Personal Development Archives - Striving For Felicity

6 Ways to Make Your Daily Commute More Productive

Your daily commute doesn’t have to be wasted time—it’s a perfect opportunity to tackle your personal goals, learn new skills, or simply make progress on your to-do list. Whether you have a long commute on public transportation or just a short drive, this significant amount of time can be turned into one of the most productive parts of your day with a little planning. Let’s explore some effective ways to make the most of it.

Ideas to turn wasted commute time into extra productivity time

The following ideas for making your daily commute more productive can be divided into two broad categories. First, you can use your commute as preparation for what follows—be it your workday or your free time after work. Second, you can use the commute as a separate time slot dedicated to something you’d otherwise need to carve out time for during the rest of your day. Both of these options are equally productive.

You don’t have to settle on a single one of the following ideas, either. You can pick and choose what you do depending on the day and what would benefit you the most at the moment. However, I would caution you to be very intentional with your time spent during your commute. It is so easy to waste time on social media or mindlessly singing along to songs, only to realize in hindsight what a waste of time it was. So plan ahead, but allow a bit of flexibility in your planning.

1. Gain Inspiration through Books, Articles, Podcasts, YouTube Videos, or Conversations with Strangers

Using your daily commute to be introduced to new ideas and concepts will give you a boost of inspiration that can be immediately used to create once you arrive at home or work. Of course, this depends on you diving straight into creation mode upon arrival instead of wasting time in bed or on social media.

Podcasts, for example, often leave me feeling incredibly inspired. It’s especially frustrating when I have to waste that inspiration because I have other things to do afterward. If you do have time to create in any shape or form after your commute, using this time to gain inspiration will be a huge productivity boost.

2. Learn a New Skill

I’m sure there are at least one or two skills you’ve always wanted to learn but never found the time for. Dedicating your commute to learning instead of simply listening to music or napping might provide the time you’ve been waiting for.

Of course, it can’t be a particularly physical skill or something that takes immense focus. No matter how good your noise-canceling headphones are, there’s always visual and sensory stimulation to distract you. Still, your daily commute can be a great time to listen to an audio lesson of the language you want to learn or watch a (previously downloaded) course from platforms like Skillshare or Mindvalley. So if you find yourself commuting for a significant amount of time, consider downloading an online course or a new audiobook beforehand to make the best use of the time.

3. Read Ahead for Class or Work

This falls into the category of using your daily commute as preparation time. If you’re a student, you’ll get the most out of your classes by coming in mentally prepared for the information you’re about to learn. Many students skip this step because it can be hard to find time when homework and studying already feel overwhelming. Your commute can be the perfect solution.

Similarly, if your job depends on staying updated with the news, use your commute to browse through a few news outlets. You’ll gain a head start before you even enter the office.

4. Stay Informed About Current Events

Most of us aren’t required to stay updated with the news for work, but it’s a smart habit if you don’t want to be caught off guard or miss out on opportunities. As a well-functioning adult, you should have some idea of what’s happening in the economy, politics, and society.

If you don’t want to watch the news in the morning (because who wants to start the day with negativity?) or in the evening (nothing like bad news to ruin a good night’s sleep), then your commute offers a good middle ground.

5. Study for Tests

Similar to learning a new skill, studying for an exam during your commute is best done in a way that doesn’t require too much focus. Doing math equations, for instance, is probably not ideal. However, commute time can be perfect for spaced repetition. Keeping old knowledge fresh is often a low-effort task, which is why flashcards are so popular among students.

For those flashcards that require more effort, you can always revisit them after your commute. Another way to study during a long commute is by skimming a new topic for the first time. Having a general overview before diving deeper later in the day makes in-depth study sessions more effective.

6. Thinking Time

There’s something oddly therapeutic about watching trees and houses pass by the window during a car or train ride. Using your commute time as dedicated thinking time might not look productive from the outside and might even feel like wasting time, but it’s rare to find a quiet moment in our busy days to just sit and think.

You can use this time to plan ahead, self-reflect, or practice gratitude. Count the things you’re thankful for, brainstorm solutions to problems, or simply let your mind wander productively. Taking deep breaths and practicing mindfulness during your commute can do wonders for your mental health, setting a positive tone for the rest of the day. Commute time is also an excellent opportunity to reflect on your goals and track your progress in both your career and personal life.

