my advantage. Sun Tzu made me realise team-based PvP shooters give you room to avoid and disengage combat, you can make more impact for the team if you choose your battle and have everything work for your advantage.
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Exercises are not just about a lot of dedication, long commutes to the gym, expensive memberships and the fear of being judged by other gym members. 7 minute workout is a thing and it will give you all the benefits at your own home without the need for equipment, and it won’t take much time either.
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Buy an old used Kindle. For dirt cheap, you will get a device with a good e-ink screen that works without Internet connection, still has decent battery, is light and small. A new thing that makes reading so comfortable will trick you into reading more and books still happen a good medium for sharing information.
Can all the young people not smoke cigarettes please. It’s the one thing I regret in life.
There’s obvious reasons like health and money, but there are specifics that you don’t want, such as -
Emphysema. You don’t want that.
Receded gums. It’s not funny.
And you smell. Really bad.
Smoking kills, obviously. But it’s the things it can do to you while you’re still alive that are really horrible.
the Surgeon General doesn’t like talking about it, but on average, if you quit smoking by 35, you’ll avoid most of the health issues. so if you think there’s no point quitting, you’re probably wrong.
Learn to Cook 3 or 4 different meals extremely well.
Not only is it good for your own health (mental & physical), but it will leave a great impression on others.
This is the best advice because cooking healthy is cheap and protects you from illnesses. Being a bad cook, your relinquish autonomy. Bad cooking skills make you dependent from others who will feed you for more money and worse quality. Besides, inviting friends over for dinner makes you feel connected so it’s great for your mental health. Opposite sexes find good cooking skills attractive, you dont need to brag
Here’s my highly specific (hypocritical) advice:
Don’t take advice from Reddit or Lemmy on any important matter. You don’t know these people, and they don’t know you. Some people have good ideas. Most don’t. The ability to think for yourself and determine what’s best for you is the best skill you can have. A review from Lemmy or Reddit on a product is fine. Life advice from internet strangers is almost always garbage.
Here’s some more highly specific meta advice: Change your socks every day. What the fuck people…
Stay off TikTok.
Save 15%. Even if it absolutely sucks to do so. If you have to dip in to the 15%, it better be for life or death. Skip meals to save that 15%.
1$ saved at 20 is like 20$ saved at 40.
Also, don’t cash advance from a credit card, ever, for any reason. I once bought a 6$ taco at age 18 on cash advance, and once I finally cleared it off, that taco had cost me almost 500$. I did the math.
If you make less than $20K, there’s no real way to save up. 15% of 0 is 0. But if you can afford some extras, definitely send an automatic 10% to 20% of your paycheck to your 401k plan or whatever. You will genuinely not notice it.
Use this calculator to see how saving for the future will benefit you:
https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/retirement-plan-calculator/
Starting at 22 saving 15% of 35K will get you $1.8 million by age 62.
you used to be able to buy dollar coins from the US mint with free shipping. that was the cheapest way to get money off your credit card without extra fees
If you start college (assuming you’re an American) do not under any circumstances drop out. This goes double for grad school. What will happen is the at you’ll still owe money on your student loan, but will not have whatever advantages you might have accumulated as a result of having a degree.
Find time to talk to people in person, at least the ones that are close to you. Just go with them for coffee/snack/beer and talk without the aid of technology.
EDIT : Make it a rule to have coffee/snacks/drinks only in company of real people.
Your 30s will be better. Don’t get hung up on thinking your 20s are prime.
Install GnuCash, learn accounting, and start tracking your money and use proper financial language. There is a lot of good financial advice out there (budgeting, investments, debt reduction), and all of that is much more efficient if a) you know where your money goes and where it comes from, b) you are proficient with financial software, and c) you can talk to the banks in their own language.
Smoke weed erry day.
Don’t repeatedly subject yourself to very loud music. Tinnitus is a bitch.
if you’re peeing outdoors, don’t pee uphill.
Mimimize social media usage.
Start a pension fund.
Study. Get a higher education or professional qualifications.
Exercise regularly.
Take care of your dental hygiene. It’s costly to fix.
Find a companion to share your life. Human or animal. Having to make compromises because you have someone depending on you is great.Don’t be a selfish prick. Show compassion and caring to your near and dear.
Poop at work. Not only do you get paid to poop, you save money on toilet paper.
Someone gave me good advice, and it has worked out well, so far. Put money away for retirement. Even a little bit will multiply as the years go on.
Yeah depending on where you put it, it might shrink
