5 Easy Things I’m Leaving Behind in 2025

By: Rylan B.

There’s something about the shift into a new year that quietly asks you to take inventory.

Not in a dramatic “new me” way, but in a be honest with yourself way. 2025 doesn’t feel like a year for extreme reinvention — it feels like a year for releasing habits that never made sense in the first place.

So here are five things I’m leaving behind, no ceremony, no guilt, just clarity.

1. Waiting until something is wrong to see a doctor

I’m done treating my body like a phone I only take in when the screen is fully shattered. Preventative care isn’t dramatic or urgent, but that’s the point. I don’t need to earn rest or medical attention by being in pain.

Regular checkups, asking questions, and taking my health seriously before something goes wrong is no longer optional — it’s basic respect for myself.

2. Going days without drinking water like it’s a personality trait

There is nothing impressive about being dehydrated. No awards. No character development. Just headaches and low energy disguised as “being busy.”

In 2025, water is non-negotiable. Not as a wellness trend, not as a punishment — just as maintenance. I’m allowed to feel better in my body without overcomplicating it.

3. Avoiding easy tasks and letting them mentally rot

If a task takes five minutes, it doesn’t deserve five days of mental stress. I’m leaving behind the habit of postponing simple things until they become overwhelming.

Getting quick tasks out of the way first isn’t about productivity culture — it’s about peace. Less clutter in my to-do list means less noise in my head.

4. Keeping people around who don’t know how to communicate

I’m done over-investing in relationships where communication is one-sided. If someone consistently dominates conversations, shows little curiosity, or treats connection like a monologue instead of a dialogue, I’m stepping back.

This isn’t about cutting people off dramatically — it’s about choosing mutuality. Support shows up in listening, presence, and reciprocity, not just proximity.

5. Feeling embarrassed for existing loudly or honestly

Cringe is a social construct, and I’m not letting it run my life anymore. Other people’s opinions don’t get to decide my confidence, my creativity, or my direction. Growth looks awkward sometimes. Trying looks awkward. Being seen looks awkward. And that’s fine. I’d rather be sincere than small.

Final Notes

2025 isn’t about becoming someone unrecognizable — it’s about becoming more intentional. Letting go of habits that drain me, dull me, or shrink me isn’t a loss. It’s space. And I’m walking into this year lighter, clearer, and way less concerned with things that were never mine to carry in the first place.