Transforming your commute into a productive part of your day is one of the best ways to make your schedule work for you. Whether it’s improving your mental health, pursuing personal growth, or ticking off your to-do list, your travel time can help you achieve more with less effort. The next time you’re stuck in traffic or on a train ride, remember: every moment holds an excellent opportunity to move closer to your goals.

How I FINALLY Healed My Hormonal Acne After 6 Years

Acne, Blog, Miscellaneous Topics, Personal Development

For six long years, I battled hormonal acne. It wasn’t just the breakouts that took a toll—it was the endless cycle of hope and disappointment as I tried every product, treatment, and lifestyle change I could find. Nothing seemed to work for me. But after years of trial and error, I finally discovered a solution that cleared my skin for good.

This blog post isn’t just about the final result—it’s about the journey: the experiments, the lessons, and the final breakthrough. If you’re struggling with hormonal acne and feeling like nothing works, I want to share my story. My hope is that the steps I took can inspire you to find the solution that works for you too.

What is hormonal acne

Hormonal acne is a type of acne linked to fluctuations in hormone levels, particularly during certain phases of the menstrual cycle. Many women notice breakouts worsening during the luteal phase, when progesterone and estrogen levels shift, often leading to oily skin and increased sebum production. This excess sebum clogs hair follicles, trapping dead skin cells and creating the perfect environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive. The result? Inflamed breakouts that often cluster around the jawline, chin, and lower cheeks, areas heavily influenced by hormonal activity.

While this condition is common in teenage years, adult women often face hormonal acne due to ongoing hormonal fluctuations caused by stress, diet, or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It’s also exacerbated by lifestyle factors like consuming high-glycemic-index foods (such as white bread and sugary snacks), dairy products, or experiencing disruptions in gut flora.

Things That I Didn’t Do to Clear My Skin

Once you’ve realized that you are suffering from hormonal acne, the first solution many women find is the birth control pill. I did my own research on this contraceptive, had a talk with a gynecologist, and was very determined to get it until I listened to a podcast episode from Feminine As F#ck that introduced me to a different view on the topic.

After a lot of consideration, I decided to stay away from the oral contraceptive as a “solution” to my hormonal acne. After all, the problem at the core of my acne would only be masked as long as I took the contraceptive, and come back full force once I got off of it. I’d rather find a way to heal my hormonal balance naturally, once and for all.

This is also the reason why I didn’t take any other medication for my acne (although I should mention that my skin was by far not nearly as bad as some of the horrific pictures of cystic acne you can find online). A dermatologist prescribed me some medication that I was supposed to take for the next +5 years, which would have been potentially liver and kidney damaging. Safe to say, I didn’t feel desperate enough to take those measures, yet.

Things That I Did to Improve My Skin

Skin Care

There are countless skincare products that allegedly help with acne-prone skin. Everything from washing gels, toners, serums, moisturizers, pimple patches, and more. I tried out all kinds of products throughout my six years of experimenting. This helped me learn a lot about having healthy skin in general, even though it did little to clear my acne.

What I learned through all this trial and error is this:

Products specifically for acne-prone skin include far too often pore-clogging ingredients. Don’t just trust the name of the product. Instead, you need to do your own research. There are a couple of pore-clogging ingredient checkers online that I use to check any new skincare product before purchasing it. Additionally, I also like to check my products with one of the available code scanner apps for harmful ingredients that are not related to acne.
Quality skincare doesn’t have to be expensive. Don’t think the +20 € a piece skincare from Sephora is needed to have a good skincare routine. In my experience, cheap brands are just as likely to have products with healthy ingredients. Not to mention, I have never noticed a difference between pricier or cheaper skincare products when applying them. So don’t break your wallet over these products. You should be especially careful to consider the recurring costs of committing to one skincare product. After all, you will have to buy it every couple of months and not just once. Those costs add up.
Always wear sunscreen throughout the day! Even during the winter.
Apply skincare in the correct order to get the best out of it.
Do peeling, microneedling, and red light therapy once in a while.

