Many people set New Years Resolutions to eat healthier, drink less, exercise more, etc. It’s a goal of something to add to make life better. What if just the opposite were true? Perhaps letting go of some unhealthy habits, thoughts or relationships might be the key to healthier living. I’m sure you can think of plenty of things to let go of.

Things to Let Go of in 2024

Toxic relationships

Do you have some friends or relatives who cause drama, drain you or make you feel bad about yourself? These people are not worth spending time with. It may be difficult to do, as I’m guessing there are good things about these relationships. Or perhaps they were there for you in your time of need. Regardless, you do not owe them your time if they are toxic. Letting go will make you feel better about yourself. Spend time with healthy people who support you, your goals and dreams.

Subscriptions

I can’t tell you how many people mention all the streaming services they have and don’t even use. These come out of your credit card bill on a monthly basis. Most of them have a minimal fee, so you just let it slide. However if you added up what you spend and what you use, you might be surprised.

How about that gym membership that you have had for years? Have you been using it? That is another thing I hear people say that they should get rid of, yet don’t.

Let go of grudges

Many clients I work with hold on to grudges. Oh my! It costs so much energy to hold on to a grudge. When you hold on to a grudge, it’s like drinking battery acid and expecting the other person’s stomach to rot out. If you are holding on to a grudge, it’s like holding on to extra baggage. Letting go of it will only benefit you. So ease up in 2024 and let go of those grudges.

Negative thinking patterns

Are you your own worst enemy? Most people say they are. We all have that internal voice. Listen to yours. If you realize it is negative or degrading, you can work on changing your stinking thinking.

When you want to beat yourself up, think of what you’d say to a person you loved in the same situation. My guess is you’d be kinder and more compassionate. Why not apply that compassion to yourself? You deserve that empathy too. Remember we all make mistakes. Use them as learning opportunities and move forward.

Stress

I know this is a lot easier said than done. Of course this is a process. Do you know the cause of your stress? If so, can you work on it? Is there something you can do, or something you can let go of that would reduce your stress? Perhaps you can get the help of someone else. You don’t have to do it all on your own.

There are also many tools out there to help you reduce your stress, even if you don’t know the source. Here are a few ideas: practicing gratitude, journaling, mindfulness, meditation, and exercise.

Let go of Perfectionism

This causes stress and can lead to depression. We want you to strive for excellence and do your best; yet expecting to be perfect will stop you in your tracks. No one is perfect. If you are a perfectionist, how about shooting for 80%. Realistically your 80% is more like 100% for those who are not perfectionists. Letting go of this expectation will make you feel lighter and reduce your stress.

Time on social media

Many people will admit that they waste a lot time on social media, myself included. It’s so easy to get sucked into a rabbit hole. Think of all the more valuable things you can be doing with your time.

In addition, social media may make you feel bad about yourself, especially if you compare yourself to others. It is easy to assume that people are happier than you are, look better or have more than you. Realistically their lives are not as perfect as they appear on line.

Clutter

Do you have clutter all over your desk, kitchen, closet or other location? Many people look at the piles or chaos, and want to walk away as it looks too overwhelming to tackle. It also adds to your stress as you know you need to do it at some point in time and it’s just hanging over your head.

You don’t have to do it all in one day. Break it up into smaller tasks. For instance if your kitchen is a mess, why not start with putting all the dishes in the dishwasher. Next, throw away all the trash. On a different day, put things back in the pantry, or where they belong. Next throw away any mail that is trash, or pay any bills. On another day you can file things. Once you start seeing progress you will feel better about yourself.

This is a list of some things that can be beneficial to let go of. My guess is there are other things that you can think of that apply to you. If you have trouble letting going of unhealthy habits or toxic relationships, therapy can help. Give me a call at 713-304-6554 and we work on ways lighten your load.

Take care,

Debbie Grammas