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Introduction
Our teenage years are the priceless ones that we will never be able to experience ever again. They are the foundation to the rest of our life, and are the only years of our lives in which we don’t have to pay bills, owe any debts, or be forced to work to survive (hopefully).
They’re what I call the “tutorial” to life.
This post won’t be a typical one from us; because we won’t be bombarding you with the idea that you have to spend all your time productively. No, that’s not what we’re here to tell you (if you’re asking).
Instead, I’ll tell you how you should really spend your teenage years. You’re going to learn the raw, real, and honest truth as to how time should be spent; and what’s most optimal when spending it.
What Others Might Tell You
Other folks online have probably told you -especially if you’re someone whose heavily involved in the self-help community- that you should spend your teenage years becoming your best self, working hard, and securing the comfort and security that everyone wants in their 20s and 30s.
But, I’m not going to tell you to do all that. Realistically, you shouldn’t.
Sure, you should be aiming to become the best version of yourself, but you shouldn’t be working so hard that your work and effort is on par (or even surpasses) that of an adult with a full or even part-time job. That’s excessive; and soon enough, you’ll realize that you didn’t have to do all that.
My Personal Suggestion
Your opinion might differ. I know mine sure did a few months ago. Back when I was making huge strides in my personal development, and personal growth journey, if you asked me: “how should I spend my teenage years?”
I probably would’ve told you that the most optimal way to spend your time was by working and working to the point that your early adulthood would be free of work, free of stress, and free of trouble. Now, I plead that you don’t follow that advice.
I don’t regret saying it all, because the truth is; I am learning too.
In all honesty, I’m not always sure that I’m doing the right thing. Truth is, a majority of you reading this probably aren’t sure either.
After all, if you were always sure of what to do in all scenarios, you wouldn’t be reading this post. You would’ve already crafted the perfect answer as to how to spend your time. You would be far well off.
Bottom Line
In your teenage years, without a doubt, you should aim to become your best self. You should aim to become better than others. You should aim to become a person that has reached their highest potential, and someone that others might admire.
But, don’t throw that all away in exchange for your youth. Because, you will never be able to get those years ever again. So, do it cautiously. Understand that in exchange for your time investment in becoming better, you are -as a result- sacrificing some of the free time at your disposal to spend having fun. Knowing this is important because the last thing you want to do is lay on your bed, in the afternoon, after a long day of school, just asking: “why didn’t I spend more of my time in high school enjoying myself?”
That’s a terrible thought. Don’t do that to yourself.
My Advice Now
So, now here comes the real, final, and genuine answer to the question.
My answer? Do dumb stuff.
Originally, I wasn’t exactly sure how to put my response into words, or how to really describe it. But, thanks to this quora post (author shown), I now know how. All credits goes to them.
How To Actually Spend Your Teenage Years
Do dumb stuff. Act like an idiot (not in a negative aspect, of course). Do things that adults or even others your age might criticize. Fool around. Do things that if others -of an older age- did when they were older, they would get in trouble for. But, don’t harm anyone or spend all the time at your disposal sitting in front of a screen with no purpose or life. Actually be useful, start slowly molding yourself into a legitimate asset. But, don’t ever exchange it for the fun you might have.
In other words, your goal during your teenage years should be to have fun, make the most of your life, be happy, be grateful, and to be better.
Make friends. Hang out with them. Go to other people’s houses. Plan gatherings. Attend after school events and meet new people and build a network. Try new things. Experience the outside world. Live life to the fullest and make memories. Make these years some of the best years of your life. Make these years so good that they’ll make you tear up in a few years just thinking about them.
Do things that only a teenager would do. Have fun. Live your youth to its maximum. Get involved in activities that you’ll only be able to participate in as a teenager.
To make this simpler, ask yourself: “what can I do right now that future me would’ve wished that I had gotten involved in?”
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Don’t Be Mistaken
Don’t get me wrong. You should have fun, and you should be living life to the most. But, you should be throwing away your time for useless things that don’t matter.
This spans things like scrolling on your phone, hanging out with bad people, forming bad habits, not being physically active, not having a plan for the future, and living without a purpose. Those are mistakes that are very avoidable that you can still make; that many still make.
So, I’ll add on to what I said earlier. You should be spending your time the way a teenager should, but you must also be considerate. Don’t get involved in negative behaviors that can only damage or harm you. Because, at the end of the day, you want to get better. You want to mold a version of yourself that is better than everyone else. And to do that, you need to modify what other teenagers might be doing and tailor it to who you want to become in the near future, and with what makes you happy right now.
You should always consider the person you’ll become in a few years. But, you must also consider what makes you happy right now. Take time out of your day to make your bed, to take out the trash, to read for just 20 minutes, to go for a walk, to hang out with friends, to go out and eat, to go outside and enjoy life.
But, don’t do stupid, ridiculous things that harm you or others. The point here is to have fun and enjoy yourself to the maximum, but not to pull the trigger on yourself and everyone around you because you simply couldn’t stop making poor decisions.
What I Do
I’m still young. I still am in the process of educating myself, even if it’s not in the traditional way that may others are educated currently. Sure, I am forced to learn things that I know won’t serve any useful purpose. But, that doesn’t mean that I won’t take time to educate myself outside of school.
What I do is excessive and probably beyond what many of you might be comfortable with. Thus, is why I won’t condone it.
My traditional routine consists of waking up early (5 AM), getting in my morning habits done (hydration, taking a shower, hair care, skin care, reading, meditating, etc.), and proceeding with work. I work on some personal business activity, content creation, website content, social media, other general business activity, and schoolwork.
It might not seem like much, but it is. I work even when I don’t want to, and I work even when it sucks. For that reason, I rarely ever mention it (because it goes against what I said earlier).
Do What Suits You
What I told you above is a suggestion – for a good reason. You don’t have to do what I do, but you also don’t have to live the way that I (or others) have suggested. If that doesn’t work for you, then don’t bother. If you feel like working less, and making time for other activities -that are still meaningful- then be my guest. But, if you feel like working over time so that you can secure a successful and happy future in your 20s, then go ahead.
We all take our own personal routes that others might not understand. Here, my goal is never to cloud your judgement or force a decision that you never took. Instead, my goal, our goal here at GG, is to make sure that you are only more aware of the world around you and what’s good and what isn’t.
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Conclusion
Your teenage years are like sailing through the open sea on a voyage of discovery. Just as a sailor must learn to navigate the unpredictable waters, you must navigate the complexities of growing up, facing both calm seas and stormy weather. The vast ocean represents the world of opportunities and challenges they encounter, filled with islands of interest to explore and hidden reefs of difficulty to avoid.
As the sailor on this journey, you learn to steer their ship, making choices about which direction to take. They must learn to read the skies of social dynamics and the winds of change, adjusting their sails to move forward even when faced with adversity. The ship—a symbol of your identity—is built over these years, plank by plank, through experiences, relationships, and personal growth.
Guides and mentors appear along the way like lighthouses, offering wisdom and illumination during darker times, helping the young sailor avoid the perilous rocks. The stars, much like their dreams and aspirations, guide them by night, providing a map to their deepest desires and potential.
This journey is both daunting and exhilarating, filled with moments of solitude and companionship, discovery and learning, trials and triumphs. And just as every sailor’s voyage is unique, each one of your paths through these formative years is deeply personal, shaped by individual choices and external forces.
Ultimately, the journey through your teenage years is about finding one’s place in the vast sea of life, learning to navigate its complexities with resilience and courage. And as the sailor grows more skilled and confident, they are prepared for whatever lies beyond the horizon, ready to embrace the adventures of adulthood with open arms.
