If you're not prioritizing these 17 things, you risk a life of misery

Are You Prioritizing These 17 Things?

A man with short dark hair and a slight beard gazes into the distance. He is wearing a light blue sweater, standing against a soft, blurred background that hints at a serene, overcast sky.

Life is a journey filled with choices, and the decisions you make can significantly impact your happiness and well-being. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to living a fulfilling life, certain priorities can help steer you toward contentment and away from misery. Here are 17 of them.

1. Finding A Healthy Work-Life Balance

A tired healthcare worker, wearing blue scrubs and a stethoscope, sits at a desk in an office, yawning with one hand covering their mouth while the other is on a keyboard. In the background, another medical professional in a white coat is looking at a clipboard.

We spend huge chunks of our lives working, yet many people have an unhealthy relationship with their work. You should strive to find a balance between your work and the rest of your life. Always keep this in mind: work to live, don’t live to work.

2. Shaking Bad Habits

A man with short dark hair and a beard is sitting in a gym, wearing a black athletic shirt, and looking at his smartphone. He has earphones in his ears and appears focused or contemplative. The gym equipment and a large air conditioning unit are visible in the background.

Our habits play such a large role in our lives, and if you can break those that might be detrimental to your well-being, you can shift your life in a more positive direction. Whether that’s quitting smoking, checking your phone less often, or not picking at your skin, conquer your bad habits and watch what happens.

3. Letting Go Of The Past

A woman with long, wavy brown hair is gazing thoughtfully to the side. She is wearing a light-colored sweater and a brown coat. The background appears to be an outdoor urban setting with blurred text visible on a wall.

If you carry your past around with you like some rucksack full of regret, guilt, sadness, and anger, it’s time to let it go. Take note of the lessons you’ve learned, but release the emotional burden attached to negative past events. Hold on to memories and feelings of good times, however, as these are weightless and only life you up.

4. Learning To Forgive Yourself And Others

A woman with long dark hair sits by a window, holding a white mug. She looks contemplative and appears to be lost in thought, gazing out of the window. She is wearing a dark, long-sleeved top, and her fingernails are painted red.

A big part of letting go of the past is learning to forgive. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting what someone has done; it means not allowing that action to influence your present or future. It means extinguishing the flame that keeps any ill feelings burning.

5. Developing A Healthy Relationship With Money And Material Possessions

A man in a brown jacket and glasses hands a credit card to a smiling woman in a white blouse across a counter, with shopping bags in the background. A card reader and notebook are on the counter.

One of the major personal challenges of our time is to forge a relationship with money and material things that does not contribute to anxiety, stress, and other neuroses. You will likely need to loosen your grip on wealth and accept that more money and more possessions will not automatically lead to greater happiness.

6. Developing An Abundance Mindset

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An effective way to pursue a healthier relationship with money and possessions is to form an abundance mindset. This means you remain optimistic about your ability to provide for yourself and others in the belief that resources are plentiful and you have the ability to acquire them as necessary.

7. Finding Your Tribe

Three women sit together, smiling and clinking glasses of rosé wine. The woman on the left wears a light blue jacket, the central woman in a gray blazer with blonde hair, and the woman on the right wears a red top and yellow dress. They appear in a casual, bright setting.

Whilst we are all unique individuals, we share common likes and dislikes with other people. If you can find these people, you will feel a sense of belonging like you’ve never felt before. You will feel comfortable, relaxed, and able to express your true self without fear of ridicule or criticism.

8. Improving Your Communication Skills

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How we interact and communicate with other people underpins much of our daily lives. By learning to communicate your thoughts and wishes more effectively, and by listening to and understanding those of the other person, you can forge a bond, be a better friend, help things run smoothly, and reduce the risk of confrontation.

9. Setting And Enforcing Personal Boundaries

Two people are sitting at a table, each holding a glass of beer, engaged in conversation. One person has gray hair and glasses, wearing a navy sweater, and the other person has short hair, wearing a green shirt. Shelves and decor fill the background.

You are not a resource to be used and abused by others. It is vital that you know where your limits are so that you may set boundaries for others to respect. This might be boundaries in relationships, amongst family members, between friends, or in the workplace. Just be sure to enforce these boundaries.

10. Forming Good Habits

A smiling couple sits on a couch, both looking at a large pink piggy bank. The man, wearing a blue shirt, is about to drop a coin into the piggy bank. The woman, in a red plaid shirt, watches closely. They appear happy and engaged in saving money.

While breaking your bad habits, you can form new, healthier habits to take their place. Habits that improve your physical and mental well-being; habits that simplify your life; habits that improve your relationships. Just remember that habits take time to form, so, don’t give up on them.

11. Balancing Your Need For Control

Three men are seated at a desk, engaged in a discussion. One man on the left is talking and gesturing with his hand. The man in the middle and the one on the right are listening attentively. A laptop, notebooks, and stationery are on the desk.

Some things are within your control and some things are not. Learning which is which and accepting it either way can alleviate a great deal of anxiety. You will no longer punish yourself for something that you had no say over, nor will you remain passive in situations where your actions make a difference.

12. Practicing Gratitude Daily

A woman with shoulder-length black hair is smiling brightly. She is wearing a green top and sparkly earrings. The background is a sunny, blurred greenery.

You will not appreciate anything until you can appreciate everything. Ok, that’s a nice sound bite, but realistically speaking, this doesn’t have to include the really bad stuff (we’re not trying to diminish serious trauma here). It should, however, include all the little things you probably overlook on a daily basis, but that make life so worthwhile.

13. Being Open-minded

Two women are seated at an outdoor café, engaged in conversation. Both have cups of coffee and one woman's smartphone rests on the table. The background shows an open space with tall pillars, parked cars, and several building facades.

There are many opinions and many perspectives in this world; yours will be different to those held by others. Seek to remain open to the possibility that what you believe to be true isn’t necessarily the case. Most things are subjective and to think otherwise is a barrier to growth.

14. Being A Better Friend

Two people sit on a couch, smiling and laughing while clinking their mugs together. One person wears an orange shirt and holds a red mug, and the other wears a green shirt and holds a blue mug. The background shows a cozy and well-lit room.

The people you share your life with will have a huge influence on your enjoyment of it. Likewise, you will have a huge impact on the lives of others. By being a good friend to those you care about – and this includes your family too – you can be a source of joy and a pillar of support.

15. Ditching Drama

Two women are sitting at a wooden table in a bright café. One woman with short, dark hair wearing a striped shirt smiles at the camera, while the other woman with curly hair in a red dress smiles brightly in the background. There are coffee cups and plates on the table.

Filling your life with drama might seem like a good way to feel alive, avoid boredom, and express yourself, but you are only being held hostage by your ego. A life free from drama is less stressful, more joyful, and better for your mental health.

16. Being More Mindful Of The Present Moment

A young man with short hair, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, gazes upward while standing on a sunlit forest path. Trees with bare branches line the trail, receding into the background. The setting appears serene and contemplative.

It’s important that you stop thinking about things when you are away from them, such as work or any other stressors. If you can’t act on them in this moment, push them out of your consciousness. Be present in whatever you ARE doing; be mindful of the people you are with and the places you go. This will bring you true peace of mind.

17. Living Authentically

A woman with long blonde hair smiles at the camera. She is outdoors with a blurred background of a beach and ocean, suggesting a warm and sunny day.

What’s the point of living life as someone you’re not? Why hide your true self behind some facade? Instead, strive to be genuine, honest, and authentic in everything you do. You’ll find life is much easier and more enjoyable when you are comfortable in your own skin.