Ladies, never disclose these 11 personal details to anyone

So many women share details that they think are completely ordinary or harmless, but they really should stop giving them away without thinking.

The same old pattern

A private routine isn’t so private when you share it online. Sure, you tell yourself that it’s nothing when you tell someone that you’re always at the gym at 6. It’s meaningless that you share which gas station you’re at every Friday. But maybe not.

Your routine works like a map. When you tell people about your daily habits, no matter how unimportant they might seem, you’re giving them way too much information. That doesn’t mean you’ve got to act mysterious or anything. But don’t share your full schedule.

The small school detail

If you’re a mom, you’re going to be proud of your kids. You’re going to want to tell everyone about them. Maybe you shouldn’t. The little details, like school names and bus stops, are too revealing. Even saying what time your child comes home is a bad idea.

Think about it this way. How would you feel if strangers on the street knew exactly where you lived and what time you’re not at home? You probably wouldn’t feel very good. A school logo in a photo on social media says a lot more than you meant to. Keep it private.

The empty side of the house

A lot of women fall into the bad habit of explaining who is or isn’t at home. They’ll casually say it’s just them. They’ll let people know their husband’s away on business, normal stuff. They shouldn’t do it.

You can still be perfectly polite without sharing your entire household roster with random buyers from Facebook Marketplace or repair workers. Only tell people you really, absolutely trust. Unless you’re fine with them stopping by unannounced, you probably shouldn’t share it.

The little backup plan

You’d be surprised at how many women share their safety habits. Yes, they’ll let people know that there’s a spare key under the planter. The back door? That doesn’t lock unless you lift it. Don’t forget about the camera that doesn’t actually work.

You really shouldn’t be letting people know those details. An audience doesn’t need to know them. You might think you’re being boring and, sure, maybe you are. But boring’s better than being at risk.

The way back

Your commute’s probably one of the most boring topics to talk about. It’s why so many people make the mistake of oversharing about it. To you, telling someone where you park and how you get home is nothing. To some shady people, it’s an information jackpot.

Now they know exactly where you’re going. Now they know when you’ll be alone, and when there’ll be fewer witnesses around. Do you really want that? Didn’t think so. Don’t share these details with other people, and if you accidentally do, try changing your routines and routes.

The familiar mistake

It feels honest. You’re talking about your past relationships and what went wrong with them. No harm there, right? But think about it. When you tell someone how you always take your exes back or that you’re bad at saying no, you’re not being self-aware.

You’re giving the wrong people too many details. It’s okay to share that kind of information eventually, but don’t spill the beans straight away. Share it slowly. Leave some stuff for the sixth or seventh date, if it gets there.

The exit

It’s a sad fact that a lot of women are trapped in unsafe relationships. Some of them decide to leave. That’s great, of course, but telling the man too early can actually make things even harder. They might even become more dangerous.

Your best bet is to make a safety plan before leaving or telling him you’re going. It should include money. It should include your important documents and details of a safe place. Tell one person first, like a trained advocate. Don’t tell him. Not yet.

The porch pickup

Selling things online can get super weird, super fast. You’re listing something from your home. Within a few seconds, you’ve sent your full address to someone you don’t actually know. Bad idea. 

You wouldn’t do that with a random person off the street, would you? You can still sell stuff online, of course. But maybe stick to a public pickup spot with lots of witnesses around and bright lighting.

The room for the week

You’re on vacation, and you feel relaxed, especially when you’re in a nice hotel. Everything seems so great. So then what’s the harm in telling a stranger in a bar about the hotel you’re staying in? Or with sharing the hotel name in a caption? Turns out, quite a lot.

There’s no good reason to make your sleeping arrangements so public. Tell someone you trust back home the hotel name, and that’s it. Keep the balcony pics as a draft until you’re home. Better safe than sorry.

The countdown post

That’s not all for vacation. Practically everyone shares vacation countdowns on social media, like ‘Four days until Mexico’ or ‘Going to Tokyo June 12.’ Fine, that’s okay for the group chat. It’s not so great for the internet.

You’re telling people exactly when your home’s going to be empty and how long for. Share your excitement for your trip, if you want. But leave the photos until you’re back. Leave out the dates, too.

The last light

All those details about workplace closing routines are too much. You tell someone that you lock up at 9. You tell them you’re the last one there and that you always count the cash after closing. People don’t need to know that. 

Those behind-the-scenes details are best kept for, well, behind-the-scenes. Blame the manager or blame a schedule change for why you can’t share the details. It doesn’t matter. Don’t tell everyone what’s going on when everyone else’s gone home.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.