Even if you, like me, fell off your New Year’s resolutions on the second day of the year at about 3 p.m., it’s never too late to make a change for the better. Recently, people on Reddit shared the life-changing things that they wish they had done sooner. Some of them were big and dramatic, but others were surprisingly subtle. Here’s what they shared:
1.
“Getting a good mattress, honestly, changed everything for me. My sleep quality went from trash to actually waking up refreshed, and my back pain disappeared almost immediately. Wish I hadn’t slept on that old spring mattress for like five years, thinking it was ‘fine.'”
2.
“Not using my phone for the first and last hour of the day. You must be strict about it. It absolutely turned my entire mood, happiness, and perspective on life around. The phones are destroying our minds. It’s a tool, not a place to mindlessly wander.”
4.
“I started lifting regularly (as an old lady), and my posture is so much better that I look much younger now.”
5.
“Meditation and practicing Buddhist unattachment. My anxiety disappeared and never came back, even though I stopped meditating. Life seems so easy now. Nothing gets to me, all problems seem small, and I don’t really care what other people think of me, which leads to more self-appreciation.”
6.
“Deeply realising that other people’s shitty or avoidant behaviour is a reflection of them and their internal state, not proof that something is wrong with me.”
7.
“Drugs, LOL. But seriously, I resisted taking anything for my obvious depression and anxiety for decades because I was certain Big Pharma was the devil. After a complete meltdown, I relented, and I am now a different human being, in a good way.”
12.
“Splitting up my cleaning tasks over the week instead of doing everything in one day. I found that it improved my general quality of life because even if I miss a day, my house will still look pretty clean. It’s very true what they say about how much better you feel when things are clean. Plus, it’s just far less daunting to be like, ‘Oh, I’ve got two chores to do today,’ instead of, ‘Oh, I have to do everything…'”
13.
“Realizing everything is future trash. Helped with guilt and made me rethink purchases and overconsumption. Everything you own is another thing that takes up your time and energy. Curate wisely.”
17.
“Proper shoes. I used to just buy cheap shoes from Target, but now I wear proper shoes, and my back pain has all but disappeared.”
20.
“Self-compassion has hands down been the biggest game-changer for me, after years of giving everything 150%, burning myself out, and giving myself insane panic attacks and uncontrolled crying fits anywhere and at any time. Self-compassion, even though I’m still pretty fresh at incorporating this into my life, has made a noticeable difference. I let go of my own insane expectations that I can be everything to everyone at any time and self-sacrifice because I thought that’s what a ‘good person’ does for others. I let myself have a whole range of emotions and not vilifying them, just noticing them. I’m giving myself space to be unsure and have no specific goals to attain, which has made a big difference. I can be more present in the moment, and I love it!”
22.
“Bike commuting. I arrive everywhere happier.”
24.
“Honestly? Learning to stop treating every day like it needs to be maximally productive.”
25.
“Going for a one-hour walk every day.”
26.
“Starting a daily habit of writing in a journal made my life better, and I wish I had done it sooner. It helped me see my thoughts more clearly and be kinder to myself. Habits like this can bring calm and meaning in our lives because they let you slow down and notice what really matters.”
27.
“Switching from coffee to black tea. I slowly learned that I’m sensitive to caffeine, so my body tolerates the lower caffeine content of black tea much better than coffee.”
28.
“Budgeting. I avoided it for years, but once I started budgeting, I was able to pay off debts and save money.”
29.
“Getting a sunrise alarm clock. Waking up to gradual light instead of to a blaring sound completely changed my mornings for the better.”
30.
“I smoked heavily for a long time. Quit 15 years ago. Best thing I’ve ever done.”
31.
And finally, “I slowed down. In every way, mentally, physically, and in my goal setting. Just taking things at a slower steadier pace has helped with bringing me to a satisfying pace instead of an anxious one. The military phrase, ‘Slow is smooth, smooth is fast,’ can apply to everything in life.”
What’s something you wish you’d done sooner that changed your life for the better? Share it with us in the comments or via the anonymous form below:
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