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Usually, when we talk about improving our lives, we focus on what we should be doing more of—more exercise, more learning, more productivity. But sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come not from what we add, but from what we subtract.

That’s right. Today’s episode is all about the 10 things you need to stop doing for a better life.

As I go through this list, I want you to think about which ones hit home for you. You don’t need to change everything overnight—just pick one or two, and start there. Small shifts lead to big results.

1. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Comparison is a trap. We scroll through social media, see someone with a bigger house, a nicer car, or a more “exciting” life, and we instantly feel behind. But remember—social media is just a highlight reel.

You don’t see the arguments behind the vacation photos, or the credit card debt behind the new car. When you compare yourself to others, you’re not being fair to yourself—you’re comparing your real life to someone else’s staged version.

Instead, compare yourself to who you were yesterday. Are you growing? Are you moving forward? That’s the only race worth running.

To stop comparing yourself to others, recognize that you are only seeing their "outsides" and not their full reality, identify your personal triggers like social media, practice gratitude and self-compassion, focus on your own progress rather than others' achievements, and limit exposure to situations that fuel comparison, such as taking a break from social media.

2. Stop Saying “Yes” to Everything

We live in a culture that glorifies being busy. But saying yes to everything means you’re saying no to your own priorities.

Think about it—how many times have you agreed to something, then regretted it because it drained your energy? Maybe you said yes to another work project when you were already stretched thin. Or maybe you agreed to a social event when what you really needed was rest.

Saying no doesn’t make you rude—it makes you wise. Protect your energy like it’s your most valuable asset—because it is.

1. Understand Your "Why"

Identify your priorities:

Determine what truly matters to you and if saying "yes" to requests aligns with those goals.

Address people-pleasing:

Recognize if a fear of rejection or a need for approval is driving your habit of saying "yes".

2. Set Boundaries

Define your limits:

Establish what you are and are not willing to commit your time and energy to.

Know your capacity:

Be aware of your current workload and time commitments so you don't overextend yourself.

3. Practice Saying "No"

Embrace the pause:

Instead of an immediate "yes," take a moment to check your schedule or consult with others before giving a definitive answer.

Use prepared phrases:

Have polite "no" phrases ready, such as "Thanks for thinking of me, but I'm unable to commit to that right now" or "Let me get back to you on that".

Offer alternatives:

If possible, suggest a different solution, like doing the task later or finding someone else to help.

4. Shift Your Mindset

Embrace "JOMO":

Replace the fear of missing out (FOMO) with the joy of missing out (JOMO), understanding that protecting your time is a positive choice.

Prioritize yourself:

Realize that you are not responsible for everyone's problems and that saying "no" is a form of self-care.

Accept consequences:

Understand that some people may be disappointed, but true friends will respect your boundaries.

5. Practice and Reinforce

Start small:

Begin by saying "no" to less significant requests to build your confidence.

Be kind to yourself:

If you slip up and say "yes" when you meant "no," don't overthink it. Focus on how you'll approach the next situation.

3. Stop Living in the Past

To stop living in the past, acknowledge and process past events, practice mindfulness and gratitude to stay present, engage in new activities and hobbies, set achievable goals, and build a supportive social network. Shifting your focus to what you can control, cultivating self-compassion, and accepting past experiences as lessons rather than something to dwell on are also key steps in moving forward.

Strategies to Shift Your Focus

Practice Mindfulness:

Actively focus on the present moment, whether by observing your breath, savoring a cup of tea, or engaging fully in a conversation. This trains your mind to remain in the "here and now" rather than drifting to the past.

Cultivate Gratitude:

Acknowledge and appreciate the good things you have in your life right now. This shifts your attention away from what is lacking and reinforces a sense of contentment in the present.

Challenge Negative Thoughts:

When you notice yourself dwelling on past negative experiences, gently challenge those thoughts. Recognize that your brain might be trying to protect you, but this can hinder your present and future progress.

