Major life changes

Hey everyone.

Look, I’m really not sure if this is the right subforum to start a thread, but I couldn't find anything better suited.

I'm curious about how much these small, simple, or even drastic changes actually help versus how much they might hurt.

I’ve decided to treat this year as my big fresh start.
I made a choice to hit the gym and get back in shape after all those holiday feasts and just being lazy for a few months. I also finally got serious about school. I started studying more, and I actually decided to change my major. It turns out what I was studying just didn't fulfill me. It wasn't even hard; I just didn't care about it and couldn't see myself doing it long-term.
Then there's the social side. I decided to cut ties with certain people. It wasn't because of any huge fights or hatred or anything like that. It's just that I'm tired of dragging things out—meeting up once a month, sending the occasional text, playing the part. I let go of those draining relationships that weren't necessarily "bad," but they were just exhausting my energy.
On top of that, I landed a great job through a recruiter. The people are super interesting and nice, the workload isn't too crazy, and the pay is solid. I’ve even started saving money, which used to be nothing more than a dream for me.
I also deleted Facebook. It was eating up all my free time, and some of the people on there were honestly just exhausting. I used to be glued to it 24/7. I feel so much better now that it's gone. The people who actually matter have my number and know where I live, so they can reach me easily. I don't need some silly app to stay in touch with my friends.

Right now, I am happy. New job, new habits, home life is good. I’m genuinely happy, in the truest sense of the word. Not too high, not too low. This is the first time I’ve done so many productive things for myself in such a short window, so it’s all very new to me. I'm in a bit of a positive shock.

How much do these kinds of massive shifts actually benefit your life? So far, everything is hitting me positively, but for how long? Maybe there aren't any downsides to making these changes, but what should I expect moving forward?

Hope you guys get what I'm saying. 🤣 👋

Honestly, I think it’s impossible to say how long this honeymoon phase from all those changes is going to last. You’re basically just stuck waiting to see how the dust settles. If I were in your shoes, though? I wouldn't be sweating it. I’d be feeling pretty damn good about the fact that you actually had the guts to pull all that off in the first place. It means if things go south—and let's face it, they might—you already know you have the skills to fix it and do it all over again. 🙂
As for me? Man, I struggle to change anything at all. Usually, it takes some absolute disaster hitting me right in the face before I even consider making a move. :/

Richard Rivera30 said:Hey everyone.

Look, I’m really not sure if this is the right subforum to start a thread, but I couldn't find anything better suited.

I'm curious about how much these small, simple, or even drastic changes actually help versus how much they might hurt.

I’ve decided to treat this year as my big fresh start.
I made a choice to hit the gym and get back in shape after all those holiday feasts and just being lazy for a few months. I also finally got serious about school. I started studying more, and I actually decided to change my major. It turns out what I was studying just didn't fulfill me. It wasn't even hard; I just didn't care about it and couldn't see myself doing it long-term.
Then there's the social side. I decided to cut ties with certain people. It wasn't because of any huge fights or hatred or anything like that. It's just that I'm tired of dragging things out—meeting up once a month, sending the occasional text, playing the part. I let go of those draining relationships that weren't necessarily "bad," but they were just exhausting my energy.
On top of that, I landed a great job through a recruiter. The people are super interesting and nice, the workload isn't too crazy, and the pay is solid. I’ve even started saving money, which used to be nothing more than a dream for me.
I also deleted Facebook. It was eating up all my free time, and some of the people on there were honestly just exhausting. I used to be glued to it 24/7. I feel so much better now that it's gone. The people who actually matter have my number and know where I live, so they can reach me easily. I don't need some silly app to stay in touch with my friends.

Right now, I am happy. New job, new habits, home life is good. I’m genuinely happy, in the truest sense of the word. Not too high, not too low. This is the first time I’ve done so many productive things for myself in such a short window, so it’s all very new to me. I'm in a bit of a positive shock.

How much do these kinds of massive shifts actually benefit your life? So far, everything is hitting me positively, but for how long? Maybe there aren't any downsides to making these changes, but what should I expect moving forward?

