Your Future Self Will Thank You For Not Making These 12 Regrettable Choices

Be kind to your future self by NOT making these choices.

A split image of a man's face, where the left side shows him younger with brown hair and a mustache, while the right side shows him older with gray hair and a mustache. The background is a neutral gray.

We make many choices every day, many of which are insignificant. But some are far more consequential than you think. If your future self could send a message back to you today, they would certainly be thankful if you could avoid choosing to do any of the following things.

1. Staying in the confines of your locality.

A young woman with long brown hair and serious expression stands on a bridge overlooking an urban cityscape with curved roads and tall buildings in the background. She is wearing a black jacket over a white shirt. The sky is overcast.

Travel and exploring expands your perspective and creates lasting memories. If you have any inkling to do these things, the earlier in life you can do them the better. As you get older, you will have more responsibilities that will tie you to home. For many, traveling is not an easy task with kids, a career, or other family responsibilities.

2. Spending recklessly beyond your means.

A person in a dark shirt inserts a card into an ATM machine, preparing to conduct a transaction. The ATM has a screen, keypad, and several card slots visible.

Like it or not, money is the key to safety and security. Frivolous spending undermines the safety and security of your future. Everyone should try to save or invest some of their income, wherever it comes from. The earlier you start, the better off you are. Even saving $1000 a year and sticking it into a retirement account will create much more wealth for you later. Additionally, everyone should have an emergency fund when unexpected expenses pop up, which they will.

3. Taking risks without consideration.

Two people wearing wingsuits leap off a rocky cliff into a vast mountainous landscape. The sky is hazy, and the valley below is a mix of greenery and barren land. The image captures the thrill and adventure of BASE jumping in nature.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a calculated risk. Reckless decisions, however, lead to avoidable setbacks and wasted resources. You might find that a purely impulsive decision sets you back financially, blows up a friendship, or otherwise negatively affects your life. Think before you make major moves, and calculate your risks wisely.

4. Overworking at the expense of life.

An older man wearing a yellow hard hat and plaid shirt sits in an industrial setting, yawning with his hand covering his mouth. Various machinery and equipment are visible in the background.

Work is important. However, it’s easy to let work dominate your life. It’s easy to neglect the rest of your life and relationships if you don’t specifically make time for them. Everyday life and relationships need regular maintenance to keep them healthy, and the right work-life balance should give you appropriate time for both. Many people need to develop that skill if they don’t naturally have it.

5. Staying in toxic relationships.

A man and woman stand outdoors near a body of water and trees. The man, wearing a gray coat, is shouting and pointing aggressively at the woman, who looks distressed and is holding her coat closed. The woman’s expression shows pain and fear.

Toxic relationships and environments drain your mental and emotional health whether personal or professional. The longer you stay in them, the worse it will affect you. In some cases, the toxicity can be so damaging as to be traumatizing! Toxic relationships can make you afraid and defensive about getting into new relationships. Your future self will thank you for leaving these behind.

6. Not embracing a growth mindset.

A man with short hair and a beard is sitting on the floor in a library, reading a book. He is dressed casually in a gray long-sleeve shirt and beige pants. Shelves filled with books are visible in the background.

A growth mindset is one of curiosity and continued learning. It’s knowing that every day is a chance to learn or experience something new. Finding something new to learn is easy enough with the internet at your fingertips. Furthermore, there is plenty to learn from whatever experiences you choose to pursue. The world changes rapidly. Continued learning keeps you up-to-date and fulfilled.

7. Worrying about others’ opinions.

A woman with long, wavy hair wearing a light blue shirt stands against a grey background, nervously holding a closed white laptop. She looks concerned or anxious, with a tense expression on her face.

A sure way to limit yourself is to let other people dictate your decisions. That prevents you from developing confidence and living authentically. You can’t honor your true self and pursue the life that is meant for you if you are looking for decisions or approval from other people. Sooner or later, you just have to decide to live the way that is right for you if you want to feel that freedom.

8. Procrastinating on your dreams.

A person wearing glasses and a plaid shirt sits at a desk, looking at a laptop. They rest their chin on their hand, appearing thoughtful. A glass of water is nearby, and a bright window curtain is in the background.

There’s no such thing as a “perfect time to start.” If you wait for the perfect time, you may never actually start. Accomplishing big dreams takes time because you need to complete small goals first to get you closer to the big ones. The sooner you start, the more likely you are to reach your bigger dreams. Procrastination robs you of opportunities and the chance for a fulfilling life.

9. Taking everything and everyone for granted.

A woman and a man sitting back-to-back at an outdoor café table, arms crossed. She wears a yellow jacket, and he wears a blue shirt. The table has drinks and dishes, and the background features a sunlit corridor.

Gratitude is a powerful tool for positivity and mindfulness. First, it is to develop appreciation for what you have. It helps to control and defuse feelings of missing out. Things may not always be great, but there is always something to be thankful for. Additionally, gratitude for the positive people in your life helps to build and maintain relationships. Appreciation spreads positivity.

10. Holding on to grudges.

Two women are depicted looking pensive and facing away from each other. The woman in the foreground has long brown hair and rests her chin on her hand, appearing deep in thought. The woman in the background, with red hair, looks off to the side with a concerned expression.

Resentment is an anchor that will drag you into the abyss of sadness and loathing. Forgiveness is liberating. It’s cutting the anchor loose and allowing yourself to heal and grow from the sadness. Forgiveness is not something you do for others, it’s something you do for yourself. It’s a way for you to accept what happened, the way it happened, and let it go so it doesn’t follow you through your life.

11. Letting fear control your decision.

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Many dreams are crushed because of a fear of failure or rejection. We fail to seize opportunities that could open up bright new roads for us to experience life. Courage is essential for personal growth and self-discovery. Furthermore, courage will take you to places you never dreamed that you could be. By facing life with courage, you don’t need to look back on a lifetime of regrets.

12. Being lax with your health.

A woman in workout attire lounges on a beige sofa with a pink exercise ball. She holds a dumbbell in one hand and a bowl of snacks in the other, while a drink is placed nearby. She appears to be taking a break from exercising.

The body is a machine. Like any machine, it needs proper maintenance and fuel to keep it in good working order. Starting maintenance early by regularly exercising and eating healthy are habits that you’ll benefit from as you age. Regular medical checkups can identify small problems before they become much larger problems. The earlier you start, the better your health will be later in life.