5 habits to give up in 2022
Get happier, fitter, smarter, richer and healthier.
Here’s the breakdown in 10 seconds to free up your time:
- Stressing about the little things
- Ordering take out
- Mindless social media scrolling
- Staying inside all day
- Spending more than you earn
Now to add meat to the bones — commit to giving up at least one of these habits in the new year, and thank yourself later :)
Stressing about the little things
If you haven’t thought about it before, little stresses in life can add up and become huge mountains to climb. There’s nothing worse than feeling overwhelmed and then losing sleep over little things.
You know what I mean — little things like what you’re having for dinner, whether you should wear your hair up or down, or changing your clothes for the third time because something’s not quite right.
Your time and, more importantly, mental health is not worth the fuss.
Keep a cool head, forget what anyone thinks of you and feel confident in your skin. The only person that can make you feel less stressed is you. Print this out and stick it on your wall if you have to.
Get therapy, keep a gratitude diary and let things slide. Nobody has it all figured out, and you should not put pressure on yourself to be perfect.
Perfection is the enemy of progress.
Key takeaway: take care of the big things first and the little things later to be happier.
Ordering take out
Just stop ordering take out. It’s expensive, it’s unhealthy, and it’s plain old lazy.
You’ll have more money in your pocket, and your health will improve, pretty much overnight, once you get back into better habits.
Better habits means cooking from scratch and taking the time to give your body what it needs to have a healthy immune system and keep you in tip-top condition.
You know that it feels better to eat healthier. Then you can use that money to buy other things that you want or need without the effort of saving.
Key takeaway: cook at home and eat better quality food to get healthier.
Mindless social media scrolling
Mindless social media scrolling is stealing your time and mental energy. You can take back control by skipping this habit and focusing on having a proper time out.
Question why you do what you’re doing and take a step back.
This could mean going for a walk, writing thoughts in your journal, reading or creating something. Think of what you want to do with your time rather than feeding an algorithm with what you like and dislike. It will only drive you deeper into your own echo chamber.
Create connections with real people and find value in time away from your screens. Your phone, TV, tablet, work laptop and personal PC. Even your smartwatch or VR set.
Key takeaway: take time away from screens and read instead to get smarter.
Staying inside all day
Sitting down and staying inside all day are habits that will make you feel older faster. And nobody wants back pain at any age.
As the old wise saying goes, if you don’t move it — you lose it.
Get outside and move for 30 minutes or an hour if you can. Grab some fresh air by going for a walk in the park, near a lake or down a quiet path. It helps clear your mind and keeps your body active, so it doesn’t turn into a shrivelled old raisin.
Key takeaway: get outside every day and keep moving to stay young and get fitter.
Spending more than you earn
You should spend your money first on what you need in life. That’s rent, or your mortgage, food, energy bills and clean water.
Then there’s travelling around to get you places.
If your car costs too much to run, you might want to start using public transport, cycle or get your boss to let you work remotely.
Switch out your lightbulbs for the energy-saving type to skim a few dollars off your energy bill.
Avoid the urge to buy expensive things that you can live without. Do not get into the habit of getting a loan to save yourself from your spending sins.
Save any extra money you have. Or better yet, learn to invest in a tax-free savings account. Start a side hustle to make up for your overspending, ask for a raise or switch to a better paying job.
Key takeaway: to get richer, stay within your budget and invest the rest.