Foods

While skincare deals with acne from the outside, the food that you eat can influence acne from the inside. Certain foods elevate or lower certain hormones or are inflammatory. One thing I have learned over six years of trying to influence my hormones through food is that you shouldn’t obsess over this.

Not only would it take multiple costly hormone tests at different parts of your cycle before and after every new food to find out what hormones are too high/low and which have improved or not. It is also incredibly frustrating to see the countless contrary information out there. I can’t tell you how many times I thought I found the perfect food to help me lower my androgens only to find another article that tells me it could also raise androgens.

As a result, I have learned to simply be mindful about what I eat. As long as I don’t eat too much of certain foods/ingredients, I should be fine.

These are the kinds of foods/ingredients I am careful about consuming too much of:

Peanuts
Dairy
Soy
Sugar
Alcohol
Caffeine

And these I try to eat more of:

Nuts (especially walnuts)
Seeds (especially chia seeds)
Cruciferous vegetables

Supplements

Eating healthily is important whether or not you have acne. However, unless you obsess over your meal plan to a degree that most of us have no time or energy for, you will still find yourself at least slightly deficient in some of the important vitamins and minerals. That’s where supplements come in. I started to take more and more specific supplements targeted towards vitamins and minerals that were supposed to help with acne. Among them were Omega 3, Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B. In the last year though, I decided to replace most of these supplements with a Multivitamin & Multimineral supplement.

Whether or not these supplements make you healthier or are actually harmful is still a controversial point in science. Ultimately, everyone has to decide for themselves whether or not to take them. Personally, I haven’t experienced any symptoms that would support either opinion.

When talking about supplements, another often disregarded topic is that of your gut health. The health of your gut (e.g., leaky gut syndrome) can impact your overall health, including your skin. Probiotics can help with that, though again I haven’t noticed any improvements.

Blood Work

Having your doctor run a blood test can reveal underlying health issues that might be causing your acne. Beyond reassuring me that I was healthy, it didn’t help me much though.

Cycle Syncing

This is a concept I came across in the book In the Flo. The book talks about how our life is running on a 24-hour circadian rhythm. We structure our habits into the categories of morning, afternoon, and night. However, different from men, whose hormones also ebb and flow in a circadian rhythm, we women additionally have a menstrual cycle. That’s why certain tasks are easier for us at certain times of our cycle (menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation, luteal phase).

As such, cycle syncing means syncing your life with the phases of your cycle as much as possible. That means eating certain foods during certain phases, doing different workouts depending on the phase, as well as doing creative work or structured tasks at different times of the month.

I played around with this concept for a while, especially the food syncing. Today, the concept that I mostly still adhere to is that the menstrual phase is one of rest. Instead of cardio and weight training, I do yoga and stretching. I also allow myself to take it easier on studying without feeling guilty. Lastly, I use it as a time to reflect on my month and my goals.

Sleeping 7 Hours Every Night

While I haven’t found any information that sleep and acne have a correlation, I have learned that sleep has an even bigger impact on our current and future health than I thought. That’s why I wanted to include this as one of the things I did to heal my acne. To keep it short, I achieve at least 7 hours of sleep every night, with most nights being closer to 8 hours. And I am talking about actual sleep, not just time in bed.

Adjusting My Environment

Avoiding pore-clogging ingredients in shampoo and body wash: If you struggle with acne on your back and breast, then you should take a deeper look into the products you are using. For me, this meant avoiding products with coconut (even though I absolutely ADORE the smell), because coconut is highly pore-clogging.

Sleeping on a satin pillowcase: Satin is kinder to the skin and hair than cotton. And if you sleep on your side or stomach and toss and turn in bed, then you know just how much contact your skin has with your pillowcase for one-third of your life. That’s a huge chunk of time we can optimize for our skin.

Washing your pillowcase regularly: Imagine your pillowcase as a napkin. How many days would you want to use the same napkin? Probably not for multiple weeks on end. Your pillowcase might not get smeared with food residue, however, it does get oils, old skin, skin and hair care products, as well as sweat all over it. Do your skin a favor and keep its exposure to bacteria to a minimum by washing your bedding more often.

