We are taught that quitters never win. But sometimes they do! Although many of us use the new year to plan out things we’re going to start doing, now’s also a perfect time to strip away those bad habits. Here are five things that you should stop doing in 2021:
1. Stop using money to measure how successful you are.
You shouldn’t stop budgeting and saving your money, but do stop using it to measure your success. Chances are, many people who earn more than you do aren’t happy.
Wealthy people never seem to have enough. They measure their success by their earnings and possessions, and consequently, they never have enough. This measure itself makes them unhappy, so don’t base your success on your financial situation.
2. Stop taking on debt.
Almost everyone wants to eliminate all of their debt. However, most of those people will fall deeper into debt in the following year. They’ll convince themselves that a big purchase is worth going into debt for when that’s usually not the case.
If you want to be debt-free this year, try to stop borrowing money. Budget so that you know what you can and can’t live without, ad spend accordingly. It may sound simple, but it’s the first step to letting go of your debt.
3. Stop comparing yourself to others.
Comparison is a game that you just can’t win. Whenever you compare yourself to someone else, you’ll always find someone whose possessions or lifestyle is bigger, better, prettier, or newer than yours. Instead of obsessively comparing yourself to others, learn to be grateful for what you have.
Also remember that the highlights others share don’t always represent what happens behind closed doors. You don’t see the amount of work your friends do to maintain their lifestyle, the stress they hide, or the disfunction in their relationships.
4. Stop working so many hours.
The most successful people often work less, make more, and love their lives. Their work complements their personal livres instead of competing with it. Therefore, they have more freedom to make decisions about their lives.
Years of conditioning have made us believe that hard work means working a lot. The truth is, short periods of efficient hard work are much more productive than “overdrive” 60-hour work weeks. Your work will still be there for you later, so live your life now.
5. Stop putting off living your life.
This past year, many people realized just how short life can be. Now that we know how precious life is, why not live life to the fullest? Stop putting off doing the things you hope to do someday because now “doesn’t feel like the right time.” There’s no time like the present to start building a life you actually want to live.
If you stop doing these five things, you’ll find the space and time to focus on the things that matter the most to you in life. So start being a quitter today, and set yourself up for a more fulfilling life.
Originally written by Steve Cook on YourTango.
Featured Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash.