Hope you guys get what I'm saying. 🤣 👋

Seriously, props to you for pulling off so many positive changes. I really hope you can stick with it! 👍

Aaron Jackson3 said:Honestly, I think it’s impossible to say how long this honeymoon phase from all those changes is going to last. You’re basically just stuck waiting to see how the dust settles. If I were in your shoes, though? I wouldn't be sweating it. I’d be feeling pretty damn good about the fact that you actually had the guts to pull all that off in the first place. It means if things go south—and let's face it, they might—you already know you have the skills to fix it and do it all over again. 🙂
As for me? Man, I struggle to change anything at all. Usually, it takes some absolute disaster hitting me right in the face before I even consider making a move. :/

But honestly? I am happy. Truly. I'm really proud of myself because I used to have zero backbone. And don't even get me started on quitting smoking—my record back then was a whopping two and a half days. 😬

I guess I was just wondering how much this kind of sudden lifestyle overhaul can mess with your head.

Matthew Castillo5 said:Seriously, props to you for pulling off so many positive changes. I really hope you can stick with it! 👍

Thanks so much. 🙂

Any positive shift in life is a win. Life doesn't have one single "correct" way to exist; it’s just a constant stream of different solutions that evolve as time passes. Sometimes, the very things that worked yesterday become the exact problems you're facing today. Most people are too lazy or stuck in their ways to actually fix things, so they just settle for mediocre compromises instead of solving the issue. That’s why any change—any move toward something better—is always a good thing.

Congrats on the changes. I honestly think you'll stick with them, too (it’s pretty obvious how proud you are of them, and frankly, you have every right to be)!

Richard Rivera30 said:But honestly? I am happy. Truly. I'm really proud of myself because I used to have zero backbone. And don't even get me started on quitting smoking—my record back then was a whopping two and a half days. 😬

I guess I was just wondering how much this kind of sudden lifestyle overhaul can mess with your head.

Thanks so much. 🙂

It won't be negative; better is usually better.😁
But you should probably expect some setbacks.
Maybe you're riding that high from a fresh start right now, which is fine. But that momentum isn't permanent.
Old habits tend to pull you back. People often miss the point at first and try to force things to stay the way they were, or maybe society doesn't always support someone trying to change... those are just some hurdles, among others.
I guess you shouldn't fear temptation, though. Usually, it's just about facing the same thing again, maybe a bit harder this time. 😁 And every time you push through, the change sticks a little more, eventually becoming part of who you are.
It starts to take over your life, regardless of those old patterns.😉
Expect to feel exhausted, or like giving up, or feeling stuck. When that happens, just tell yourself: 'Well, this is what Alex Barnes8 told me to expect.'😍
Take breaks when you need to. Don't overdo it. There's a difference between effort and just forcing it.
Keeping a journal might help, too.👍

Alex Barnes8 said:It won't be negative; better is usually better.😁
But you should probably expect some setbacks.
Maybe you're riding that high from a fresh start right now, which is fine. But that momentum isn't permanent.
Old habits tend to pull you back. People often miss the point at first and try to force things to stay the way they were, or maybe society doesn't always support someone trying to change... those are just some hurdles, among others.
I guess you shouldn't fear temptation, though. Usually, it's just about facing the same thing again, maybe a bit harder this time. 😁 And every time you push through, the change sticks a little more, eventually becoming part of who you are.
It starts to take over your life, regardless of those old patterns.😉
Expect to feel exhausted, or like giving up, or feeling stuck. When that happens, just tell yourself: 'Well, this is what Alex Barnes8 told me to expect.'😍
Take breaks when you need to. Don't overdo it. There's a difference between effort and just forcing it.
Keeping a journal might help, too.👍

It really is nice to have strangers rooting for you sometimes. Thanks a ton. 🙂
I'll keep your advice in mind, don't you worry. 🤣

Oh, and about the journaling—I've actually been doing that for almost two years now. I love writing. For me, it's basically my pressure valve.🙂

Richard Rivera30 said:Hey everyone.