The Final Solution

Six years is a long time to experiment with all types of solutions for hormonal acne. Since it always takes 1-3 months to see actual results on your skin, my motivation to find a new solution came in 3-4 bursts every year, in between which I was disappointed that my skin was still breaking out twice a month.

Of course, it also didn’t help, that University comes with stressful periods that cause more breakout, regardless of what I did. And sometimes, I had wonderfully clear skin, without being able to replicate it during the next cycle.

All in all, it’s been a longer journey than I expected. I am grateful for it though, because I learned many different topics, I might have otherwise never spend much time on. It has also proven to be a trial for my confidence to leave the house with acne marks. Nowadays, I can always tell myself that I’ve looked worse and survived that just fine.

I am a bit sad to say, that my final acne solution hasn’t been as ‘natural” as I had hoped for, although it is still better than outright medication.

The solution is: Personalized skin care from dermatologists

It was by pure accident that I came across the website of Formel Skin. After reading through the founder’s story as well as many reviews that resonated with me, I decided to give it a try and place an order. I’m now two and a half months into the treatment and feel confident to say, that it has been a full success. The first couple of weeks I experienced a bit of the expected worsening of my acne, before my skin started to heal for good.

While Formel Skin is (at the moment) only shipping to Germany and Switzerland, there are similar businesses all over the world.

Frankly, I am unsure, if I would have accepted those extra costs while I was a student without a regular income. However, if you do have the money to spare, then I believe that it is an investment you won’t regret.

4 Bad Habits We Have Romanticised

Blog, Personal Development

It’s surprising how some of the bad habits we know aren’t great for us have turned into trends, often celebrated or even idealized. Think of endless scrolling on social media, where everything from ignoring red flags to dismissing communication issues in romantic relationships becomes romanticized through neatly curated photos and relatable captions. But when we glorify these unhealthy habits, we blur the line between charming quirks and genuinely harmful behavior, often overlooking the impact they can have on our mental health, relationships, and even personal growth. This post takes a closer look at how we romanticize certain habits and offers insight into how we can shift away from these cycles in favor of good habits that lead to healthier connections and better overall well-being.

What it Means to Romanticise Something:

To romanticize a habit or behavior is to view it through a lens that makes it seem ideal, charming, or even desirable, while downplaying the negative consequences. It’s a filter we often apply unconsciously, softening the rough edges of bad behaviors and making them look acceptable, or even aspirational.

The process taps into our internal beliefs and values, influenced by what we see from friends, family members, or popular culture. For instance, constantly joking about our “bad taste” in partners can seem endearing, but it can also set a foundation for unhealthy relationship patterns or unrealistic expectations in the first place.

Romanticizing isn’t always harmful, but when we glorify things like toxic relationships, substance abuse, or poor time management, it can lead us to overlook red flags and miss chances to grow and embrace healthier behaviors.

Bad Habits You Need To Stop Romanticising

1. Pulling an All-Nighter

School is one of those topics we love to romanticize. After all, studying seems much more enjoyable when we view it in a positive light. But being the type of student who regularly takes advantage of the library’s night hours isn’t romantic; it’s a bad habit that shows a lack of prioritization.

One of those priorities should be getting at least 7 hours of sleep. Numerous scientific studies explore the necessity of sleep and the impact poor sleep has on us (I highly recommend the book Why We Sleep if you want to dive deeper into the topic). Not only does inadequate sleep impair our ability to retain new information, but it also has serious effects on our health if maintained over the long term.

2. Working in Bed

On the topic of work and sleep: another bad habit we romanticize is working in bed. And I get it—being all cozy in bed while staying productive has a soft, appealing vibe, perfect for times we don’t feel like working at all. However, working in bed is not doing you any favors.

First, it’s challenging to stay focused, as your brain associates your bed with sleep. You’ll likely find yourself yawning far more while working in bed than at a desk. On the flip side, if you’ve managed to resist the sleepy vibes over time, you may have trained your brain to associate the bed with work, making it harder to fall asleep later. Working in bed creates a push-and-pull effect between two outcomes you don’t want. So, just avoid it.

3. Aspiring to Have a “Summer Body”

With summer approaching, you might suddenly feel motivated to eat healthier and work on your fitness level—both admirable goals that encourage good habits, right? Well, the issue with the concept of a “summer body” is that it typically isn’t maintained year-round.

