In my short 19 years of life so far, I have learned that being a quitter isn't always a bad thing. There are so many things in our lives that we do every day that we should quit and things that we should start doing instead. Here are five things that you should quit and five positive things you should replace those negative aspects of your life with.
1. Being hard on yourself
We all make mistakes, and that is one of the biggest parts of life. Stop being so hard on yourself when you mess up.
2. Trying to be perfect
Trying to be perfect in everything that you do can become exhausting. Focus on things that you are good at, and don't worry if you aren't perfect at everything else. If we were all perfect at everything, life would be pretty boring.
3. Extensive diets and exercise routines
While being healthy is a good thing, extensive diets and exercise routines can become harmful to the body. So many of us get stuck on a certain number that we hope to be at, and in the long run, it can damage our bodies severely.
4. Social media
Social media can be time-consuming, mentally exhausting, and terrible for our emotional health. If you feel yourself becoming consumed with anxiety, try giving social media a rest for awhile.
5. Living in the past
We can all say "what if I had done..." a million times, but in reality, there is no way that we can go back and erase our past. Don't waste your time and mental energy on living in the past and thinking about what you should have done.
In correspondence with five negative things you should quit doing, here are five positive things you should start doing instead.
1. Loving yourself
There are many small ways to start loving yourself more. Say positive affirmations and recognize that you are doing your best. Instead of being hard on yourself for getting a C on a test, tell yourself that you tried your best.
2. Recognize your imperfections
By recognizing your imperfections, you can start to love them.
3. Eating healthy and feeling satisfied
Eat to feel satisfied and to live your best life. Don't focus too much on calories and weight control. Focus on eating things that make you feel good.
4. Hanging out with friends
Instead of interacting with your friends through Snapchat all day, try to grab lunch or study with them during the week. Face-to-face interaction is much better for the soul than interacting with people through a phone screen.
5. Living in the present
I think that we miss a lot of the present because we spend so much time thinking about how we messed up in the past or how we have to become ready for the future. Take time to just enjoy the moment. Listen to music outside, take a walk, or just sit and think.
By replacing negative things with more positive ones, we can start to understand and love ourselves more. Replace the bad with the good things that you and the world have to offer, so that you can live a much more fulfilling life.
