8 Biggest Regrets in Life and How to Avoid Them

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If you knew your life will end tomorrow, would you be satisfied with the way you lived? Have you done everything you wanted to do with your life or would you have some of the below-discussed biggest regrets in life?

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, we witnessed just how fragile life is, and how quickly things can change. We learned the importance of enjoying everything life has to offer now because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

To avoid looking back later and wishing you had done things differently, it would be good if you learned to live your life to the fullest and appreciate every moment now.

Recognizing some of the most common regrets people have later in life can help you avoid having the same ones.

1. Wasted time

Time wasted can never be recovered, and this is one of the biggest regrets people have when they are older or dying.

In this, we are not talking about the 1 or 2 hours you spent watching TV; we are talking about several hours, days, months, or years wasted on things that didn’t make your life better but instead derailed it.

For instance, some people’s biggest regrets in life include remaining in careers they don’t love, staying in bad relationships, being a couch potato, making a fuss over trivialities, time spent holding grudges, and obsessing over past mistakes.

What makes us regret wasted time is not just because we can never get it back, it is because we wish we had spent it on more meaningful things.

Learn to prioritize what is important to you and spend more time on it to avoid having this big regret.

READ ALSO: 7 Things You Can Do Now That Your Future Self Will Thank You For

2. Missed opportunities and unaccomplished goals

I wish I had more confidence to apply for my dream job when I had the chance. I wish I traveled the world when I had the opportunity. I wish I had quit my job and started a business when I had the money. I wish I talked to that boy/girl I liked. I wish…!

Missed opportunities and unaccomplished goals can bug you and keep you from feeling fully satisfied with your life. You will keep imagining what could have happened if you had taken the chance to do something, and it can become one of your biggest regrets in life.

From today onward, start trusting your instincts and seize opportunities that come your way.

Have the courage to say yes, take some risks, and chase your dreams. After all, you can’t know what could have been if you don’t take any action.

To help you stay focused and motivated to achieve your goals, create a vision board to manifest your dream life.

3. Words left unsaid

You regret words you didn’t say more than those you said. So, is there something you wish you had said to someone? How often do you tell people what you actually think or feel?

To avoid unsaid words becoming one of your biggest regrets in life, learn how to be more vulnerable with others and start telling people what you feel about them when you feel it. For instance, telling them I love you, I’m proud of you, and I’m sorry. 

Also, we often shy away from telling people when we are struggling with mental health issues or when feeling hurt and upset, only to wish we had told someone sooner to get the assistance we need or resolve an issue.

For instance, one of your biggest regrets in life could be words that you wish you had said to a bully or when standing up for your beliefs.

The sands in your hourglass are running out. Your time here is limited, and you never know if you will have the opportunity to express your true feelings.

So, have the courage to be open about your feelings when you still have the chance to prevent unsaid words from becoming one of your life’s biggest regrets.

Additionally, making amends with those you could have wronged relieves you of some of the weight of guilt you might be carrying around. 

READ ALSO: 10 Things You Should Never Apologize for

4. Working too much and not spending time with loved ones

With the fast pace of the modern world and the prevalence of hustle culture, many people work too much and have little time to spare for family and friends.

Time passes quickly, and before you know it, your kids are all grown up and no longer need you, you have drifted away from friends, and your partner has grown resentful of you for having so little time for them. 

Sacrificing your family and friends in pursuit of success then becomes one of your biggest regrets in life later.

People make time for things that are important to them. So, to prevent working too much from becoming one of your biggest regrets in life, try to balance your work and personal life by scheduling time for family and friends the same way you would your work appointments.

Put the phone or other digital devices down and actually be present when spending time with your loved ones. If you can’t meet up with your friends, stay in touch via social media and other communication platforms to maintain your bond and be happier.

READ ALSO: How to Keep More Good Friends in Your Life

5. Not being true to yourself

We live in a world that is constantly trying to tell us who we should be and what we should be doing. From society to our parents, they all try to change us or mold us into something we are not.

To fit in and be acceptable, many people conform to these expectations and forget their individuality and uniqueness.

If you fall into this trap, some of your biggest regrets in life will be that you did not have the courage to be your true self, that you spent too much time worrying about what others thought of you, and changed yourself to please others.

It would be easier if you just accepted yourself the way you are and focused on what you feel and think about yourself, to avoid having this as one of your biggest regrets later in life.

6. Getting involved with the wrong people

The people you surround yourself with can shape your future. So, if you spend more time with the wrong crowd you will likely become just like them and do what they do. One of the biggest regrets of the dying and elderly is having spent their younger years with the wrong people.

For example, those who encourage you to make bad decisions such as abusing drugs, overindulging in alcohol, and being involved in immoral or unethical behaviors such as crime.

They fill your life with negativity and make you feel bad about yourself if you don’t do things their way.

To avoid this becoming one of your biggest regrets in life, choose friends and partners that influence your life positively. Have genuine ones who support you, encourage you to chase your dreams, and bring out the best in you.

READ ALSO: 11 Types of Toxic Friends You Don’t Need in Your Life

7. Not taking care of yourself

Your physical and mental health should be a priority. Your future self will thank you if you take care of yourself when younger. If you do otherwise, however, this can become one of your biggest regrets in life.

As you get older, you become more susceptible to diseases, keeping excess weight off becomes difficult, your skin becomes thinner and more fragile, and cognitive functioning declines.

When asked what they would advise their younger selves to do, most older people confess that they would request them to make healthier choices as this is one of their life’s biggest regrets.

For instance, eat healthy diets, exercise regularly, wear sunscreen to protect the skin, get enough sleep, and take self-care measures to protect your mental health such as journaling, taking mental health breaks, and practicing mindfulness meditation and yoga.

READ ALSO: Afraid of Aging? How to Be Okay with Getting Older

8. Not allowing yourself to be happy

In the book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, author Bronnie Ware states that not allowing ourselves to be happy is among life’s biggest regrets.

Even though our happiness is in our control, we often take life too seriously and forget to enjoy the journey.

We put others first and ourselves last, we judge ourselves too harshly, work too much, constantly worry about the future, and are never content with who we are and what we have.

When things are going well in our lives, we don’t trust that they can be good and always find ways to sabotage our happiness.

To prevent this from becoming one of your biggest regrets in life, do what makes you happy and know your worth. Believe that you deserve to be happy, laugh and smile more often, be kinder to yourself, celebrate your small wins, and finally, let go and forgive yourself for past mistakes.

Final Thoughts

Your future is shaped by what you do today. Sadly, many of us end up regretting things we did or those we failed to do, thereby making our lives unfulfilling.

Lack of courage to do various activities is the most common reason for having the biggest regrets in life listed above. Start being more confident and brave.

Dare to live the life you’ve always wanted and do everything you want to do, so when you are old and grey lying on your death bed, you won’t have any regrets.

Make decisions that positively impact your future, and thus avoid having these 8 biggest regrets in life.

Could you be doing any of the above activities? What will you do to avoid having these regrets?

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