Exit
jump into a relationship you
don’t really want. Nothing good
comes from tying yourself to a
person who isn’t right for you
simply because you feel the need
to couple up. As Nora Ephron
wrote when she launched HuffPost Divorce: “Marriages come
and go, but divorce is forever.”
19
Not taking advantage of your
vacation days. More Americans
than ever are forgoing their (already meager) paid vacation days
— despite the fact that we know
that people who take time off are
more likely to be healthy, happy
and productive workers. We swear,
no one will die if you turn off your
cell phone and head to the mountains for a long weekend.
20
Holding on to toxic friendships. Banish
any Regina George-like frenemies
from your life ASAP. Life is too
short to waste time with people
who make you feel like crap.
21
Spending time with people out
of obligation. Just because you
spent every waking moment of
your elementary school days with
someone doesn’t mean you have
anything in common with her now.
There’s no need to see every old
LIFESTYLE
22
friend and third cousin who passes
through your city. Be intentional
about who you spend your time
with and allow yourself to let some
relationships fade away naturally.
Being embarrassed about your interests.
“I want to be a f**king feminist
and wear a f**king Peter Pan collar. So f**king what?,” said Zooey
Deschanel in Glamour magazine’s
February 2013 issue. Take a cue
from the actress and stop caring what you “should” look like/
care about/talk about. If you love
girly things, love girly things. If you
don’t, don’t. Embrace your lack of
knowledge about music, your hockey obsession and your weakness for
both Breaking Bad and The Real
Housewives of Beverly Hills. And
if there’s a particular subject area
you don’t know about but you encounter someone who does? Take
the opportunity to ask questions.
23
Setting deadlines for major life
events. Don’t try to meticulously plan out when you should
find love or have babies or get
that dream job or buy that amazing brownstone. Enjoy the uncertainty of life and allow yourself to be overjoyed when you hit
those milestones or pleasantly
surprised when you realize you
want to skip out on some
of them altogether.
HUFFINGTON
10.13.13