With the stress of homework, friends, and family, we sometimes forget how to actually live life. Sure, we shop at the mall and ride our bikes with our friends, but most of us seem to forget how to really appreciate life. Read on to see how you can live life to the fullest.

1. Seize each day. Live each day as if it is your very last. Just take a deep breath and leave the past behind. Live in the moment and forget what will happen in the future, because today is your day. What you are doing and who you are with – they are the most special things at that moment.
    
2. Be adventurous. Take risks, explore, live life closer to the edge. If you embrace new challenges, you will be a more outgoing girl.
    
3. keep a journal. Though some want to keep writing in school and out of their personal lives, but journals are different. If you record your accomplishments and your delights, you will always have something to look back on and feel proud about, even at your most sad moment. You’ll be an inspiration to yourself and others, just with the power of the written word.
    
4. Love yourself. Focus on your inner and outer beauty. Though makeup and clothes make our outer appearance beautiful, your personality or ‘inner beauty’ is more important. Looking your best can give you the confidence to break out of your shell, so love yourself and shine like the star you can be.
    
5. Love everyone. Love the ones who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don’t. Remember, life is too precious to be wasted on waiting for love when your family and close friends will always offer it.
    
6. Accept everyone. Be kind and caring. If you accept others for who they are, they will accept you for who you are, too. Embrace your similarities and accept your differences between your friends and foes.
    
7. Find purpose in your life. Be selfless, not selfish and help others. Start with your neighbors and help them if they need it, free of charge. Volunteering at soup kitchens and shelters outside of your community is great as well.
    
8. Be realistic. It is always good to have dreams, but getting your hopes up can sometimes leave you stuck in the mud with a sad face. Set your goals according to your abilities and talents. Make them a challenge, but not too challenge that you cannot achieve them.
    
9. Seek balance. Understand the night and day, back and forth, good and bad in all things. Focus on good thoughts and good things will happen.
    
10. Maintain control. Be responsible and take responsibility of your actions and mistakes. Be true to yourself and don’t change yourself for someone else’s benefit. There is no other You, and remember, you are not someone else’s Barbie doll.
     
11. Listen to your heart and soul. Listen for advice, but be confident in making your own decisions. Use your instincts! If there’s a cute boy in your biology class that you really like and he is available, don’t hold back! Ask him to hang out with you, no matter what your friends think.
     
12. Clear your mind. Rituals of yoga, meditation, and tai chi calm adults nerves and replenishes their souls. But really? Get together with your girls once a week for a movie night or a ritual sleepover. Spending time with your girls without the stress of school will make you happier and have you looking forward for next week’s gathering.
     
13. Be carefree. Desires, obsessions, and possessions take control of everything around you, even yourself at times. Free yourself of your thoughts on what you want and focus on what you have. Make an active decision to have simple daily needs, and spurge on what you want when you really want it. You’ll feel better and notice more important things around you, too!
     
14. Laugh! Laughter is the best medicine for bad moods, break-ups, and friend fights. It releases endorphins (hormones that make you happy) and helps you turn that frown upside down. Inner joy is beautiful!
     
15. Be flexible. Accepting change is a way of life, and accepting it in a positive way is the way to go. At times, go with the flow that streams before you.
     
16. List a few daily goals. In your journal, write out some daily goals that you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s meet a new friend, walk in the park, or even chat with the cute new student. Enhance your day and create some fun for yourself.
     
17. Appreciate the little things. Take a walk around your neighborhood to experience the wonder in a way that you have never experienced it before.
     
18. Forgive yourself and others. Release your negative energy that holds you back, your past failures, embrace whatever life offers you.
     
19. Appreciate the environment. Take the longer way home from school and go for a walk. Assume you have come from another planet. Have a fresh look at the clouds, the colors of the sky at sunset and sunrise. Look at the plants, trees, leaves, flowers, and how the move when the wind blows. Look at all of the life forms – insects, animals, birds, and humans. This exercise will clear off the dead memories and sadness that kills the joy of living.
     
20. Lastly, choose a mantra or motto. Whenever something doesn’t go your way and you are getting upset or you’re down on yourself, chant an uplifting phrase in your head. It’s called a mantra and will pick you up on your feet and push your forward towards greatness. Can’t think of one? Chant this short paragraph in your head to relax and start over: ‘Focus on good thoughts and good things will happen! Keep on trying … cross the river … because there is something on the other side. Something amazing; something truly worth your time.’