8 Lessons I Learned from New Girl

If you haven’t watched New Girl yet, please stop reading this article and start watching season one on Netflix! Between Zooey Deschanel’s innate quirkiness, the irresistible relationships formed on the show, and the unrivaled sense of humor, New Girl holds a permanent spot at the top of my favorite television shows list.

One of my favorite parts about the show is that entertainment and humor aside, life lessons are drizzled throughout the seven seasons, particularly relevant to twenty and thirty-somethings. Here are the life lessons I learned from New Girl.

Here are eight lessons I learned from New Girl worth sharing:

1. Some of the best opportunities in life come from the most unexpected situations.

Jessica Day moving into the loft with three male roommates post-breakup singlehandedly changed her entire life (literally. No spoilers here, but if you’ve seen the final season, you know what I mean).

Sure, responding to a Craigslist ad to find new roommates might seem questionable to some, so if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, use your best judgment. But the point is that the unexpected position of becoming the fourth roommate in the loft led to a world full of opportunities for Jessica Day that changed her life for the better. 

2. Relationships become past romances for a reason, and sometimes they belong in the past where exes left them.

Nick and Caroline, I’m talking to you! Nick Miller plays the runaround game with his ex, Caroline, on occasion, and it never ends well for Nick. The reality is that sometimes flames fizzle out, and that’s okay. Don’t bother chasing romantic partners from your past and try to force things to work when they don’t. There are plenty more out there. 

3. Take your health seriously! Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you should always assume you’re young and healthy.

You know where this one is going, don’t you? Remember the episode where Nick Miller hurts himself playing football in the park and refuses to go to the doctor because he doesn’t have health insurance? If you caught this episode, you know Nick eventually sends up seeing a medical professional and receives an additional diagnosis. I won’t share all the details, but the point is, you should take care of your health while you’re young, and pay attention and listen to your body.

4. Getting laid off and finding a new job takes time. Be mindful of your wellbeing if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Television characters don’t appear to be exempt from the harsh realities of being laid off unexpectedly. Jessica Day got laid off from her teaching job and experienced many ups and downs in her search for a new role. Navigating the career world can be particularly challenging in your twenties and thirties as you find your place in the world. If you do get laid off, or perhaps even fired, prioritize self-care and lean into your support system.

5. Be truthful in your relationships if you want them to last.

I don’t know about you, but when Schmidt dated Cece and Elizabeth at the same time, I had a feeling it was bound to cause chaos. Lying and sneaking behind people’s backs never, I repeat, never ends well. Don’t do it, or you might end up alone, just like Schmidt did.

6. If you care about someone, tell them. If you’re bottling up your feelings, get them off your chest!

Spoiler alert: You know how Schmidt was so in love with Cece that he couldn’t let her go and ended up proposing to her? Schmidt wronged Cece when he was double dating, but they shared such a strong connection, I couldn’t help but tear up when he finally proposed. Anyone else? Now, I’m not implying that you should propose to your crush you hardly know or anything like that, but tell people when you care about them. If you can’t get them off your mind, there’s a reason for it. Be bold and vulnerable.

7. Speaking of telling people you care about them, love your friends hard, and be sure to let them know how much they mean to you.

The friendships amongst the characters of New Girl are unrivaled. What I love most about these friendships is that no matter what happens, the group always makes up and supports one another. When you find a friend group that does the same (and be mindful that it might take some time), hang onto that group and cherish it deeply.

8. Always trust in the timing of your life.

Another spoiler alert: Can we talk for a minute about the end scene of season six, where Jess is planning on moving to Portland but runs back to the apartment to confess how she truly feels to Nick? Nick and Jess have trouble connecting and chase each other up and down the building until they finally reunite in the elevator. And, well, you know the rest. I don’t know about you, but I was so worried they weren’t ever going to have their moment. Even if displayed through a dramatic love scene, the lesson here is always to trust the timing of your life; your friendships, romantic relationships, career decisions, and everything in between. 

Do you resonate with any of the lessons I learned from New Girl? Are you a New Girl fanatic? Tell us what episode was your favorite!

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