Dear all Londoners who aren’t really sure what they’re doing,

First of all, you’re doing alright. It’s important to remember that.

It’s alright if you’re in London to “find yourself”, it’s alright if you’re in London because you think you’ve already found yourself, and it’s just as alright if you have absolutely no bloody clue what you’re doing here.

Things are weird in the world right now and no one is really sure what their future holds. But that’s okay. Use this time to figure yourself out; try out a few things, master the art of pretending you know what you’re doing, and work out what works for you. Do a few shitty jobs, have a few shitty flings.

Learn from these things and learn to know what you love, what you hate and what you deserve. Just remember to be a bit selfish and make decisions for you. It pays to think about yourself. Always think: “how will future me look back at this in 10 years time”? Future you is wise, have faith in that.

Dating in London is weird, and it takes a lot of patience. You’ll get hurt, but you’ll hurt others too. One day you’ll find someone — the right person — so just hang in there. Tinder is your friend, but it is also your worst enemy. Tread lightly. And remember that sometimes the best people come along when you’re not searching for them.

If you’re thinking “holy fuck my bank account is depressing!” then you are absolutely not alone. If there is one thing London is great at, it is draining your pockets until there is nothing left. The only advice I have for you is to get yourself some instant coffee and teach yourself to love it. Take it everywhere you go and never step foot inside a Pret again. It’s your only hope. I’m *sort of* kidding… it really is important to remember that money isn’t everything.

It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to sob and shout and stomp your feet. It’s okay to take a bit of time to yourself, read funny memes on the internet, and talk to nobody. It’s always good to get a bit of headspace.

Lastly, remember to feel lucky. London is one of the best places you could be right now. If you’re not sure what your next steps will be; London has a number of paths for you to choose from. London will keep you distracted when you need a distraction and open up doors to more opportunities than you could possibly ever imagine.

So grab yourself a glass of wine and make a toast to yourself. Everything is just fine and your life will fall into place when it’s ready. Don’t rush it.

Lots of love,

Somebody who is just as lost as you.