You don't need someone to explain to you the advantages of youth but if we're going to regurgitate this info, you've got your looks, not too much responsibility, more energy, more opportunities, bigger dating pool, people acknowledge your existence and consider you a valuable member of society who can work and contribute, and on and on. The thing is, why, if you're 16, 18, 20, 25, are you not taking full advantage of your gift?
1. Selfie
There are people that tell you, taking photos of yourself is obsessive or narcissistic, and to some extent, when people do it all day, everyday, yeah, it can get to that point, but believe me when I say, take at least a few good photos a year when you're young. Your looks will fade over time. I don't care how good your genes are, you'll get the wrinkles, sagging, and gray hair like everyone else, but the memories of your youth and when you were at your prime can be quite memorable and bring on happy memories. Also, take care of your skin, don't smoke, and stay clear from baking in the sun. These things definitely add up over time and can rob you of your youthful looks (or life) a lot sooner than later.
2. Travel
Unless you've already got the wife/husband and 3 kids, go out into the world and travel at will. Traveling when you're older and when you have kids, becomes more difficult, physically, sometimes financially, it's harder to get time off, do the kids come with or you need a baby sitter...arg...but when you're young and you have a part time job and no one really depending on you, now is the time. Put effort in and save up to take a trip somewhere fantastic or a couple of trips. If you can't afford to fly, get in your car and have an epic road trip with your best buddies when they aren't all "too busy," all the time.
3. Exercise
When you are young, your body is in it's prime. You get hurt, your recovery time is far less than it will ever be from injury in your future. I do not understand why people waste this time sitting on a couch playing video games, eating Cheetohs, and getting fat. Go outside and use your body, and learn what you can do, and how much you can lift, how crazy you can dance, and how long you can run, and how high you can climb. There are no guarantees in this life that tomorrow, something may happen to you or your old age may rob you of these abilities, so use them now.
4. Love
Put effort into finding someone important. When you sit at home making no effort and complain about how no one likes you, the world is passing you by. Your youth is passing you by. It is HARD at 30, 40, 50 to find someone who hasn't been through a lot of life, or who doesn't have kids, or who is single or who still wants to be in a relationship after a difficult divorce. The dating pool gets smaller and smaller with every year that ticks by, and when you lock yourself away at such a young age and don't try, you're wasting it all. You're going to look up and everyone is going to be getting paired off or married. Enjoy this time and going on dates or at least leaving your heart open to the possibilities rather than coldly shutting the door on it.
5. Prepare
Now is the time to start building that nest egg for whatever your future plans are. Put some money away every week, every month, every year, learn how to invest, create your own business. Do it now when you have the energy and are hopefully free from any major debt. Social Security is such an uncertain thing right now, that you may be solely dependent on yourself to sustain your life later on if it fails.
6. Pursue
Don't keep saying, I'm going to do something tomorrow, I'll try out my dreams tomorrow. Today is that day to take a risk, to challenge yourself, to find what you love when you don't have people depending on you. Complete your education, figure out how to become a young home owner, take on a new venture. Don't sit there wishing you could have done more in your past, but do it now when you have the time or are between jobs or just looking for change, or are working on securing yourself a good future.
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