Refresh Your Focus: Four Things To Scale Down In 2024

As a minimalist, one task I enjoy engaging in at the start of every year is decluttering my closet. This activity involves taking out the clothes/shoes/items that I do not like or need again and either giving them away or putting them somewhere else. 

Over the years, this yearly activity has become a favorite practice of mine because of the following reasons: 

• It affords me the opportunity to give back to my community in the little way I can. 

• It is ideal for clearing up my space and starting the year on a clean slate.

• Decluttering is therapeutic for me, so it is a great way for me to clear my head/closet and make changes/improvements for the new year.

However, while planning on how to tackle the decluttering exercise for the year, it occurred to me that it is not only wardrobes that need to be decluttered or scaled down at the end or start of a year. 

While decluttering one’s space/closet is a healthy physical practice to start off a year, an even better approach will be making a conscious effort to declutter other aspects like habits or behaviors, By this, you scale down the bad habits/attitudes that do not do you any good while embracing practices that will only foster growth and success.

Does it not make sense? Well, I think it does! Now, if you are interested in making the most out of 2024 without the baggage of self-sabotage trailing you, here are some destructive habits to scale down this year:

1. Procrastinating: Procrastinating is a habit to avoid if you want to grow or succeed. Due to its detrimental effects, procrastination is that habit that will leave you with undermined productivity, cycles of avoidance, and inhibited growth and progress. In 2024, scale  down this self-sabotaging habit and seize opportunities, prioritize tasks effectively, and achieve success in all endeavors.

2. Comparison: Constant comparison is a detrimental habit that breeds feelings of inadequacy, diminishes self-esteem, and fosters a sense of dissatisfaction with one’s life. And in the age of social media, comparison has become more pervasive, often leaving its negative impacts in its wake. As the year progresses, we should minimize comparison, focus on our different journeys, and cultivate a sense of gratitude for our blessings. Start the year embracing authenticity and self-acceptance and experience contentment and serenity in the year ahead.

3. Endless scrolling: Another habit to scale down or simply avoid in 2024 is endless scrolling on social media and digital platforms. Bear in mind that this habit is time-consuming and fosters a culture of comparison and unrealistic expectations, contributing to feelings of inadequacy. Hence, by reducing scrolling in 2024, we can prioritize meaningful connections, engage in offline conversations, and protect your mental wellbeing.

4. Gossiping: Positive relationships and personal integrity are essential for a healthy mindset. Gossiping on the other hand, is against a healthy mind, as it perpetuates negativity, erodes trust, and damages reputations. Therefore, as we enter the new year with a yearn for a healthier lifestyle, it is important that one refrains from gossiping and focus instead on nurturing the practice of respect and compassion. For 2024, choose a lifestyle of less gossip and preserve your relationships and integrity.

2024 is that year where we should desist from habits/attitudes that are not value-adding. Refrain from the negative habits listed above and watch diverse areas of your life take turns for the better.