Someone asked me, “What’s your best life advice?” which is a bold question, because I’m a mum and I regularly forget why I walked into a room.
But if I had to hand my kids a little survival manual for life (the kind they can use when school feels hard, friendships get weird, or they’re one bad night’s sleep away from crying over the wrong cereal) it would look like this.
Not “be perfect.” Not “be productive.” Not “hustle harder.”
Just: be kind, be brave, look after yourself, and don’t be a complete plank.
TL;DR: The 3 life lessons I’d teach first
- Be kind… but not at the expense of yourself.
- Move your body every day, even if you’re doing it out of spite.
- Confidence isn’t loud — it’s doing the thing while your brain screams “ABSOLUTELY NOT.”
10 Ways to Live a Better Life
Each one has: The lesson → A tiny action → Why it matters
-
You don’t need to be the best. You just need to be useful.
Tiny action: Pick one thing you’re decent at and do it consistently.
Why: The world is already full of people trying to win at everything. Being reliable is weirdly rare and extremely attractive (in friendships, jobs, and general adult life).
-
Smile at people. It costs nothing. And it freakishly works.
Tiny action: Smile at one stranger today, the tired cashier, the frazzled parent, the person on the bus who looks like they haven’t slept since 2014.
Why: A smile can be the only nice thing someone gets all day. Also, it makes you feel slightly less like an irritated goblin. Yes some people may think you are flirting or a bit dense, but hey, that can help too.
-
Be helpful without keeping score.
Tiny action: Do one helpful thing anonymously (or quietly).
Why: If you only help people so they owe you, congratulations, you’ve invented emotional debt. Nobody likes that. Not even you. But helping people gives me a buzz.
-
Stop making assumptions about people. You’re not a mind reader.
Tiny action: When you catch yourself thinking “They’re being rude,” try “Maybe they’re having a bad day.”
Why: Assumptions are how you end up personally offended by someone who was just… tired, stressed, shy, or dealing with a rogue toddler in Tesco.
-
Listen properly. Not “wait for your turn to talk” listening.
Tiny action: Put your phone down and listen for two minutes without interrupting.
Why: People don’t need you to fix everything. Half the time they just want to feel heard, and it’s a relationship superpower. And there is a reason we have two of these, and one of these (I admit that is redundant as you can’t see me pointing to two ears and one mouth)
-
Rest isn’t a reward. It’s a requirement.
Tiny action: Schedule 15 minutes of “do nothing” like it’s a dentist appointment. In silence, no phone, preferably with the sunlight on your face.
Why: If you run on fumes, you’ll eventually snap at someone you love because they breathed too loudly. Ask me how I know.
-
Do scary things in small doses.
Tiny action: Do one “slightly uncomfortable” thing this week (apply for something, ask a question, try the class, send the message).
Why: Confidence doesn’t arrive first. You build it afterwards, like muscle. Or like IKEA furniture: confusing at first, strong in the end.
-
8) Be generous, but keep boundaries. Martyrdom isn’t a personality trait.
Tiny action: Help someone and protect your energy: “I can do X, but not Y.”
Why: Being kind doesn’t mean being available 24/7 like a customer support line. If you burn out, you’re useless to everyone, including yourself.
-
Your body is not a decorative object. Treat it like the vehicle it is.
Tiny action: Add one helpful thing today: water, vegetables, sleep, sunshine, a walk, fewer doom-scrolls.
Why: Health isn’t a moral badge. It’s maintenance. Like charging your phone. You don’t earn rest by suffering first. We push through life like we are untouchable, and it’s only when we get older we realise good health is a precious gift.
-
Move. Daily. Even a bit. Especially when you “can’t be arsed.”
Tiny action: Walk for 10 minutes. Take the stairs. Dance while making tea. Stretch while the kettle boils.
Why: Movement improves mood and energy more reliably than most “life hacks.” Also, it stops your back from making that crunchy sound when you stand up. My tip, 70’s and 80’s music on the radio, gets me dancing every time.
A gentle but important note (because real life exists)
If you’re feeling persistently low, anxious, or overwhelmed, this isn’t a character flaw or a “mindset problem.” It’s a health thing. Talk to someone like a trusted friend, your GP, or a professional. You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through life, and you deserve better.
Other thoughts
What’s the best life advice for children?
Teach them that they don’t have to be perfect to be loved, that kindness matters, and that “brave” often just means “scared but doing it anyway.”
How do you teach kindness without raising a people-pleaser?
Pair kindness with boundaries: “Be kind, but you’re allowed to say no.” Kindness without boundaries turns into resentment.
How do you build confidence?
Confidence comes from evidence. Do small hard things repeatedly. Your brain eventually stops panicking because you’ve proved you can cope.
What daily habit improves life the fastest?
Daily movement, decent sleep, and spending time with people who don’t drain your soul.
Final thought (because I’m a mum and I get to be dramatic)
Living a better life isn’t one giant transformation. It’s a thousand tiny choices that pull you slightly closer to calm, connection, and self-respect.
And some days the best you can manage is getting everyone fed and not crying in the pantry.
That still counts.
