I still can’t wrap my head around the fact we are entering 2025 soon. This year just went by keeping up with Instagram trends that lowered my attention span with each passing meme. On other days, I hung out with my laptop 15+ hours a day to keep up with adulting. In the meantime, I learned unexpected lessons from this whirlwind of chaos. So, as the clock ticks closer to 2025, here’s a recap of 2024 that gave me a crash course in life I didn’t enrol for.

Related: 2024 Wrapped: Life Lessons We Learnt That Will Hopefully Make 2025 Better

1. Ending friendships is better than entertaining drama

Yes, I learnt this lesson the toughest way. As we grow up, people change and we expect our friends to understand that instead of taunting us. Sometimes, you can’t laugh at the same problematic things your younger self did with school friends. Holding onto these people just because they are our old friends only builds frustration. So, I learnt it’s better to make an effort in new friendships rather than getting blamed by the old ones for not being the childish version we once used to be. This comes with some guilt and sadness but trust me, it feels liberating later.

2. Brown kajal>> Black kajal

Girlies, this was such a game-changing moment for me this year. I love applying kohl but I also have Panda eyes. As much as I adore the OG black kajal, it enhances my dark under-eyes. It only looks great when I have makeup on. The lazy girl in me can’t make an effort to follow a makeup routine daily and that’s when I found the magical brown kohl pencil. Not only does it elevate my no-makeup look, but it also goes perfectly with my dusky skin. So, if you’re facing the same dilemma, get a brown kajal and experience the wonders yourself.

3. Dating apps are not for me

In 2024, I unlocked a new achievement that came with a big life lesson. So now, I can do 20 left swipes in 20 seconds after which I realised dating apps are not for me. If you have found the love of your life or you know someone who has through a dating app, kudos to you. For me, all the profiles seem so similar – cute pet pictures to sway people, voice notes in a fake accent, curly-haired faces with glass skin (or filters, can’t differentiate), and hiking as their favourite hobby. The best thing dating apps have done for me is that they have restored my hopeless romantic, Bollywood personality that foolishly believes in old-school love.

4. Don’t skip post-workout stretching, ever!

Stretching after a workout might feel like an unnecessary task, especially on those torturous leg days at the gym. I used to think the same as I went home with extremely sore muscles. A proper post-workout stretch is important so that you don’t feel like you’re tied to 100-kg weights every time you walk an inch. Moreover, it relaxes tensed muscles and prevents injury. You should definitely listen to me if you don’t want to cry in pain after every workout.

5. Your skin is not your canvas

This year, I tried every trendy skincare product advertised by influencers. Consequently, I faced the worst breakout ever. After months of religiously following my dermatologist’s prescribed skincare regimen, I realised the biggest mistake I made earlier. Brands offer numerous skincare products with several benefits. But not all of them will suit your gentle skin. The best you can do is listen to your skin and see what it actually needs.

6. Wired earphones> Bluetooth earbuds

Unpopular opinion, but wired earphones are much better than Bluetooth earbuds. You don’t need to panic about their battery life. And you won’t lose them to random corners when the earphones fall out of your ears. After repeatedly losing my wireless earphones to metro tracks and other places and regretting not charging them in time, I have finally learnt the value of wired earphones.

7. Dark circles don’t disappear with under-eye patches

Yes, this was the most painful life lesson I learnt in 2024. You can’t be sleep-deprived five days a week and expect those expensive under-eye patches to work like magic. They can give you false hopes with their cooling effect. But you need to fix your sleep cycle and hydrate yourself so you don’t look like a zombie. So, stop wasting your money on those under-eye patches and go to sleep.

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