Often, people let themselves go around Christmas, only to put “losing weight” back on their New Year’s resolutions. This yo-yo effect is unnecessary and certainly not romantic. Instead of aiming for a “summer body” for a few months, focus on achieving fitness and health levels you’re satisfied with all year long.

4. Binge-Watching Series

A new series is trending, or the latest season of a popular show has dropped, and naturally, we feel the need to binge it over the weekend. Fun, right? But, when you look back at all the series you’ve binged, do you actually remember much? Would you have still enjoyed it if you had stretched it out, watching one episode per day? Could you have made progress toward a personal goal instead?

The problem with binge-watching is that it rarely frees up time during the week. Instead, you often find yourself filling that time with yet another series, leading to hours of time that could have been used in more meaningful ways. Once or twice may not be harmful, but have you ever calculated the hours spent binge-watching over the years? It doesn’t paint a pretty picture. And few people ever look back and wish they had watched more series.

At the end of the day, it’s up to us to take a deep breath, reflect, and separate our real life from the illusions we create or see online. Choosing to reject romanticized bad habits doesn’t mean we’re settling for a dull life; instead, it opens us up to spending time on good habits that enhance our mental health, relationships, and self-worth. By focusing on healthy partnerships, open communication, and being the best version of ourselves, we can transform the way we think about what it means to live authentically, and maybe even inspire others to do the same. So next time you catch yourself romanticizing a bad habit, take a moment to ask, “Is this really the kind of person I want to be?”

How to make the most of your 5-to-9 next to your 9-to-5

Blog, Personal Development

In today’s economy, more and more people are exploring the idea of making the most of their time outside of their regular 9-to-5 job. Whether it’s building a side business, developing a freelance gig, or finally setting up that online businessyou’ve always dreamed of, maximizing your “5-to-9” hours can create extra income streams and help you work toward financial freedom. But finding the right balance between your day job and side projects takes thoughtful planning, hard work, and a bit of creativity. Here, we’ll explore how to best use your spare time before and after work, tapping into the extra hours you already have to reach financial goals while also nurturing your personal life and sense of purpose.

What Is the Idea Behind the 5-to-9?

The term “5-to-9” goes beyond simply working in the early mornings or late evenings. It includes any time outside of the traditional work hours—whether before, after, or even during small gaps like your lunch break. For side hustlers and small business owners alike, these extra hours present an opportunity to work toward realistic goals without sacrificing their full-time job. From morning routines for early risers to nighttime productivity for night owls, the 5-to-9 mindset is all about making your spare time count. With a little structure, your spare hours can be your greatest asset, allowing you to manage projects, develop new skills, and, ultimately, gain financial independence.

For those with a corporate job or service industry role, the 5-to-9 hours are perfect for testing out new business modelswithout the risk of leaving a stable employment contract. It can be a great time to try digital marketing skills on social media platforms, design social media posts, and experiment with content creation. Think of it as building your own thing on the side, just like Jeff Bezos did in his early days. By treating your 5-to-9 with purpose, you’re setting the foundation for future career changes, possible income streams, and perhaps even the chance to become your own boss.

