Suzie Key Tima

Six years ago, I turned 18 and I thought I knew everything. Now I wish I could go back and teach my younger self these life lessons.

Time will pass anyway

I have a list of things I want to learn and my main reason for procrastinating on starting is the knowledge that it will take a long time to master these things. But time will pass anyway and tomorrow you’ll wish you had started today so…
Start today! Do the work.

Change will happen

…whether you are ready or not. Change is one of the things you can be sure of. It will happen in your environment, your friends, and—perhaps surprisingly—yourself. Be ready to accept and adapt.

The first hour matters

The first hour of your day can often set the tone for your whole day. Get clear about what a good morning routine looks like and start implementing it. Decide on a time to wake up based on when you go to sleep. Use that first hour after you wake up to do at least one important thing. Note that important things can vary from one person to another. My ideal—and now common—morning routine involves waking up at 5:00 AM, taking my supplements, showering, making my bed, getting dressed for work, and spending some time with God.

Every minute counts

If I had a dollar for every minute lost in the grocery store line or commuting, I’d have enough money to retire (probably). I remember when I decided to improve my Spanish. I sat down and planned out my study sessions (one hour or more) that I couldn’t fit anywhere in my schedule. My favorite way to learn a new language is to do a form of immersion that involves saturating my media and entertainment consumption with my target language. So, I started watching Spanish shows and listening to Spanish music and audiobook throughout the day. At the end of a typical week, I would have spent an average of 2.5 hours studying, assuming 2 ten-minute chunks per day during a regular weekday. This might not seem like a lot, but your progress will compound over time. Make a plan to be intentional about those easy-to-waste chunks of time. Make it easy and accessible.

Adversity breeds growth

It’s hard to appreciate the burns at the moment, but you’ll be thankful for thicker skin. Adversity forces you to improve your skills, better your craft, and grow as a person. Looking back, I’m thankful for that failed test in college that taught me the value of asking for help. I’m thankful for those weeks of studying all night; they taught me the importance of hard work and preparedness.