I always considered myself a very strong person emotionally.
I’m 33 and I’ve been through several hurdles in the last decade. It’s almost as if I hit every thunderstorm in the world after leaving my parents’ nest.
I developed many coping techniques that helped keep me safe.
But extremes are never good.
I started waking up tired.
I’d go through the motions of my day, then crawl into bed with my thoughts buzzing like angry bees.
I wasn’t unhappy, exactly. But I wasn’t okay either.
I thought I needed more self-care.
So I bought candles. I drank herbal teas. I sat at home more. But nothing really changed until I started removing things, things that were quietly weighing me down.
This post isn’t about adding more to your to-do list. I think we have plenty of those.
It’s about letting go of the habits that steal your peace, dim your light, and make life harder than it has to be.
Quitting these 10 things didn’t just help me feel better, it gave me back me.
Let’s go.
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1. I Quit Saying Yes When I Meant No
It’s very hard to say no. You don’t want people to label you as “difficult.” I get it.
As humans, we’re very social creatures. But saying yes to everything also leaves you drained and exhausted to do the things you love.
This is why people-pleasing is sneaky. It wears the disguise of kindness, but underneath, it’s self-abandonment.
Every time I said yes to something I didn’t want to do, a coffee date, a late-night work email, an extra favor, I chipped away at my own boundaries.
And the resentment? It piled up quietly.
Now I pause. I say, “Let me check and get back to you.” I remind myself: My peace is worth protecting. You can too—with tools like the Set Boundaries, Find Peace workbook to practice saying no without guilt.
2. I Quit Scrolling First Thing in the Morning
And before going to bed.
I charge my phone outside my bedroom to avoid the temptation and keep my Kobo Reader with me instead.
I used to wake up, reach for my phone, and fall straight into a vortex of content.
Before I even brushed my teeth, I’d already seen ten curated lives that made mine feel small.
Now I start my mornings without screens.
I stretch. I breathe. I journal with this soft leather notebook and sip warm lemon water.
My mornings feel like mine again, and it’s made all the difference.
Keep it simple, don’t flood your brain with so much activity when you just wake up. You will feel energized, trust me.
3. I Quit Hanging Out With Drainers
Okay, this is a term I learned too late in life.
Whenever I hung out with people who drained me, I’d feel tired after being with them. They’re called energy vampires.
Some people just take. They leave you feeling like you’ve run a marathon when all you did was text for 15 minutes.
I started paying attention to how I felt after spending time with people.
If I felt depleted, anxious, or invisible, I stopped reaching out.
That silence was lonely at first, but peaceful later.
All of these small changes are difficult, but they compound overtime and give you so much peace. So, trust the process, okay?
If you need help identifying toxic dynamics, the Drama Free book changed how I view relationships.
4. I Quit Expecting Myself to Be Productive All the Time
I used to feel guilty for resting.
Like every moment not spent “accomplishing” something was wasted.
Then I burned out. Fully, completely. My brain refused to function. That’s when I learned: Rest is productive too.
It helps you after you’ve had a whole week of studying or working. Just nap. Do something mindnumbing like knitting or coloring. It’s totally okay to rest.
Now I schedule rest like I schedule work.
I take breaks. I nap. I have a designated “lazy basket” with puzzles (I love puzzles) and coloring books.
And guess what? I’m more focused than ever. I’m able to come back to work on Monday fully recharged!
5. I Quit Drinking Caffeine After 3 PM
This was so, so, so hard!
I am a chai and coffee lover.
But I also loved sleeping… and the two didn’t mix.
Once I stopped drinking caffeine in the afternoon, my sleep got deeper, and my anxiety decreased.
I swapped out coffee for herbal teas like this one that calm my nervous system instead of hyping it up.
The 3 PM slump is real, but I’d rather be a little sleepy at work than wide awake at 1 AM.
6. I Quit Judging My Emotions
For years, I labeled everything as “good” or “bad.” Happy = good. Angry = bad. Sad = weak.
But emotional health doesn’t work like that.
Emotions are messengers, not enemies.
Now when I feel something big, I sit with it. I have learned to meditate (I do guided meditations via the Headspace app).
I write it out. I use the Feelings Wheel magnet on my fridge to name what I feel. It helps me process instead of repress.
7. I Quit Multitasking Everything
We suck as multitaskers despite popular belief.
I used to pride myself on doing five things at once. I played games that reinforced this idea.
But I was constantly frazzled.
I’d forget things. I felt like I was spinning.
The slightest problem would come my way, and I’d lose my mind.
Now I do one thing at a time.
I eat without my phone. I walk without a podcast.
I clean the kitchen with music and nothing else.
You don’t need to do 2-4 things at once. We’re human. We’re not machines.
The sooner we learn to accept things, our lives will become so beautiful and better-paced.
It’s made life feel less like a blur and more like something I’m actually living. The Time Blocking Planner helped me stick to this habit without falling off.
8. I Quit Comparing Myself Online
Comparison isn’t just the thief of joy, it’s the thief of self-trust.
When I was a budding Illustrator (back in 2015), I let comparison almost destroy me.
I’d constantly compare my beginner’s work to that of accomplished illustrators and feel badly about mine.
It took me a while to realize that comparison doesn’t heal or motivate, it just chips at your confidence.
The best way to compare is to compare your work/life to that of yours 6 months ago.
Now I curate my feed.
I mute. I unfollow.
I follow more creators who share real, raw life—like people who talk about therapy, mental health, and cozy routines.
9. I Quit Skipping Meals
When I was young, I’d pick up a coffee and a protein bar instead of a proper meal.
It’s not on purpose, it just used to happen. But it messed with my mood, my focus, and my sleep.
So I started treating meals like medicine.
I batch prep. I use cute bento lunchboxes to make food more exciting. I take time to cook and I enjoy the process.
Fueling your body regularly is one of the quietest but most powerful ways to take care of your mind.
10. I Quit Pretending I Was Fine When I Wasn’t
This might be the biggest one.
I used to smile when I wanted to cry.
I’d say “I’m good!” when I was falling apart inside. It felt easier than explaining.
But healing only happens when we tell the truth.
To ourselves, and to at least one safe person.
I started therapy. I talked to my partner more honestly. I even bought this guided journal to start unpacking how I actually felt every day.
It’s okay to not be okay. It’s brave to admit it.
Final Thoughts
Mental health isn’t something you “achieve” and check off.
It’s a relationship with yourself.
And just like any relationship, it needs honesty, patience, and care. Be patient with yourself, especially if you’ve been through a lot.
If you’ve been feeling off, overwhelmed, or lost, try subtracting first.
You don’t need more to-do lists. You need fewer things that hurt your peace.
Start with one habit. Let go. Breathe.
Your mind will thank you.