Engage in New Experiences:

Make the present engaging and satisfying by trying new things, learning new skills, or revisiting old hobbies. This provides new, positive experiences to focus on.

Set and Achieve Small Goals:

Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable steps. Accomplishing these goals creates momentum and a sense of progress in the present.

Acknowledge and Accept:

Don't deny the pain of past events. Instead, acknowledge your feelings and view past experiences as a source of lessons that have shaped you, rather than something to be consumed by.

Practice Forgiveness:

Forgive yourself and others for past mistakes. Holding onto past grievances can keep you stuck and prevent you from moving forward.

Embrace Self-Compassion:

Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, just as you would a friend. Understand that mistakes are a part of human growth and that you are not defined by past failures.

Create Empowering Rituals:

Develop small rituals that help you release the past, such as writing down regrets and symbolically discarding them, or creating a personal letting-go ceremony.

Actions to Take

Socialize:

Nurture existing relationships and seek out positive, supportive people to surround yourself with.

Act on Lessons Learned:

Use past experiences to inform your future decisions and actions.

Bring Order to Your Life:

Establish routines and structure to create a more present and engaged daily experience.

Consider Professional Support:

If you find it difficult to move on, consider speaking with a therapist or counselor who can provide additional tools and support

4. Stop Waiting for the “Perfect Time”

The message "stop waiting for the perfect moment" encourages taking action now rather than delaying until conditions are ideal, which is often a procrastination tactic. It emphasizes that the perfect moment rarely exists and that starting with imperfect action is better than remaining stagnant.

Here's why this message is important and how to apply it:

Why wait for the perfect moment is a problem:

Procrastination: The idea of a perfect moment often leads to putting things off indefinitely.

Missed opportunities: Waiting can mean missing out on chances to learn, grow, and achieve goals.

Lack of progress: Perfectionism can be paralyzing, preventing any action from being taken.

Stagnation: Without action, you remain in the same place, potentially feeling unfulfilled.

Why starting imperfectly is beneficial:

Doing something, even if it's not perfect, provides valuable insights and helps refine the approach.

Progress over perfection:

Celebrate small steps and acknowledge that every effort contributes to overall progress.

Learning from mistakes:

Imperfect action allows for learning and adaptation, leading to better outcomes in the long run.

Momentum and confidence:

Taking action, even small steps, can build momentum and boost confidence for further steps.

Embracing the present:

The present moment is the only one you can control, so focus on making the most of it.

5. Stop Blaming Others

This one is tough, because blaming feels good in the moment. If your boss is unfair, your partner is difficult, or the economy is rough—it’s easy to say, “Well, it’s their fault I’m stuck.”

But here’s the problem: the moment you blame, you give away your power to change. You can’t control other people or circumstances, but you can always control your response.

When you take responsibility, you take back your power.

Change your view of mistakes:

See mistakes as valuable chances to learn and grow, rather than as painful shortcomings that protect your ego.

Replace defensiveness with understanding:

Instead of reacting defensively or judgmentally, try to understand the situation and other people's roles in it.

Embrace personal responsibility:

Recognize that taking responsibility for your actions is empowering and allows you to move forward, rather than giving your power away to external circumstances.

Practice Empathy and Responsibility

Take the other person's perspective:

Try to understand another person's thoughts, feelings, and experiences by putting yourself in their shoes.

Focus on solutions, not blame:

When issues arise, focus on finding mutually beneficial solutions rather than assigning fault.

Be specific in apologies:

When you do apologize, make your apology specific to your part in the situation

6. Stop Overcommitting

Our culture rewards the hustle. But constantly being “busy” doesn’t mean you’re productive. It just means you’re exhausted.

Instead of doing ten things halfway, pick two or three things and give them your full energy. Quality beats quantity every time.

Remember—the people who make the biggest impact in life aren’t the ones who do everything. They’re the ones who focus deeply on what matters most.

