I’m going to share five things you need to stop doing in 2025 if you really want to become a better version of yourself this year.
1. Stop Spending Time With Toxic People
The first thing you need to stop doing is spending time with toxic people — the kind of people who, as my husband says, “suck the life out of you.”
You leave your time with them feeling drained, exhausted, or even less confident about yourself. Sometimes these are the people who take advantage of you. Other times, they’re simply self-centered, self-absorbed, or consistently negative.
You know exactly who those people are.
Often, we stay connected to them out of habit or comfort — or because we’ve known them for a long time. But if someone continually drains you, it’s time to rethink that relationship.
That doesn’t always mean cutting them off completely. Sometimes, as my husband puts it, you just need to “love them from afar.”
Spend less time with them, and be mindful about what access you give them to your life. Protect your peace and energy — they’re worth safeguarding.
If you’re unsure whether someone is good for you, ask yourself:
- How do I feel after spending time with them?
- Are they choosing me, or have I just accepted them into my life out of habit or flattery?
Healthy relationships should lift you up — not weigh you down.
2. Stop the Negative Self-Talk
The second thing you need to stop doing — and this is something we all do — is negative self-talk.
According to the National Science Foundation, about 80% of the average person’s thoughts are negative. That’s a staggering number.
For some people, this self-talk comes from being around toxic relationships that make them feel “less than.” For others — especially introverts — it can come from spending too much time inside their own heads, replaying mistakes or overanalyzing situations.
Believe me, I do my share of negative self-talk too. But I’ve realized something important: I need to be in my own corner.
I need to be my cheerleader and my coach — not my critic.
Every day, we’re doing the best we can. Tomorrow is a new chance — a “do-over.” Instead of beating yourself up, try reflecting:
- What can I learn from this experience?
- How can I handle it better next time?
Ask yourself:
Would I let someone else talk to me the way I talk to myself?
Would I ever say those same negative things out loud to another person?
When you think about it that way, it really puts your self-talk into perspective.
3. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
Here’s the deal — when you compare yourself to someone else, there are only two outcomes:
- You feel better than them, which leads to arrogance.
- You feel worse than them, which leads to shame.
And neither of those are attractive or healthy.
When we compare ourselves to others, we’re comparing their outsides to our insides. We can’t see what’s really going on in their lives — their thoughts, struggles, or insecurities — but we know every flaw and doubt inside our own heads.
That’s why we often come up short in comparison.
Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to who you were yesterday. Are you growing? Are you improving?
Let yourself be your own measuring stick.
4. Stop Waiting
Stop waiting for perfect circumstances before taking action.
Stop waiting for others to initiate with you.
Stop waiting until you “feel ready” or “good enough.”
Successful people don’t wait — they take action. They create opportunities instead of waiting for them to appear.
Are they always successful? Of course not. But they move forward anyway.
Waiting might feel like a patient or polite thing to do, but in reality, waiting is passive — not active.
This year, take responsibility for your life. Don’t wait for conditions to be perfect — start where you are, with what you have, and make things happen.
5. Stop Procrastinating
And finally, stop procrastinating.
Procrastination is really just an excuse — a way to avoid doing things we don’t want to do.
As John Maxwell says:
“We procrastinate on things we don’t want to do. If it’s something we wanted to do, we wouldn’t procrastinate.”
He also says that the biggest difference between successful and unsuccessful people lies in how they use their time — and that “the secret of success is found in a person’s daily agenda.”
So, stop putting things off. Do a little each day to chip away at those tasks you’ve been avoiding. You’ll feel lighter, more productive, and more in control.
Final Thoughts
Is there something else in your life that you plan to stop doing in 2025?
If so, share it in the comments below — I’d love to hear from you, and we can all learn from each other.