Life Hacks Every Teenager Should Know

Hey everyone, it’s Ajibola Agbaje back with another post(MY FIRST POST IN 2025) ! Today, I want to share some of my favorite life hacks—simple tips and tricks that make school, friendships, and everyday life a whole lot easier. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love these little shortcuts that help you stay on top of things without the stress. Let’s dive in!

1. Study Smarter, Not Harder

• The 25/5 Rule: Study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. It keeps your brain fresh and focused.
• Use Colors: Highlight key points in your notes using different colors. It’s proven to help your brain remember things better.
• Teach Someone Else: Explaining what you’ve learned to a friend or sibling is one of the best ways to lock in that knowledge. Bonus: You sound like a genius while doing it!

2. Beat the Morning Rush

• Outfit Planner: Save yourself from last-minute panic by picking out your clothes the night before.
• Prep Your Bag: Always pack your school bag before bed so you’re not running around looking for that one missing notebook.
• Sleep Early: get at least 8 hours of sleep daily.

3. Stay Organized Without Losing Your Mind

• Use Your Phone Calendar: Add reminders for deadlines, school events, or even friend meetups. It’s like your personal assistant!
• Sticky Note Wall: Write your goals, reminders, or motivational quotes on sticky notes and stick them where you’ll see them daily.
• The Two-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. You’ll save yourself a lot of stress later.

4. Make School More Fun

• DIY School Supplies: Add your personal style to your notebooks and pens. A bit of doodling can make schoolwork feel less boring.
• Reward Yourself: After finishing a tough assignment, treat yourself to a snack, your favorite show, or some time on TikTok, because you definitely deserve it after all that hard work.
• Music Motivation: Create a playlist of upbeat songs to listen to while working on your assignments. Instant mood booster!. Me personally I listen to Quran recitations and it really does keep me in the zone.

5. Friendship and Family

• Birthday Hack: Save your friends and family’ birthdays in your phone calendar. It’s a small thing, but remembering shows you care!
• Code Words: Create fun code words with your besties for inside jokes or “emergency get-me-out-of-this-conversation” moments.(I remember once we used fruits to do this: “oh my gosh she’s so lemon😂”)
• Gratitude Texts: Send a quick “thank you” or “I appreciate you” message to a friend randomly. Trust me, it makes their day.

Remember Friends are very important and we should be able to show them that we appreciate them being in our live

6. Self-Care Shortcuts

• Skin Routine: Use a simple face wash and moisturizer—consistency is more important than expensive products.
• Five-Minute Journal: Write down one thing you’re grateful for and one thing you’re excited about every day. It keeps your vibe positive. I recently started doing this and it helps me to clear my brain
• Breathe It Out: Feeling stressed? Take 10 deep breaths or try a 5-minute meditation. It really helps calm your nerves.

7. Boost your confidence

I want to first remind you all that being confident doesn’t mean you have to be the loudest person in the room.

• Use Positive Affirmations: Start your day by telling yourself something positive, like “I’m capable” or “I got this.” or “I am beautiful/handsome “It sounds simple, but it really works!
• Celebrate Small Wins: Did you finish a homework assignment? Awesome! Take a moment to feel proud of yourself, even for small things. It builds your confidence over time.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the thing: life isn’t always perfect, and none of us have it all figured out (even if we act like we do). That’s where my favorite motto comes in: fake it till you make it.

Don’t know how to stay organized? Act like you do until you get the hang of it. Struggling with confidence? Walk into that classroom like you own it, even if your heart’s pounding BECAUSE NO ONE CAN STOP YOU. Feeling overwhelmed? Take a deep breath, put on a smile, and do one thing at a time.

The truth is, most people are figuring things out as they go just like you are—and that’s okay. The key is to keep trying, learning, and improving. Eventually, all those little things you’ve been “faking” will turn into things you’ve mastered.

So go ahead—try out these life hacks, give yourself some grace, and remember that even when you’re faking it, you’re still making progress sometimes we just don’t notice.

—Ajibola❤️