Life is too short to hang onto things that don’t serve us.
That doesn’t just mean material things — though you need to have some regular clear-outs in that department, too. There are plenty of things you carry around with you internally every single day that just make you angry, anxious, and miserable. Here’s what you need to let go of to make the most of the one life you’ve been given.
1. That box of relationship souvenirs
Source: Unsplash You know exactly where it is — probably under your bed or in your closet’s darkest corner. There’s that hoodie you “forgot” to return, those movie ticket stubs, and that half-finished letter you never sent. You’re not keeping it for memories — you’re keeping it because returning it means admitting it’s really over. Meanwhile, you’re literally stepping over emotional landmines every time you look for your winter boots. Time to accept that keeping their dental floss from 2020 isn’t going to change anything.
2. The impossible standards you set after watching one TikTok
That girl who meal preps in mason jars, works out at 5 AM, runs a six-figure business, and somehow has time to make aesthetic Instagram Reels about it all? She’s probably crying into her green juice too. You’ve got sticky notes everywhere with goals like “become a morning person” and “drink a gallon of water daily,” but let’s be real — you just had pizza for breakfast. Your bullet journal looks like it was attacked by a toddler, and that’s actually perfectly fine.
3. Toxic friendships you keep for the group chat
Source: Unsplash That friend who only texts when they need something, but still has the power to make you feel guilty? The one who subtly puts you down but wraps it in “just kidding” or “I’m just being honest”? You’re still watching their Instagram stories even though every post makes your stomach twist. You’ve rehearsed ending the friendship in your shower TED talks at least 50 times, but you keep accepting their coffee invites because “we’ve known each other forever.”
4. The career path you chose at 20
Source: Unsplash You picked this subject because your parents said it was “practical,” and now you’re four years into a career that makes you want to fake your own disappearance. Every Sunday night feels like a slow descent into doom, but you keep saying “the benefits are good” like it’s a mantra. Your browser history is full of “how to start over at 30” searches, but you close them because you’re “too invested to quit now.” Plot twist: you’re allowed to start over at any age.
5. Those “when I was” stories
Source: Unsplash You’re still talking about that one time you made the game-winning shot in high school basketball. Or how you used to be the life of the party before “adulting” hit. Maybe it’s that startup idea you almost launched, or how you almost moved to Barcelona. The highlight reel of “what could have been” is playing on repeat while your current life is waiting in the wings. Your glory days aren’t behind you unless you’re living life through your rearview mirror.
6. The need to prove yourself on social media
You stage photos of your coffee and laptop to look “productive” when really you’re just doom-scrolling. That Instagram post took 47 attempts and still got fewer likes than your friend’s random selfie. You keep checking who watched your Instagram story every 20 minutes, like it’s going to validate your existence. Meanwhile, your “quick social media check” turned into a two-hour deep dive into your ex’s new girlfriend’s cousin’s wedding photos.
7. The fictional timeline you created
Source: Unsplash Your 25-year-old self had a very specific vision: married by 28, dream job by 30, house with a yard by 32. Now you’re eating cereal for dinner, your dating app conversations die faster than your houseplants, and your savings account has seen better days. Everyone on LinkedIn seems to be becoming a “VP of Something Important” while you’re still trying to figure out how health insurance works. Newsflash: that timeline was about as realistic as your plan to start going to the gym “next week.”
8. Fear of looking stupid
Source: Unsplash You’re still cringing about that time you said “you too” when the movie ticket person said “enjoy your film.” That presentation you messed up three years ago still haunts your dreams. You’ve got a whole folder of half-finished projects because starting something means risking failure. Meanwhile, that guy from your high school who was “most likely to succeed” just posted about his third failed business venture and seems totally fine.
9. The “what will people think” syndrome
Source: Unsplash You’re still wearing uncomfortable shoes because they’re “in style.” Your Instagram is carefully curated to show your best angles and hide your reality. That dream of starting a pottery business? Buried under “but my coworkers will think I’m having a quarter-life crisis.” You’re living your life like there’s a panel of judges scoring every decision, but spoiler alert: everyone’s too busy worrying about their own mess to notice yours.
10. Digital hoarding habits
Your phone’s screaming “storage full” but you can’t delete anything because “what if you need that screenshot from 2019?” You’ve got 17 dating apps you haven’t opened since last year. Your email inbox has 15,427 unread messages because newsletter subscriptions are somehow harder to end than actual relationships. You keep every conversation thread like it’s future evidence for something, but let’s be honest — you’re never going to scroll back to that brunch planning chat from 2018.
11. The obsession with being busy
You’re wearing exhaustion like a badge of honour. “I’m so busy” has become your personality trait, even though half that busyness is just procrastinating while feeling guilty about procrastinating. Your Google calendar looks like a game of Tetris gone wrong. You keep adding more to your plate because empty space in your schedule makes you feel like you’re not doing enough. Meanwhile, your “me time” consists of falling asleep to Netflix shows you’re not really watching.
12. Your old comfort zone
You order the same thing at restaurants because trying new food is “risky.” Friday nights are always the same routine because changing it up requires energy. You’ve been thinking about moving cities for three years but keep finding reasons why “next year” would be better. That comfort zone started as a cosy blanket, but it’s slowly turning into a straightjacket. Your future self is probably rolling their eyes at how long you stayed stuck.
13. The idea that you should have it all figured out by now
You use “adulting” as a verb because somehow you still feel like you’re pretending. Your parents owned a house at your age, but you still consider it a win when you remember to buy toilet paper before running out. Everyone seems to be announcing pregnancies and promotions, while you’re celebrating finally keeping a plant alive. Plot twist: nobody actually has it figured out — some people are just better at faking it on social media.
