You Need To Stop Comparing Yourself To Your Friends

If you’re a real life human and not in fact a robot here to take over the world, then chances are one of your favourite pastimes is to compare every single aspect of your life to your friends.

Whether it’s because they’ve just met the man of their dreams at Euston Station, discovered a life-changing eyebrow technician who makes them look like Kendall Jenner or somehow managed to buy a flat in London despite constantly moaning about never having any money, your first thought is no doubt going to be about how sh*t your own situation is.

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But as you’re probably aware, because you’re an intelligent human being after all, THIS IS NOT HEALTHY. And it’s not because of all that ‘you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be in your journey’ rubbish, but simply because life’s too short to stress about what your mates are doing 24/7.

Newsflash: It’s doing absolutely nothing for your self-esteem.

Spending every waking minute worrying about what other people are doing will leave your self-esteem non-existent, what with giving yourself zero time to get your own sh*t done.

And while it’s all fun and games to spend your evening in an anxiety ridden mess going over and over about how successful the girl you used to sit next to in geography is, take the time to reflect on your own successes. Even if they boil down to great eyebrows, an A in GCSE maths and the ability to do that weird 'okrr' Kardashian thing.

Other people are doing the exact same thing to you.

It may come as a shock to you but other people are comparing themselves to you all the damn time. Yes, you! Sure, you might not understand why, but that annoying phrase ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ exists for a reason. Well at least we hope it does, because otherwise just what’s the point.

It’s getting you further away from your own goals.

While you may feel like you’re drowning in your friend's good news, they’ve only got there (annoyingly) by setting themselves goals. So, try reducing your time spent focussing on other people by a solid 10%, because baby steps, and think about what exactly you want to do with your life. It’s a terrifying thought, we know, but it’s worth it. Maybe. Probably. 

You’ll feel happier if you can accept your friend's successes.

If you want one of those hundreds of weights you’ve got balanced on your shoulders to be lifted, then start being happy (or at least faking it) to your friends’ faces. Chances are if you chat to them about it they’ll have a few horror stories in exchange, and you can all laugh about how awful but also kind of okay your lives are. 

It’s easier said than done, we know.

Of course, there’s nothing worse than being preached to about being a nicer person when it’s so much easier said than actually done. But on those good days when everything isn’t awful and you can see the silver linings, try thinking a little less sorry for yourself and remember that being a YouTuber is an actual career now, so basically you can make money doing whatever you want. As long as it’s legal, obvs.