Saturday 20 / April / 2024
We all have things we wish we had done differently, done sooner, or even worse, not done at all – and we only live to regret it years later. Here are 21 things you must start ticking off the ‘I won’t regret later’ list.
1. Travelling
It teaches you so much more about cultures, ethnicities, and life as a whole. Explore while you still can.
2. Discovering your own neighbourhood
However, in the pursuit to touchdown every valley, jungle and city, we tend to ignore places that are closest to us. Years later, while we brag about all the other countries where we’ve got our passports stamped, we find ourselves clueless about our own. If you’re adventurous enough, you can make memories in your own backyard.
3. Eating heartily
Because eventually (though we pray not), we might have the doctors shaking their heads at those candy bars. Not saying resort to junk every day, but it’s alright to give in to temptations sometimes. It’d be plain silly to rule chocolates out of our lives.
4. Keeping fit
And that brings us to our next point. Maintain a healthy lifestyle – work-life balance, healthy eating, and adequate exercise. Our bodies will thank us later and probably we wouldn’t have the doctors disapproving those candy bars after all.
5. Commercialising a hobby
For those with a 9-5 day job, hobbies sometimes take the back seat. But look at it this way, what if you could turn your passion into a business. Start early in life, capitalise on youthful energy, and start something on the side. It’s a great retirement plan.
6. Learning a language
It never goes to waste. Even if you don’t have any Finnish friends, speaking a foreign language is still going to sound exotic when you ramble a few words to your associates.
7. Taking a detour to enjoy the weather
No matter how busy your schedule is, it never hurts to stop by for a few minutes to enjoy nature. Step out in the rain, soak some winter sun, and let your hair catch the wind – even if it means arriving at that boring presentation a few minutes late, it’s worth it.
8. Filtering out bad company
Most part of the saying, ‘show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are’, is quite true and you shouldn’t let your well-earned name tarnish because of a wrong set of ‘friends’. Being amongst the wrong crowd can hamper progress, be demoralising, and actually defeats the purpose of having friends to start with.
9. Being foolishly in love
Shamelessly, selflessly and hopelessly! The sweet sleepless nights, hours of day-dreaming, and absent-minded smiles - there’s no feeling that can replace the one of being in love. Old or young, the feeling is evergreen and teaches so many emotions you can’t define.
10. Networking
Yes, cuddling up with your cat, stuffing your face with pizzas and watching your favourite TV series might seem the ideal way to unwind after a tiring work week, but missing out on social events for Game of Thrones isn’t something that you’re going to be proud of in the later years. As much as some of us might cringe on the thought of having to shake hands and rub shoulders at high profile events, these connections pay off (pun intended).
11. Performing
Not all of us can walk on and off stage effortlessly but taking the initiative and facing a large audience (the limelight, judgemental looks, curious faces – the entire package included), no matter how stage-shy you are, is essential. Those stomach knots are an experience in itself.
12. Hearing all the ‘when we were young’ tales
Our folks probably had better stories in their times than we do now. And you wouldn’t want to miss a chance to hear it from the horse’s mouth, would you?
13. Quitting a dreaded job
The sooner the better. You do not want to waste your talent in building an empire for a thankless tycoon who takes all the credit.
14. Giving back to those who love you
We often take our closest ones for granted. Appreciate their efforts, and if you’ve got something special in mind, don’t keep it for later; do it while they’re still around.
15. Skipping a class
Don’t let another class get in your way of doing something fun. Life lessons are as important as those from the book. Well, as long as you don’t decide on taking too many of those ‘life lessons’ and your teacher starts wondering if you ever existed.
16. Not doing something because you were scared
It doesn’t mean walking on a rope 50-storey off the ground, unharnessed, but facing your fears is the best way to overcome them; and the adrenaline rush thereafter is truly worth the leap. Won’t it be fun to wriggle a worm in front of your buddy with vermiphobia now that you’re over your own goosebumps?
17. Saying ‘sorry’
Trust me when I say this, apologising takes a lot off the chest. The strongest relations can be built if you drop the ego and learn to accept a mistake.
18. Learning to say ‘no’
Politely but firmly. Lending a helping hand is great, but not at the cost of sabotaging your own interests. When things seem to get a little more demanding than you can handle, put your foot down and refuse before you get swamped with unnecessary commitments and the rest of your life is spent on achieving other people’s ambitions.
19. Accumulating unnecessary loans
Though immediate pleasures might seem to justify that ridiculously big loan, once the excitement wears off, all that remains is pretty much just that ridiculously, big loan.
20. Procrastinating
Don’t put things off for the next day. Ideas come like the wind and can stir up an uncontrollable fervour to make it happen. Put it off for another day and the enthusiasm fizzles out. Next thing you know, your neighbour is a millionaire for launching that business idea you thought you’d look into one day.
21. Doing something not for the money
Volunteer, fight for a cause, or follow a passion! The feeling of making a change is something you can always revere.
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