How to Make the Most of Your Life Outside the 9-to-5

Have a To-Do List Ready
The biggest reason most people don’t accomplish much outside of work is because they don’t plan for it. If you come home without a plan, you’ll find yourself chilling in bed, watching Netflix. The same thing happens in the mornings—rather than getting things done, you’ll use the time to relax before the workday.
To counter this default to “laziness,” be proactive and have tasks ready to pursue. You could block time in your calendar for a specific task (e.g., workout from 5:30 am to 6:15 am) or mentally dedicate one hour to whichever to-do on your list feels right. The latter approach allows for flexibility but requires a well-thought-out to-do list. After a long workday, deciding what to tackle next is another mental hurdle, making it harder to stay disciplined. Do your future self a favor and plan ahead.
Get at Least 7 Hours of Sleep
Yes, it’s a well-worn tip, but the importance of getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep is often overlooked. Knowing and doing are two different things. I considered myself a good sleeper, but reading Why We Sleep recently opened my eyes. Studies show we’re surprisingly bad at assessing our sleep quality, and the negative effects of one poor night last longer than we realize.
If you’re not getting at least 7 hours of actual sleep each night (not just time spent in bed!), you’ll feel tired both in the morning and afternoon. Caffeine can sustain you, but think about how much more you could accomplish before and after work if you weren’t constantly tired. That’s why I challenge you to try 7 hours of sleep for 14 consecutive days and see how you feel afterward. If that feeling alone isn’t enough to change your habits, Why We Sleep might give you the nudge you need.
Rejuvenate After Work
All work and no play isn’t a sustainable or fulfilling lifestyle. Integrate moments of play into your day. Ideally, find something enjoyable and beneficial. Instead of scrolling social media, try reading a book. Rather than watching Netflix on the couch, consider watching it on a gym bike or going for a walk with an audiobook. A post-work reset for your brain and body will help you stay energized and motivated.
Find Your Procrastination Trigger
Here’s the tricky part: ensure your break doesn’t turn into procrastination. If you find it hard to stop a Netflix episode or close a book, a “short break” can easily consume your entire evening. If possible, avoid your procrastination triggers altogether—don’t lie down in bed after your walk, for instance. When complete avoidance isn’t practical, set alarms or use apps to limit your access to certain distractions.
Consistency Is More Important Than Big Actions (Most of the Time)
Be realistic about your available time. We all have about 18 waking hours in a day (since proper sleep is non-negotiable!). After work, commuting, meals, and household tasks, there isn’t much left. That doesn’t excuse wasting your remaining hours, but it does mean setting achievable goals.
Focus on small, consistent actions that add up. Five days of 30-minute workouts are great for your health; they don’t have to be an hour each day. Working on a side hustle an hour daily is better than only managing multiple hours occasionally. Consistency with small but effective habits can be incredibly powerful.
On the other hand, some tasks are best done in one go. It makes little sense to do your taxes in 30-minute increments. For these, skipping a few daily habits occasionally to finish the task is a good approach—as long as it’s the exception, not the rule, you’ll get the most out of your 5-to-9.

At the end of the day, making the most of your 5-to-9 hours comes down to dedication, planning, and passion. Embracing this time outside of your 9-to-5 work hours is not only a fun way to explore new projects but can also bring you closer to financial freedom and personal fulfillment. Whether you’re interested in launching a small business, honing a new skill on the side, or setting financial goals for the next year, your 5-to-9 hours hold boundless potential. Just remember that consistent effort and realistic goals will take you a long way. So take the first step today—you’re already in the right place to turn your extra hours into something truly meaningful.

5 Secrets to Aging Gracefully | How to Stay Young at Heart and Mind

Blog, Personal Development

Aging is a natural part of life, and while it brings physical changes like gray hair, fine lines, and a higher risk of health problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure, it’s possible to age gracefully with the right approach. Maintaining good health in your golden years involves more than just physical health—it’s also about your mental health, emotional well-being, and keeping a positive attitude. From following a healthy diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats to staying active with regular exercise, these steps go a long way toward improving your quality of life. Building social connections, engaging in new hobbies, and spending time with family members are equally important for healthy aging and boosting cognitive function. Embracing these lifestyle changes can help you live your best life, no matter your age!

1. Practice Gratitude Towards Aging

It’s frankly embarrassing how many people try to hide their age or even lie about it. Some refuse to celebrate their birthdays because they don’t want to be reminded they’re getting older. Sure, aging means that death is approaching, but that has been true since the minute we were born. It’s not new information. Trying to resist one of the most basic parts of life in such a childish way is frankly ridiculous—and the complete opposite of “aging gracefully.”

To age gracefully, start practicing gratitude toward the aging process. Have you ever considered how many people don’t get the privilege of aging? How many would have traded everything they possessed to reach your age? Just turn on the news, and you’ll be reminded of the many people who haven’t had the luck you’re experiencing right now.

Once you truly grasp this fact, it becomes astoundingly easy to feel grateful for the age you are. And once you feel that gratitude, it will automatically shine outward. People might not be able to pinpoint exactly what makes you so magnetic, but that simple gratitude for life is a beautiful thing that draws people in.

