We’re all worried about wasting our time – we don’t want to have regrets when we turn 80 and look back at our lives! The thing is, we also all do a lot of stuff that probably isn’t very worthwhile. So, here are 19 things that you should stop wasting your time on – now!
Comparing Yourself to Others
Forbes explains that comparing our lives to the lives of others can have a terrible impact on our mental health. It’s also incredibly unproductive – if we spend all our time thinking about the things that others have, we’ll waste the time and energy that we could be spending on achieving our own goals!
Toxic Relationships
We all know that toxic relationships are a complete waste of time, but let’s say it louder for the people in the back! If you’re in a relationship that isn’t fulfilling and that brings you down more than it lifts you up – it’s time to get out! Future-you will thank you!
Procrastination
Pretty much all of us have the potential to be serial procrastinators, but if this means you’re wasting valuable time on trivial things instead of finishing work or starting new hobbies – it’s time to stop. Be strict with yourself, and create a disciplined schedule to break the cycle of procrastination.
Complaining
Does complaining ever really get us anywhere? I’m going to stick my neck out and say no, it doesn’t. The only thing that complaining does is stop you from finding solutions and stop your friends from wanting to hang out with you. It’s all about that positive mental attitude from here on out!
Living in the Past
It’s totally normal for us to have a few regrets about the past that pop up now and again. However, if you’re getting stuck in a negative thought cycle that you can’t get out of, it might be time to seek professional help. Otherwise, these thoughts are going to impact your mental health.
Unhealthy Habits
The National Institute of Health says, “Adopting new, healthier habits may protect you from serious health problems like obesity and diabetes.” So, it really makes sense to start looking after your body now – there are loads of future health problems you can probably prevent.
Fear of Failure
Wayne Gretzky, a former Canadian ice hockey player, once famously said, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” His point? Don’t let a fear of failure stop you from taking a chance and trying new things! If you never step out of your comfort zone, you’re in danger of stagnating.
Overworking
Of course, it’s good to work hard and be dedicated to what you do, but that’s different from overworking. If you overwork yourself, you’ll be sacrificing your health and personal relationships for work and ignoring how important it is to rest.
People-Pleasing
People-pleasing is exhausting, and when you look back on your life, you’ll wonder why you did so many things just to make other people happy. Now is the time to start establishing healthier boundaries for yourself – it might not be easy, but it is possible!
Holding Grudges
Holding a grudge is tiring – is it really something you can be bothered to spend your energy on? Mayo Clinic explains that “Letting go of grudges and bitterness can make way for improved health and peace of mind.” Forgiving people isn’t easy, but you’ll feel better in the long run.
Chasing Perfection
The concept of ‘perfection’ needs to be thrown out the window; perfection doesn’t exist, and if you spend your life chasing it, you’re only going to end up disappointed and tired. People are perfectionists for lots of reasons – it can often be a result of having parents with extremely high expectations.
Impulse Spending
We all make the occasional impulse purchase, but doing this too often is a waste of money (and a waste of time!). If you buy a lot of things that aren’t planned in your budget, you’ll delay future goals and have to invest more time in work to earn that money back.
Neglecting Your Passions
Life gets busy, and it can be hard to find the time to do things you actually love – like your hobbies. The thing is, though, these are the things that will actually bring you joy, so it’s important not to put them on the back burner. You’ll regret it later on!
Relying on Unfulfilling Friendships
Have you continued to make new friends over the years, or have you stuck with the same group of buddies since high school? It’s great to have a loyal gang of friends who have been around for years, but you might also benefit from finding other people who share your passions.
Stressing About Other People’s Opinions
If you spend a lot of time worrying about what other people think, you’re always going to try to act how you think others want you to. If you’re not careful, this will mean losing sight of your own goals. There’s no time like the present to stop caring about other people’s opinions!
Your Smartphone
Ok, this is a biggie for a lot of us – it’s become really common to waste a lot of time on our phones. According to Exploding Topics, people spend an average of 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phones every day. Think about how else you could be using that time!
Gossiping
Gossipping is rarely a good use of anyone’s time, and it doesn’t really have any long-term benefits either. At best, your gossip will result in having a quick laugh with a friend or colleague, and at worst, it could really damage your relationships.
Negative Self-Talk
Criticizing yourself will not do you any good—it will only damage your confidence and self-esteem. Negative self-talk can be a hard habit to break, but it’s so important to start treating yourself with more compassion. You should be your own biggest cheerleader!
Staying in Unfulfilling Jobs
We spend a lot of time at work, so if you’re doing something that’s unfulfilling, you’re investing a lot of hours (and a lot of your life!) into that role. Put yourself in the shoes of your future self, and think about how you’ll look back on the job you currently do.
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