This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Amherst chapter.
To me, 22 is the start of adulthood. You can legally vote, drive, drink, sign contracts, and even rent a car. You are a real adult…allegedly. (Sarah Andersen has a lot to say about this in her book “Adulthood is a Myth“) Here are a few life hacks that you should know by the time you turn 22 and to enter the world of adulthood.
Dressing Up
- You should have a pair of stockings. Yes, it sounds a bit old fashioned, but a pair of sheer stockings like L’eggs Sheer Energy Sheer Medium Support in a nude or black can take an outfit from casual to business. It’s an elegance that keeps you warm and tidy.
- Carry a bottle of clear nailpolish. If you are wearing stockings, chances are you will get a run in them. Instead of pulling down your hem all day, dab a bit of clear nailpolish on top to stop the run. Be careful with black panty hose because it can dry white!
- Have a bra for different occassions. See the helpful diagram above which explains what bra you need for which kind of top. Maidenform has affordable bras that can allow you to buy bras that fit your wardrobe without breaking the bank. (Especially since we need to buy new ones every eight months!)
- Carry perfume samples in your purse. Maybe you had to run from the bus stop. Maybe you woke up late and couldn’t wash your hair. Maybe you recently realized your co-worker is really attractive. Whatever the reason it is always good to have perfume on standby if necessary. I like like to take samples of Juicy because one sample last for months. They are super potent!
Makeup
- Regularly clean your brushes. Often times people claim that makeup destroys their skin. In my experience, dirty brushes break out my skin, not the makeup itself. I was wash my brushes every day to every other day if possible. For those really rough times in semester, I recommend at least once a week.
- Get new brushes. Let’s face it, even under the best care, the most expensive brushes can find themselves breaking apart after a few months. Don’t be afraid to get new brushes if you find more brush hair than product on your face after application.
- Figure out the right look for YOU. Rock a red lip or try out a new eyeliner style. Yes every Instagram makeup artist shows you those fleek-y eyebrows and winged eyeliner tips that could kill man, but that’s not for everyone. Pick up products from a reputable and affordable drugstore brand like RimmelLondon to try out new looks for you without needing a bank loan.
Traveling
- Learn about a place before you visit. You don’t have to be an expert or plan out every minute of your trip, but you should know the most popular tourist areas, the currency, the most common language spoken and whether or not you need a vaccine.
- Learn a bit of the language. Many English speakers take it for granted that most people speak and learn English. When going to another country, it means a lot to a native person if you attempt to speak in the native tongue. You don’t have to be fluent, but it shows that their country’s culture interests you and it isn’t just another vacation spot.
- Be safe. Whether walking in your hometown or traveling abroad, you never know when you can be in a dangerous situation. There are many apps and devices that allow you to alert love ones in the case of danger like Wearsafe. Some times knowing someone can help when you need it is the most comforting.
Health
- Cook a meal. And no ramen doesn’t count. Or cereal. Until you find a someone who is as much of a culinary master as whoever used to feed you at home, learn to cook a decent. There are many recipes online (don’t sneeze at Tasty, they can be helpful!) where you can become a cooking extraordinare in a few minutes.
- Drink water. This helps with everything from your skin, to your hair to your overall health. To save the enviroment from plastic bottles, invest in a CamelBak that you can refill throught your day.
- Lady health. Make sure to always have your favorite form of feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons, DivaCup) readily excessible in either your purse, office desk or car. You never know where you or someone else may need it!
- Address weird lady feelings. I know that was a vague way to say it, but, look, if you are getting itches in place “you can’t scratch”, perhaps you need to see a gyno. Now, you are only 22 so if that does freak you out, stock up on products that help with yeast infections like Monistat. It can happen at any time to anyone, so it is better to be prepared than embarrassed!
- Pamper yourself. A mini-spa day with Netflix can do wonders when having a bad day. Stock up on a few masks and use one once a week for better skin and calmer evenings. Freeman Beauty has a few masks that break down what they do and how they make you feel so you can be sure that you find the right one for the right occasion. ‘
- Work out. This doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym and pump iron. You can go for walks, swim, bike, do yoga, dance, whatever keeps you active. Work out so that your body is conditioned to do anything you want. When your mind realizes that your body can be pushed to do greatness, your mind also becomes great.
Relationships
- Foster platonic friendships. It’s so common, particularly when we find attractive people, to ignore the value of friendship. It is very important to have people who you can rely on without romance getting entangled in it. For the girls who believe that you can’t be just friends with a guy, give it a try! You may be pleasantly surprised.
- Encourage others. I find that encouraging other to do their best is much more effective than stepping on people to pull yourself up. The whole ideas of networking is connecting ambitious people and helping them strive so you too can become successful.
- Family. For some people family are the people who share their DNA. For others, it is people who took care of them or share the same ideas. Find your family or make your own. A home is not a house, is a place of comfort and that can be found in someone else.
- Figure out what LOVE is to you. Whether you are someone who wants to get married, not have a partner at all or fall somewhere in between, figure out what makes YOU happy. Life is too short to throw it away for someone else’s wants that don’t match up with yours.
Business/Education
- Smash your limitations. Forget the glass ceilings. Forget where you came from. Forget all the nay-sayers. At the end of the day, only you can limit your dreams. Shoot for the stars and the worst that can happen is that you will fall somewhere in between.
- Continue to learn. You can go to graduate school. You can choose to go to a top company. You can have conversations with some of the brightest minds in the world. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you are learning every step of the way. Successful people are alway improving themselves and striving to be more by getting all the knowledge out there. Go and get it!
I sincerely hope these life hacks were helpful. One cool thing about this article is that everything you see linked here is actually in our Back To School Survival Kit! We will be having several giveways, the first at our meeting in McCaffrey Room at Keefe @ 9pm on Thursday 9/29, so you an get started on your life hacks.
HCXO!