2. Act Your Age

Acting your age doesn’t mean you have to wear frills and eye-searing floral patterns as a grandma. Nor does it mean you have to run around in booty shorts with your bra on full display in your twenties. You can be a teen obsessed with bingo, or a pensioner who loves playing video games.

Your age is more than just your physical years—it also depends on your mental age. After all, we’ve all met people who look far older or younger than they seem (without relying on makeup or Botox).

Acting your age simply means not forcibly trying to appear younger than you are. Wearing a hot red leather jacket in your sixties is only awkward if you do it to appear younger than you are. You might think people don’t notice the difference, but believe me, they do. And it’s always embarrassing to see someone obviously compensating for something. It’s the complete opposite of aging gracefully.

3. Stay Open to Change

We all know the cliché of an older person who grumbles about the youth of today and insists everything was better back in the day. The kind of person who seems to oppose everything new purely out of principle. Once you reach that point, you can be sure you’ve truly grown old.

Aging gracefully means remaining flexible and open to change. Think of how children, teenagers, and young adults are always excited for new experiences. That sense of wonder and inspiration is what we need to retain to stay young, even as we physically grow older. Finding older people with that excitement for life is sadly rare, but it’s a mark of true vitality. It takes self-awareness to ensure you don’t become stuck in your ways.

4. Keep Learning

Technically, we can’t prevent ourselves from learning new things as we go through life. However, there is a visible difference between people who stay mentally sharp by actively learning and those who rely on outdated knowledge. You don’t need to stay up-to-date with every minor change in the world, but aging gracefully means keeping up with key developments to some extent.

Being informed about current political, economic, and societal topics is part of that. You don’t need to know who the current Bachelor is or which iPhone model just got released, but you should at least know what those massive protests in your country are about and what company keeps making headlines for revolutionizing space travel.

Beyond that, you should also stay updated on the latest news in your profession. Whatever your career, I’m sure you’ve come across an old-timer who does things in a way that blatantly shows they haven’t updated their methods in years, if not decades. That kind of stagnation makes someone seem truly old, and it’s exactly what you want to avoid if you want to age gracefully.

5. Stay Fit

Staying fit as a child and young adult is easy and almost effortless. You’ve got gym class in school, sports clubs after school, and friends who want to hang out at the ice rink or go skating. But as we grow older, these athletic endeavors become less frequent, while our bodies naturally grow weaker and less flexible.

In his book Outlive, Peter Attia introduces the idea of training for the “centenarian decathlon.” In other words, you don’t go to the gym just to stay lean and attractive—you go to prepare for the inevitable decline of your physical abilities as you age. Do you want to be able to pick up your baby grandchild off the floor or chase your older grandkids around the garden? That’s something you can, and should, start training for now.

Look at the older people you know. How many of them are sick and frail? How many struggle to perform basic daily tasks like going to the grocery store or climbing stairs? Aging gracefully means being proactive in maintaining both your physical and mental health. It means becoming one of those rare older people who still cycle, dance, or participate in fitness activities well into their senior years.

The good news is that while the aging process is inevitable, there are many healthy ways to manage it gracefully and improve your overall health. Whether it’s protecting your skin from sun damage, managing stress levels with deep breathing exercises, or staying sharp by learning a new skill or musical instrument, these small efforts contribute to graceful aging.

Make the most of your later life by staying engaged in social activities, maintaining meaningful relationships, and scheduling regular check-ups with your health care provider to address any potential problemsearly on. Aging doesn’t have to be about decline—it’s about living with vitality and purpose.

Remember, the best way to thrive as you age is by nourishing your physical health, fostering your emotional health, and keeping a positive outlookon the years ahead.

5 Honest Reasons You Should Be Disappointed With Yourself

Blog, Personal Development

Feeling disappointed in yourself is something we all face from time to time, and it’s a natural part of life. Whether it stems from unmet expectations, repeating the same mistakes, or not meeting your own desires, these feelings can weigh heavily on your mental health. The good news is that disappointment, while unpleasant, can be a starting point for real personal growth. Taking an honest look at your own life and facing unmet expectations head-on is the first step to becoming a better person in the long run. This post will help you understand why it’s okay to be disappointed in yourself sometimes—and how you can use these feelings as a helpful way to propel yourself toward the most important thing: a more fulfilling life.

