Never Complain About These 10 Things To Other People

Don’t waste your time complaining about these things.

A person with long brown hair wearing a light blue collared shirt holds up their index finger to their lips, signaling for silence. The word "shhh" is written on the finger. The background is plain and gray.

It’s okay to need to vent sometimes, and when you’re in the company of those closest to you, you can get away with sharing your thoughts and feelings more authentically. But, generally speaking, when you are around other people, it’s best to avoid complaining too much about the following things.

1. Your workload.

A stressed woman wearing glasses holds a phone to her ear and rests her forehead on her hand. She is seated at a cluttered desk with a laptop, stacks of papers, folders, and a cup with pens. The background features a brightly lit window.

Everyone has work that they would rather not do. Complaining about it isn’t going to change that. Instead, it’s just negative vibes that contribute to your frustration of needing to do the work, particularly if it’s a recurring task. Doing the dishes, washing laundry, or filling out paperwork are annoying tasks for everyone—sometimes you have to suck it up and deal with it.

2. The success of other people.

In an office setting, a woman in the foreground cheers enthusiastically at her laptop, while a man next to her looks puzzled and concerned. Another person is visible in the background, working on a computer. Shelves with binders are seen in the background.

Complaining about another person’s success just screams insecurity and jealousy. It doesn’t matter how or why they succeeded. It doesn’t matter how you feel about it. That is their victory, their win. If you don’t want to be seen as petty, you would do well to avoid complaining about their success.

3. Minor inconveniences you may experience.

A woman with long brown hair stands outdoors under a clear umbrella, wearing a yellow raincoat. She looks upwards with a slightly displeased expression as raindrops fall around her. The background is blurred, showing a natural, possibly park-like setting.

Yep, they’re annoying. We all get it. We’ve all experienced it. We’re probably all annoyed about it too, so there’s really no need to complain about it. Complaining just calls attention to the trivial matter which also paints you as a negative person. Not everything needs to be expressed out loud, no matter how frustrating.

4. Minor health issues you’re experiencing.

A man sitting at a desk holds his neck and back in discomfort. He is wearing a light blue shirt over a white T-shirt. In front of him are a laptop, a notebook, and a cup, with a plant on the desk. A window in the background reveals a blurred outdoor scene.

It’s alright to talk about your health issues in an appropriate setting. It’s alright to comment on minor issues you’re dealing with. What you want to avoid is regularly complaining about small health issues. That may cause others to think that you’re just looking for attention or minimizing the struggles of others, particularly if you try to use it as one-upmanship.

5. The duties and responsibilities you agreed to.

A man with a tired expression leans over a pile of documents on a desk, his eyes half-open and a red necktie seemingly in his mouth. He is resting his head on one hand while the other hand is sprawled out over the papers.

Complaining about your duties and responsibilities is a great way to get people to not ask you to do things anymore. Does that sound good? Well, it’s not, because they aren’t going to differentiate between the good and bad things. They’ll just stop asking altogether and you will miss out on opportunities as much as you’ll avoid some work or effort.

6. Personal or work relationships.

A man and woman are having an intense conversation in a bright kitchen. The woman, with a concerned expression, has her hands on her head. The man speaks to her gesturing with his hand. Various kitchen appliances and items are visible in the background.

Airing your grievances about other people to those not involved will get you labeled as a gossip. It is seen as inappropriate and disrespectful because you’re not actually trying to resolve the issue. Other gossips may enjoy the drama, but they can also make it much worse by adding on to it.

7. Money and financial status.

A person with long dark hair in a ponytail, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a black blazer, holds several US dollar bills in one hand while scratching their head with the other. The background is a solid light green color. The person appears puzzled.

Talking about money is an uncomfortable topic for many. Money issues can come from not having enough or too much. Many people who are living comfortable lives don’t necessarily want to talk about the specifics of their income either. It’s easy for personal finance conversations to be negative. That’s why many people don’t want to get roped into conversations about money.

8. The mistakes you’ve made.

A man in a dark hoodie with a beard and short hair is shown against a dark background. He appears distressed, with his hand covering his nose and eyes closed, as if experiencing stress or frustration. The lighting is focused on his face, emphasizing his expression.

Mistakes and regrets are painful. It’s only natural to want to talk about them. However, there does need to be some kind of balance to it. Complaining regularly about the thing gets tiresome, and no one really wants to hear about the mistake you made 10 years ago. Yes, it matters to you, but it’s a subject best left for a therapist’s office.

9. The choices of other people.

A woman with short brown hair in a sleeveless green dress stands against a yellow background, looking confused or puzzled. She has one hand on her hip and the other raised with her palm up, adding to the expression of confusion.

Other people are entitled to live their lives in the way that they see fit. Complaining about it is a good way to make other people think you’re judgmental and a know-it-all. No one wants to be judged, and that’s all complaining about others’ choices happens to be. It’s judging what you believe to be right and wrong for them. Only they can decide that.

10. Things you’re not willing to change.

A person with shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes is standing against a plain background, with their index finger pressed to their lips in a "shushing" gesture. They are wearing a light brown turtleneck.

There are few things more irritating than someone complaining about things they have the capability of changing but won’t. It’s a bad look, yet, some people can’t help but try to make themselves out to be the victim. Unfortunately, those people are only a victim to themselves, not the situation that they continue to be responsible for. Complaining may get sympathy right up until the people you’re complaining to realize it’s all done by your own hand.