We’ve all heard of–and possibly described ourselves as–either Type A or Type B personalities.
Type A individuals, among other characteristics, generally plan their days, weeks, months, and even years to a T. They know exactly what they’re going to be doing at any given moment of the day, and rarely deviate from their plans.
Type B people, on the other hand, don’t stress out about making plans. They are more likely to make decisions “on the fly,” and not worry about whether or not a decision was the right one to make.
While there are certainly times in which Type B personalities are at an advantage when it comes to making quick decisions, there are other times in which an impulsive decision can end up haunting you forever. The following decisions should never be taken lightly by anyone until the consequences of doing so are truly and completely understood.
Body art
Let me begin by saying that I’m in no way against tattoos or piercings, or any other form of body art. But there is a difference between treating your body like a work of art and treating it like a scrapbook.
If you’re going to make a change to your body that can’t easily be undone, you should be completely confident that you’ll appreciate the decision five, 10, or 20 years down the line. A tasteful tattoo or piercing won’t look out of place, and can definitely add to your overall beauty. On the other hand, the hastily-drawn tattoo you decided to get one night on spring break in Mexico probably isn’t going to look so great when you wake up in the morning.
Love, sex, and breakups
As if you didn’t know, relationships are complicated. When you meet the person of your dreams, you want all the good things that come with a relationship to happen instantly.
But the quicker you rush things, the less you have to look forward to. Building a relationship is supposed to take time. Instead of diving into a relationship and experiencing everything all at once, wade in slowly. You will still experience all the good you’ve looked forward to, and will be able to truly appreciate each step of the way.
On the other side of the coin, spontaneous breakups due to an argument may also be premature, and leave both parties missing out on potential happiness. If you’ve been with someone long enough to consider them your significant other, you should never break things off with them without completely thinking it through.
College
Going away to college is one of the first major decisions a young adult can make. For many people, the school they attend and the program they enroll in will be the foundation on which they’ll build the rest of their lives.
Deciding which school to go to isn’t something to take lightly. It requires hours of diligent research regarding cost, coursework offered, extracurricular activities, distance from home, and more. The worst thing a high school graduate can do is assume all colleges are the same, or to make their choice of university based on something superficial like “my girlfriend got accepted there” or “my friend had a lot of fun his first year there.”
Choosing a college is the first of many adult decisions you’ll be making in your life. Start your adult life off right and take it seriously.
Jobs and careers
It’s no secret that finding a job that pays well and is enjoyable is no easy feat. In troubled economic times, it can be tempting to take what you can get, and immediately accept the job that’s offered to you on the spot.
Like choosing a college, a lot should go into your decision to accept a job offer. You should never take a job for only one reason. It might pay well, but you might end up hating it. Or you might love it, but it doesn’t pay well. Or it might pay well and be enjoyable, but it takes up all of your time. Obviously, there’s a lot to think about when choosing a career.
Whether you’re a young adult looking for a part-time job or a college graduate starting off on a new career path, take all the time you need to decide if the job you’ve been offered is the right one for you.
Featured photo credit: PROswong95765 via farm8.staticflickr.com
