I used to think growth was all about doing more—more goals, more work, more effort. But over time, I realized that part of growing also means letting go of some stuff. And weirdly enough, that’s what helped me move forward faster.
Here are three things I quietly stopped doing that actually made a big difference in my life.
1. Always saying yes, even when I didn’t want to
For a while, I was the “yes” person. Someone needed help? I was there. Extra work? I took it on. Weekend plans I didn’t even enjoy? Sure, why not.
But deep down, I was drained. Saying yes to everything left me with no time or energy for the things that really mattered to me. So I slowly started saying no more often—politely, but firmly. And you know what? The world didn’t fall apart.
Now, I protect my time like it’s something valuable—because it is.
2. Waiting for everything to be perfect before starting
I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I used to wait until I had the perfect plan, the perfect timing, or all the right tools before starting anything.
Spoiler alert: that “perfect” moment never came.
So I stopped waiting. I started doing. Was I fully ready? Not really. But doing something—even badly—was still better than standing still. And once I took that first step, things started falling into place faster than I expected.
3. Comparing my pace to everyone else’s
This one was tough. It’s easy to scroll online and think, “Wow, I’m so behind.” I’d compare my job, my success, even my routines to people I didn’t even know personally.
Eventually, I had to cut that off. I started unfollowing accounts that made me feel less-than. I reminded myself that people only post their best moments—not the full story.
These days, I try to measure progress by where I was yesterday, not where someone else is today.
Honestly, letting go of these habits wasn’t easy. They were comfortable—even if they weren’t helpful. But once I dropped them, I had more clarity, more energy, and more room to grow.
So if you feel stuck, maybe it’s not about doing more. Maybe it’s about doing less of the wrong things.
