Life is hard, but there are things we unconsciously do every day that make life way harder than it needs to be. Here are 10 things you should stop doing in order to make your life less stressful:
You’re Always Focusing On The Future
There’s nothing wrong with daydreaming about your future. We all do that. The issue comes when the only thing you ever daydream about is your future. Constantly thinking about how much better your life would be if you were older and more accomplished isn’t going to get you anywhere. If anything, it’s going to make you even more anxious and depressed. You have to live in the present, the now. If you don’t, there’s no way you’ll be able to do what you need to do in order to make your future goals come true. Don’t miss all the great things that are happening right in front of you!
You Work Too Much
Life shouldn’t just be work, work, and more work. You should also make sure you’re having fun, too. Easier said than done; especially if you’re a natural born perfectionist and all you really want to do is get ahead in your career. I understand why 100% of your focus might be on your job, but try to lower that percentage to at least 90% so you can still have a social life. In order for life to be enjoyed, it has to be balanced — make sure yours is.
You’re Not Very Realistic
You want to be a famous dancer and yet, you haven’t taken one dance class. C’mon! There’s a huge difference between being realistic and having high expectations for yourself. You should definitely want the best for yourself, but you should also be realistic. Your parents might’ve told you that anything is possible. Well, that’s just not true. Unfortunately, anything isn’t possible. There are things people just simply can’t do.
You’re Always Comparing Yourself To Other People
Everyone is different and so are the paths they take in their life. You might think someone else is ahead of you because they’re married, while you’re not, or they have a kid, while you don’t. But just because they’ve reached certain milestones before you have doesn’t mean they’re better, or even ahead. It just means they’re on a different journey than you. So, don’t compare yourself to someone else — unless you want to always be miserable.
You Take Everything To Heart
Maybe you just don’t have the toughest skin or maybe past experiences have just taught you to always be on guard. Whatever the reason, it’s crucial you stop taking everything someone says to you so personally. Even if you’re receiving construction criticism, make sure you realize that constructive criticism isn’t mean to hurt you — it’s meant to help you improve. Learn how to deal with negative feedback so life isn’t always so difficult all the time.
You Don’t Teach People To Respect You
In order to be respected, you have to teach people how to respect you. People aren’t psychic, they don’t necessarily know what you’re okay with and what you’re not okay with. If people are constantly talking down to you, and not treating you like a priority then you need to stand up for yourself so they know that’s unacceptable.
You Don’t Give Back
Don’t be a taker, be a giver — givers are always happier than takers. You don’t necessarily have to donate plasma or build houses for the homeless every other week. Giving back can be as simple as smiling at a stranger or actually taking the time to have a conversation with someone you see every single day. Sometimes, in order to feel good better about yourself, you have to do things for other people.
You Don’t Dress Confidently
You don’t have to always be dressed like you’re going to a big-time event, but there’s a truth behind the whole “you feel good when you look good” thing. When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you throw on? Does it make you feel beautiful? If it doesn’t, you’re not being very fair to yourself. You deserve an outfit that’ll help you feel confident and make the day less of a challenge.
You Pay Full Price
Odds are, you don’t have endless funds. If you do, that’s great. But if you don’t, you should be smart with your purchases. Don’t just pay full price on an item simply because it’s convenient. I know shopping around for the best deal is annoying and time-consuming but it beats being broke and constantly worrying about money. Don’t you think?
You Don’t Eat The Right Foods
You are what you eat. If you’re constantly eating fried and greasy food, it’s no wonder you don’t necessarily feel your best. Sugar and processed foods don’t just contribute to weight gain, they can also cause ruin your skin and cause acne. You might not realize this but food directly relates to how you feel. If you’re constantly eating junk, you’re really doing yourself a disservice. You can’t possibly feel good if everything you eat is pretty much working against your body.