The most common regrets in life can easily be avoided by careful planning and taking action before you grow old. Many people grow old having achieved many things in their lives – education, work, sport, home ownership, children, travel, etc. However, for many older people they think about the activities they haven’t done, or things they wish they had done differently.
Here are the most common regrets people have in their lives. Take a lesson from these regrets to improve your own life. Don’t wait until it’s too late to achieve the things you want in your life.
Not Finishing School
Missing out on completing their education is one of most common regrets in life for people that didn’t finish school. Rebelling against the system may have felt like the right thing to do at the time but think of the consequences. The rest of the world won’t care that you didn’t finish school. But it may adversely impact your career and earning potential. Some people always feel that they could have done more in their lives with more education.
Making a Poor Career Choice
Once a career choice is made it can be difficult to change in the future. If you have chosen a career that becomes boring, or with no career progression consider changing to another profession.
Not Saving Money Early in Life
Make saving money a priority when you are young. The key to having a comfortable lifestyle throughout your live is saving money and investing for the future.
Not Saving Enough Money
Many people reach retirement age without enough wealth to support themselves. They are forced to rely on government pensions or the generosity of relatives. No one wants to have to keep working into old age to support themselves. Ensure that you have a financial plan for your retirement.
Not Pursuing Romantic Interests
We live in a world there are many potential romantic interests at all stages of life.
Maybe you chose to not pursue a person of romantic interest and have always wondered whether the relationship would have been right for you. Maybe you rejected someone and have wondered whether you should have accepted their advances. Not pursuing romantic interests can cause one of the biggest regrets in people for the rest of their lives.
Pursuing the Wrong Romantic Interests
Some people have the regret of marrying too young with not enough romantic experience. They always think about whether they made the right choice.
Others may have gone along with marrying a partner just because they were asked, or were pregnant, or their parents wanted it, or it seemed like the right thing to do.
Some people chased a romantic interest that didn’t love them and it ended poorly. At least they found out the end result and don’t have to regret not pursuing that romantic interest.
Not Disclosing Your True Feelings
Holding on to negative emotions, such as jealousy or resentment is one of most common regrets in life that may manifest into physical illness. Learn to speak honestly and respectively about how you feel towards others. It’s better to clear your conscience by speaking how you feel rather than concealing your emotions and intentions from others.
Not Having Children
Many people choose not to have children and live fulfilling lives. Others may let life pass them by and miss having a family because they are occupied with career and life pursuits. Don’t regret not having a family, develop a plan for your life to include children, if that’s what you want.
Not Spending Enough Time with Children
Older parents can regret not spending enough time with their children especially during early childhood. If you have young children make a plan for your life to include more personal time with your children.
Not Spending Enough Time with Parents
Another one of the most common regrets in life is not spending enough time with parents. Parents are some of the most influential people in your life and you should spend enough quality time with them especially when they are older. You don’t want to regret having a poor relationship with parents after they are deceased.
Trying to Comply with Parents Expectations
All parents want to see their children prosper and have a good life. However, many parents place high expectations on their children that can cause unnecessary stress and friction in the family relationship. You are not a puppet of your parents. It is better to pursue your own goals and dreams rather than those of your parent’s. If you have only ever done what your parents have asked you won’t have your own life. You won’t be your own person. Eventually, your parents die and leave you with a life that’s not what you wanted.
Not Keeping a Secret
A secret must be kept confidential. When someone tells you confidential information, they expect you to maintain their trust and confidence. Leaking the information for personal gain or to embarrass someone is not the right thing to do. Often people who leaked secretive information only regret it later.
Not Taking Better Care of Your Health
Once you neglect your health, gain weight, and lose your fitness, it’s very difficult to regain your health again, especially when you are older. Unhealthy diets contribute to weight gain and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The key to a long life is to appreciate your body and mind. Good health is taking care of yourself throughout your life with regular exercise, healthy eating, eliminating stress and reduce the worrying.
Over-Working
Nobody ever regrets not working more in their lives. Many people regret spending too much time at work away from their families. Later in life it’s the experiences we have had that are the most important aspects of our lives. Make sure you take vacations to unwind from the stresses of life and rejuvenate yourself.
Not Travelling Enough
Travel is an educational experience that broadens the mind and makes you appreciate what you have in life. It’s interesting to learn how others live and to gain insights on how you can better live your life. Don’t deny yourself the right to see the world when you are young because you may not have the health to travel later in life.
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Making Yourself Unhappy by Worrying too Much
There can be a lot of stresses in life but worrying doesn’t solve any problems. If you have problems try to work logically through the solutions and tell yourself you have done everything that needs to be done. So, there’s no point in worrying about it. Don’t get old and regret that you worried about everything in your life for no real reason.
Life is what you make of it. Plan to make your life great and fulfilling. Make the best choices you can with the information you have at the time. Looking back and thinking you could have done something differently is counter-productive. Try to only look forward and put your energy into the future as we can never change the past.