How To Cut Unnecessary Shit Out of Your Life

Today’s media has us bombarded with expectations from our jobs, family, friends, and society that has us on a 24-hour clock seven days a week. There’s just not the time anymore to properly look after ourselves or our needs when we’re too distracted by all the shit that comes with not only Millennial life but also the ever-present FOMO we put ourselves through when we can’t change into Wonder Woman fast enough.

As each year passes I find myself more senile and more likely to be found on my own than ever before. And I love it. I’m not always looking for an excuse to back out of plans or trying to make a quick exit when faced with a situation that refuses to go my way. I do strive though to make my life as painless and as stress-free as possible which can be easier said than done.

I continually look for ways to both simplify and make the most out of my downtime; not only to maximize its potential, but utilize it to give back to myself instead of the demands of others. This is my go-to guide for cutting unnecessary shit out of your life:

“It’s Really Liberating To Say No To Shit You Hate” – Hannah Horvath

I like to surround myself with people I know I’m going to get along with. I steer clear of assholes, the incredibly ignorant, and the archetypal dime-a-dozen hipsters. One of the best parts of avoiding FOMO is to decide before an event is whether or not you’re going to get along with those in attendance. I like getting to know new people and being able to make friends in an eclectic setting. These are opportunities that should be embraced as a chance to network, market yourself, and find new people to share a bottle of tequila with.

However, there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a room full of people with no common interests and wishing you were curled in bed catching up on your latest Netflix binge. We need time to recharge and to plank for a while. Why waste vital energy on attending functions or hanging out with people outside your inner friend circle when you know it’ll make you miserable? Make up an excuse, put a spin on it, just don’t go.

You Have A Responsibility to Others That’s Still Not As Great As Your Responsibility To Yourself.

People count on you. They need you to make plans, listen to the mundane stories of their lives (which is important because they listen to your nonsense too), and ask that you generally be a dependable person. That sounds like a pretty easy task to accomplish on the days when you feel like your life is on your terms, but those days can fall few and far between sometimes, leaving you stuck with anxiety when your voicemail is full and you’re flooded with text messages that need an ASAP response.

Never go into a task you’re not mentally or physically prepared to take on. Challenge yourself, but restrain yourself from the belief the entire world is resting on your shoulders. People have got to figure out their own shit before they hand their personal baggage over to you.

No One Ever Died From Abstaining From Consumerism

I’ve never heard of anyone who actually needed 12 pairs of blue jeans or a VIP gym membership. Sure, these things are nice to have in our back pocket and I am not one to chide when you need to “treat yo’self,” but today there’s too much value placed on the things we own rather than how we can make the most out of our time. Before purchasing new items, check what’s lying around at home that you can use to fix, repair or substitute what you were prepared to whip out your credit card for. Save splurges for when there are no alternatives and then spend on quality instead of quantity.

Like James Bay and Elsa Would Say, “Let It Go”

I have an extensive list of people who are dead to me. It’s not as negative as it sounds. These are the ones who pushed me too far, took advantage, and are an all-around drain. Why put up with their bad behavior and make excuses? You don’t deserve to be anybody’s scapegoat or batting post. Putting a positive spin on things can sometimes do more harm than good. Trust your instincts instead of empty promises.

The Absence of Guilt Doesn’t Always Make You A Sociopath

If you’re moonlighting as Amy Dunne every weekend then maybe we have a problem. Otherwise it’s OK to be selfish. Women have been subjected to the blame for everything from rape to witchcraft for millennia. Maybe you just feel guilty about coming down too hard on the choices of a close friend. Perhaps you’re overcome with guilt that you’re living in your overdraft instead of managing your money like full-fledged adult. So what? We’re not perfect human beings. Learn to live with your choices and make new ones out of your previous experiences.

There’s Not Always A Balance

Managing life, school, work, family and friends with equal attention is completely illogical. It can be strenuous to meet one deadline between the goals you set for yourself and the expectations of others. Get focused and zero in on what’s most important to you. That may mean sacrificing quality time with loved ones or taking on a smaller workload and making less money. Everything should balance out according to what you decide is most important to you.

Your Job Is Your Job, It’s Not A Full Reflection Of Who You Are As A Person

We all want a dream job. Whether it’s still what you envisioned for yourself at the age of nine, or it’s morphed over the years, chances are you’re still on the road to achieving success. For most of us that means day jobs, second jobs, and moonlighting as what we hope to be one day.

I’m all for going above and beyond but you are only really required to do the bare minimum that your employer sets out for your role. If you’re doing favors without being asked to make your manager’s life easier or you’re striving to put effort into not completely falling on your face over the first six months you’ve done enough. Just because this is a temporary career doesn’t mean I endorse not giving a f*ck, but it doesn’t serve anyone well when you lose your sense of self in the processes of a job that means nothing to you.

Only Dead Fish Go With the Flow

There are no set of rules on how to live your best life. Making those decisions, the decisions that impact your overall direction and ability to retain your sanity, is entirely your prerogative. The easiest way to cut out unnecessary shit from your life is to take Amy Poehler’s advice and, “Make ‘No’ a complete sentence.”