Self Improvement

10 Things to Do Less of in 2017

posted on January 9, 2017 | by Chelsea Becker

After sharing 20 simple resolutions to try in 2017, I think it’s important to recognize that changes don’t always have to be in the form of additions. What I’m most excited to focus on this year is determining what I’ll do less of. It probably sounds like an oxymoron, but with all the to-do lists in our lives, it’s empowering to also list what you can give up in order to balance everything out. If you want to let some things go, here are 10 ideas to do less of this year:

1. Over-committing.

Only say ‘yes’ to things that feel right, or that you’ll want to follow-through with. Make sure you saying “yes” because you truly want to, not because you’re trying to people please!

2. Putting yourself down.

Practice positive affirmations when you’re being unkind to yourself or judgmental of yourself. Start a practice of saying what you love about your body/brain/life when you begin to bash it.

3. Feeling guilty.

It’s impossible to be the best to everyone or at everything, so give yourself a break. If you’re a good person generally, try to let go of any guilt or resentment you feel towards yourself.

4. Binge drinking.

It’s bad for your body, self-esteem, wallet, decisions, etc. Instead, learn your limit and stick to that.

5. Ignoring anxiety.

If you suffer from anxiety, it’s imperative to find ways to cope. Talk to your doctor or a friend, read articles, find what works for you. For me personally, a little lavender oil and meditation calm me down and help me sleep. But ignoring your anxiety can just cause it to build up further and come out in other ways. Instead, accept that this is a common experience for you and learn how to handle it.

6. Comparison.

Nothing good comes from comparing yourself to others. You either end up discounting your own worth or someone else’s. Turn off social media for a day if you can’t stop comparing yourself and take a look at this post I wrote specifically for bloggers.

7. Excessive sugar.

Most of us (raising my hands over here, both of them!) eat way too much sugar, and it’s time to treat our bodies better. Save sugar for the weekends or as a small daily treat.

8. Mindless spending.

Put down the computer…and glass of wine…and stop buying every single thing that looks cute online. Consider each thing you buy this year and make sure clicking that “buy now” button is a mindful decision, not a passive one.

9. Toxic beauty.

Now that the clean beauty standards are getting lots of attention, it’s time to toss the toxic products in your cabinet. Go through your bathroom and get rid of products with these ingredients. It’s obviously impossible to swap everything at once, but anything helps! And luckily, there are actually a ton of amazing natural products out there to start incorporating into your routine.

10. Perfectionism.

Can we all give up the idea that we have to have perfect jobs, houses, bodies, relationships, weddings, families, etc? Perfect is different for everyone, so striving for something that doesn’t exist is a huge waste of time and energy.

What would you like to give up in 2017?
What’s something that you recently gave up and feel great about?