Habits We’re Leaving Behind in 2024 👋

Not only are we leaving vexbolts behind in 2024 (sorry), but we’re also leaving a handful of habits that might be holding us back from our full potential.

Overall, I couldn’t be more grateful with how 2024 went, but I can’t help but wonder how much better 2025 will be if I abandon some of my more unproductive behaviors.

Here are a few habits I want ALL OF US to leave behind so we can make 2025 our best year yet.

Overthinking

Easier said than done, I know. But I feel I’ve wasted dozens, if not hundreds, of hours this year overthinking many decisions—regardless of the scale. I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time dwelling over video titles, outfits, meals, and even… these newsletters, lol.

In fact, as I’m writing this SENTENCE, I’m thinking a bit too much about my word choice. Sorry, I mean my verbiage. Word choice? Verbiage? Whatever.

Going into the new year, I want all of us to priotizie action over contemplation. Life will seldom present a moment when things feel perfect or opportune. The “right time” is nothing more than a illusion that everyone chases but almost no one ever finds.

NOW is the right time. Yes, even for that one thing that just came to your mind. I don’t care if it’s a new business, a new YouTube channel, or a new hobby that you want to pick up. After you finish reading this newsletter, take the smallest first step towards that ambition of yours and DM me what it is on Instagram.

(I’ll create a small collage of your responses and post it to my story!)

Compulsively Checking Your Phone

Boy oh boy… do I have a love-hate relationship with my phone.

I can’t imagine life without my phone. Apart from its incessant barrage of dopamine hits, my phone feels like an extension of my being (as cheesy as that sounds). It houses thousands of my fondest memories in the form of pictures, videos, and text messages.

But again, it also houses these addicting, dopamine-packed social media apps that, while amusing in the moment, fry my attention span and pull me out of the present. These apps have stolen countless hours of my life that I simply won’t get back.

(I made a video a while back to illustrate just how much of our lives we spend on our phones.)

While I’ll certainly continue to use these social media apps in 2025—I mean, my livelihood depends on them, lol—I’ll do my best to limit my usage. My goal is to drop my screen time by at least an hour each day, which, if you do the math, should return 15 whole days back to my life.

Sitting All Day

If you’re at school, you’re sitting. If you’re at work, you’re sitting. If you’re studying, you’re sitting. If you’re reading this newsletter—you get the point.

A while back, I read a piece about the dangers of prolonged sitting… and I went out to get a standing desk the next day.

Here’s a quote from Yale Medicine:

MULTIPLE?! Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you with this quote, but it’s a truth I want us to acknowledge going into the new year so we can implement healthier working habits.

Here’s some advice straight from Yale:

Do people actually call it a “sit-to-stand” desk? Feel like I’ve only ever heard people call it a standing desk. Hmm… anyways, another tip that you’ve probably heard from me numerous times is to start going on walks.

I absolutely love starting my day with a 15-minute walk in the sun. Not only does it help me get energized, but it’s usually the only time I spend in nature nowadays. It’s a much-needed habit for both my physical and mental health.

Hope you’re feeling excited and ready for the new year! I wanted to cover a few more habits in this newsletter but didn’t get the time, unfortunately. Maybe we’ll follow up with a part two.

If you want study help, come join my Discord! We have a global community of students helping each other succeed in school. I’d love to see you there.

And if you need help wrapping up your college essays, check out Next Admit! We have a team of Ivy League consultants who can provide detailed feedback in as little as 24 hours.

I’ll see you next week!

Best,
Gohar