1. Set Boundaries and Learn to Say No

Understand your limits:

Recognize how much time and energy you realistically have, and don't be afraid to decline requests that don't align with your capacity or goals.

Be direct and polite:

You don't need to provide a lengthy explanation. A simple, firm response like, "Thank you for thinking of me, but I'm at capacity right now" is sufficient.

Practice saying "no":

This skill takes time to develop, but it's essential for protecting your time, energy, and well-being.

7. Stop Negative Self-Talk

If you had a friend who spoke to you the way you sometimes speak to yourself, would you keep that friend around? Probably not.

Negative self-talk is sneaky. You might catch yourself saying, “I’m not good enough,” or “I always mess things up.” The problem is, your brain listens. And over time, you start believing it.

Flip the script. Start speaking to yourself with encouragement. Instead of “I can’t do this,” try “I’m learning to do this.” That simple shift changes everything.

Recognize the Negative Self-Talk

1. Become Aware:

Pay attention to your thoughts and identify recurring patterns of self-criticism, rumination, and negative internal dialogue.

2. Notice Physical Signs:

Be aware of bodily sensations that often accompany negative thoughts, such as tightness or a racing heart.

Challenge Negative Thoughts

Ask "Is it true?": Question the accuracy and reality of your negative thoughts.

Reframe the Thought: Change the negative phrasing into something more positive or neutral. For example, instead of "I can't do this," try "I'm facing a challenge, but I can try again".

Talk to a Friend: Ask yourself what advice you would give to a friend in a similar situation and apply that to yourself.

Replace with Positive Self-Talk

Practice Self-Compassion: Be as gentle and encouraging to yourself as you would be to a loved one.

Focus on Blessings: Concentrate on things you are thankful for and your accomplishments, no matter how small.

Use Affirmations: Create positive statements to counter negative beliefs, such as "I am capable" or "I am learning and growing".

8. Stop Surrounding Yourself with Toxic People

We’ve all heard the saying: you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with. If your circle is full of negativity, gossip, or people who drag you down, it’s time to reevaluate.

This doesn’t mean cutting people out cruelly—it means protecting your energy. Choose to spend more time with people who inspire you, challenge you, and believe in you. Your environment shapes your mindset.

9. Stop Overspending

Money stress is one of the biggest causes of anxiety. And most of it comes from overspending—buying things we don’t really need, often to impress people we don’t even like.

One of the best feelings in the world is financial peace. That starts by saying no to impulse buys, creating a budget, and sticking with it. Remember—wealth isn’t about how much you make, it’s about how much you keep.

10. Stop Ignoring Your Health

Finally, your health is the foundation for everything else. Without it, you can’t fully enjoy your success.

Stop skipping sleep. Stop living on fast food. Stop putting off that doctor’s appointment. You don’t need to train for a marathon—just start small. Walk more, drink water, eat cleaner.

Your body is the vehicle that carries you through this life. Treat it well.

The Year of Profit podcast, hosted by Joe Shortridge, is your go-to resource for transforming every aspect of your life. As a seasoned life and financial coach, Joe brings a unique blend of personal development and financial wisdom to each episode. This podcast is designed for anyone looking to improve their mindset, boost productivity, manage stress, and achieve financial success. Whether you're striving to overcome personal challenges, build better habits, or enhance your financial literacy, The Year of Profit offers actionable strategies to help you reach your goals.

Joe’s expert advice covers a wide range of topics, from mental wellness and time management to wealth-building techniques and entrepreneurial mindset. Each episode provides listeners with practical steps they can immediately apply to their daily lives, leading to long-term growth and fulfillment. Through relatable stories and proven strategies, Joe empowers you to take control of your life, create positive change, and maximize your potential.

If you're ready to take your life to the next level and start living with purpose, The Year of Profit podcast is the perfect place to begin. Tune in each week for new insights, motivation, and inspiration to start your journey toward lasting success and well-being.