1. You keep making the same mistakes

Nobody is stupid for making a mistake. Mistakes are part of the learning process. You’ll never be able to do something truly amazing without making at least a couple of mistakes along the way.

In fact, many successful people fail countless times because they are willing to take risks and act before they are fully ready. And it pays off. So, no, making mistakes is nothing to be ashamed of. However, the moment you start repeating the same mistakes over and over again—that’s when you should be disappointed in yourself. It clearly shows that you haven’t learned your lesson, whatever it might have been.

Maybe you constantly get in trouble for being late. You rush in the morning because you sleep in, miss your bus, or get reprimanded at work.
Perhaps you’re a serial dater, jumping in and out of relationships quicker than people change their hairstyle.
Maybe you keep forgetting appointments, causing unnecessary friction in your life.
Do you keep injuring yourself at the gym?
Do you constantly struggle with money because of impulsive spending?
Perhaps you always forget to pack something when going on holiday.

Whatever mistake you keep repeating, I hope this is making you feel suitably ashamed of yourself. Perhaps it’s the push you need to start improving.

2. You’ve had the same goals and dreams for years

You want to lose weight, start a new hobby, learn how to draw, run a marathon, read 100 books in a year, quit your job, start a business, or do a hundred and one other things. How many of these goals did you already have last year—or the year before that?

How much longer do you want to keep wallowing before you finally take action? Doesn’t it embarrass you to see other people go after the same goals you have, while you remain in the same position you were in last year? Aren’t you disappointed in yourself? Surely, these people aren’t that much better than you. If they can do it, so can you. Which leaves the question: Why don’t you?

3. You mostly follow the well-trodden life path of education/career

Let me guess—you went to school, graduated, and pursued some form of higher education, be it college, university, or an apprenticeship. Maybe you changed your major along the way, but eventually, you graduated again and got a job. Or you’re on your way to doing that.

If this general outline for your life fits, then congratulations—you’re doing well.

Perhaps you even managed to graduate with flying colors and earned an especially impressive degree. Again, congrats—you’re doing great.

But, are you happy with just doing great? Are you satisfied being one person among millions with exactly the same life path? Don’t you want to stand out at least a little?

Ask yourself: Who is the most interesting person your age that you know personally, and what makes them so interesting?

Chances are, they’re doing something that makes them stand out. Perhaps they have a successful YouTube channel, regularly compete in some sport, have a small Etsy business, or go on insane adventure trips.

Whatever it is that makes them interesting, you could easily do something similar within a year. All it takes is focused effort. Aren’t you disappointed in yourself for simply following the common path when there are so many other options out there?

4. You are way too f#cking comfortable

Of course, it’s a blessing if you don’t have to suffer from any major health, money, or relationship issues that make your life a living hell day after day.

However, if you stay perfectly comfortable over weeks and months at a time, it’s a huge sign that you’re settling for your comfort zone. And what a boring life that is!

Just think about what your life could have been like if you’d pushed yourself outside your comfort zone just once every three months, let alone once each month. How disappointing is your current life compared to the opportunities you denied yourself because you wanted to just chill and waste your time?

Do you even remember what you wasted your time on?

If your year feels like it has flown by, that’s a sign you didn’t make enough exciting memories. Instead, everything just melds together into a washed-out blur of memories. How disappointing.

5. You waste your time online

I’m sure I don’t have to elaborate on why you should feel disappointed in yourself for wasting time online. Most of us do it, and we all hate it. Although, apparently, we don’t hate it enough to stop doing it—which is so damn disappointing.

At the end of the day, disappointment is not the end of the world, but rather a learning experience that can guide you toward better decisions and a more fulfilling life. It’s a great practice to reflect on where you are and where you want to be.

Remember, even successful people like Richard Branson or Jerry Seinfeld have faced their share of disappointing experiences, and they didn’t get to where they are without stepping out of their comfort zone.

The next time you feel disappointed, take a deep breath and realize it’s just part of the journey of growth. You have plenty of time to get things right and make progress toward your own expectations.