John Locke used the term, ‘tabula rasa’ or a blank slate to define his understanding of human beings. He believed that the newly born human was merely a blank slate, which could be filled with anything the society desires.
The concept of tabula rasa also applies to the concept of motivation. For human beings, motivation to change, the motivation to improve and the motivation to do better seem much easier when they are provided with a blank slate.
As a result of this, most individuals set New Year’s resolutions to implement change in their lives. This change appears to be simple when the year is starting, and the individual has a clean slate, to begin with.
However, new year’s resolution does not always have to be concerned with adding new, positive habits into the routine; rather it can also include getting rid of old, toxic habits that are holding you back. Here are a few things that you need to leave behind at the end of the year.
The to-do list
The first thing you need to get rid of is your never-ending to-do list. The to-do lists are created as a coping mechanism that mimics your productivity. The process of writing things down, which you intend to do, provides you with a false sense of accomplishment. A positive emotion essentially ignites this feeling.
However, if the to-do list has a large number of items that you have not even thought about doing, it is time to throw it in the trash. While the list makes it easier for you to remember your goals, it also consumes your time. Additionally, your self-esteem can also suffer a demise when you reflect on the items on the list and realise that you haven’t achieved anything in its contents.
Although, if you are fond of making lists, you can make a shortlist of tasks you need to perform a day. As a daily list has a deadline (end of the day), it obligates you to stick to it and implement everything stated in the routine.
Relationships which require a lot of effort
There are moments in life when you find yourself being attached to a certain individual. You try your best to make the friendship/relationship work by constantly checking up on them, tagging them in memes and making plans to meet up. Despite all your efforts, you may feel that the same actions are not being reciprocated towards you.
For such relationships, it is best to leave them in the past. Even if it’s difficult to let go of some relationships, you need to set boundaries for yourself in terms of what is healthy and what is not. Only pursue relationships that give back the same amount you put in.
Clothes you have grown out of
You may be attached to certain articles of clothing which you have grown out of. This attachment to clothes can prevent you from expanding the items in your closet. The process of saying goodbye to old clothes, and making room for new ones is not only therapeutic, but it can also be effective in bringing change into your life. As a result, your overall sense of well-being will be improved when you make a habit of letting go of old, unusable items.
Moreover, an individual’s clothing and their sense of style is a factor which reflects their personality. If you feel good about the way you look, you are ultimately allowing yourself to be more confident with yourself and reciprocate that emotion by being kind to the people you encounter. Thus, by introducing yourself to a new wardrobe, you can experience a shift in confidence.
Get rid of the clutter
Clutter is added to the living space over a period of time. Despite having no contribution to the house, these items are kept “just in case.” As a result, the pile of unused items begins to rise and take space.
Living in a cluttered space does not only affect the appearance of the house, rather it has a large impact on your mental health. When you are confined to living in a space shared with heaps of clutter, you can lose your focus as well as the degree of concentration.
Considering this, you can apply the 330/70 rules to clear out the clutter before New Year. This rule states that you are allowed to keep thirty per cent of the items you have and discard the remaining 70%.
You can give away all your unused stuff to a charity. Taking this initiative will make you feel good about yourself and help you clear out your life.
Unsubscribe!
The chaos of student life can turn you into a forgetful individual. You may find yourself purchasing subscriptions to a gym, anessay writing service UK, or a live streaming website. However, you may not use many of these subscriptions because you have either updated your service or signed up with another company.
To save money in the next year, you can take your time to identify all the places/services you have subscribed to, and cancel all the unused facilities.
Clear out the medicine cabinet
Cleaning out the medicine cabinet is extremely crucial. Throw away any expired medicine, the medicine you don’t use, or addictive substances you or a friend can potentially use without a prescription. Keeping a medicine cabinet full of expired medicine can be potentially life-threatening to you or others who have access to it. Make sure your cabinet is free from any harmful substances.
Donate old books
Similar to clothes, the books you have may hold some significance for you. However, if you are not reading the books you purchased as a child, it is time to say goodbye. Keeping old books can just consume space in your residential area without offering anything in return.
However, if you find it difficult to part ways just yet, you can donate the books to a local library and visit them from time to time.
