Last week, I turned 31 and earlier this year, I published 30 lessons for 30. A year later, here’s more of what I learnt.

1. If you stay over somewhere regularly, have a wash bag permanently packed. It will save you a lot of time working out if you have cleanser, toner and moisturiser and means you won’t forget your tweezers.
2. People leave awful bosses, not jobs.
3. Even if a married man is in an ethically non-monogamous relationship, you’ll be much lower down in the pecking order than his wife and family. And rightly so. Don’t get involved.
4. Things don’t happen in “the right order” – go with it.
5. Being “too experienced” for a job you wanted sucks.
6. If you can get past the stage of awful roots, you can put off a hair appointment for another month.
7. Friendships can run their course and that’s okay.
8. Reading is never a waste of time.
9. If someone ghosts you, you can control how much it hurts you.
10. Find out how much you’ll be paid for work before you agree to do it. Or you’ll resent sending your work to be published on the poorly-paying platform.
11. All the most expensive wines are made with Chardonnay grapes.
12. Fancy trying that new experience but feeling a little nervous? Do it.
13. Paying for professional therapy is not a waste of money. But make sure you find a therapist who sits well with you. It’s okay to change therapists if your working relationship no longer suits your circumstances.
14. If someone seems too good to be true, mostly they are – but sometimes they aren’t.
15. Don’t strive for perfection when you write. Just write.
16. Falling out with friends isn’t a disaster if you patch things up. And it will probably make your friendship stronger.
17. Putting in work boundaries isn’t “being difficult”, it’s essential to maintain your sanity.
18. Saying that, sometimes you’ve gotta work overtime. Don’t be a twat about it.
19. Believe in the magical. Sometimes things do happen for a reason and coincidences aren’t coincidences.
20. If you feel shit about yourself after coming home from a date with someone, you might want to reconsider seeing them again.
21. Save for your tax return. It sneaks up on you and can be truly frightening.
22. Strive to get to a position in your freelance career whereby you don’t have to accept every piece of work that comes your way.
23. Make time for the things that make you happy.
24. Drink water alongside your wine when you’re out. It’ll lessen the hangover.
25. Everything can be a story. If you’re clever, everything can be an interesting story.
26. Some employers won’t value the power of copywriting. Make them see it.
27. Tell people you love that you love them. Anything can happen which is marvellous and terrifying.
28. Waking up without a hangover is underrated.
29. Be genuinely interested in others and you may form relationships that last a lifetime.
30. Put your phone down and look out of the window.