Look, I’m really not sure if this is the right subforum to start a thread, but I couldn't find anything better suited.

I'm curious about how much these small, simple, or even drastic changes actually help versus how much they might hurt.

I’ve decided to treat this year as my big fresh start.
I made a choice to hit the gym and get back in shape after all those holiday feasts and just being lazy for a few months. I also finally got serious about school. I started studying more, and I actually decided to change my major. It turns out what I was studying just didn't fulfill me. It wasn't even hard; I just didn't care about it and couldn't see myself doing it long-term.
Then there's the social side. I decided to cut ties with certain people. It wasn't because of any huge fights or hatred or anything like that. It's just that I'm tired of dragging things out—meeting up once a month, sending the occasional text, playing the part. I let go of those draining relationships that weren't necessarily "bad," but they were just exhausting my energy.
On top of that, I landed a great job through a recruiter. The people are super interesting and nice, the workload isn't too crazy, and the pay is solid. I’ve even started saving money, which used to be nothing more than a dream for me.
I also deleted Facebook. It was eating up all my free time, and some of the people on there were honestly just exhausting. I used to be glued to it 24/7. I feel so much better now that it's gone. The people who actually matter have my number and know where I live, so they can reach me easily. I don't need some silly app to stay in touch with my friends.

Right now, I am happy. New job, new habits, home life is good. I’m genuinely happy, in the truest sense of the word. Not too high, not too low. This is the first time I’ve done so many productive things for myself in such a short window, so it’s all very new to me. I'm in a bit of a positive shock.

How much do these kinds of massive shifts actually benefit your life? So far, everything is hitting me positively, but for how long? Maybe there aren't any downsides to making these changes, but what should I expect moving forward?

Hope you guys get what I'm saying. 🤣 👋

Just remember that feeling. Maybe write it down in a journal.
I'm not just talking about the Facebook situation. It's more general than that, I guess.
When things go south, I guess it helps to look back at how it felt when you actually did the right thing. Maybe.

Richard Rivera30 said:It really is nice to have strangers rooting for you sometimes. Thanks a ton. 🙂
I'll keep your advice in mind, don't you worry. 🤣

Oh, and about the journaling—I've actually been doing that for almost two years now. I love writing. For me, it's basically my pressure valve.🙂

Well, I guess you'll actually make something of yourself eventually.😁
Writing can be helpful for self-reflection. Especially when things get messy. It’s decent for brainstorming during those moments, too. You don't even have to keep it like a journal; you could just toss the paper afterward. I guess that might help clear the tension and find some balance.🙂
I guess there's an American saying for that: "Paper covers everything." Maybe.😉

I honestly believe that change is a positive thing, provided you aren’t constantly shifting just for the sake of it—you know, making conscious, impulsive pivots every other week. In those cases, I think a person can easily "lose" themselves, which is usually a red flag that they haven't quite figured out what they want, what they love, or even who they actually are...

My take? You have to accept and embrace who you are first and foremost, but small, intentional shifts are always welcome. As we move through life, we learn—it's just part of the process—that when we spot something that could genuinely improve our lives, we should definitely try to adopt it and build that new, healthy habit.

From what you've described, it sounds like you hit a breaking point where certain things just started getting under your skin, and you finally decided to say, "enough is enough." Or, perhaps you just took a moment for some much-needed introspection and realized you'd be better off if you changed course. And since you mentioned you're feeling better now, then honestly, that's a total win! :-)

Seriously, girl, I wish I had your magic touch... if only I could just unblock my Facebook account and get it back like it's nothing... and don't even get me started on working out, because at this rate, I'm probably just gonna stiffen up and die with my laptop glued to my hands if I don't actually move once in a while🙂

Just stick to what you did before, because that made you feel much BETTER!

<3

In other words, you cut ties with an old life that was clearly getting under your skin, and honestly, that's great. 🙂))) <3

Thanks everyone for all the input. I’m sticking to my guns with these new decisions and staying focused on this new path.
Things can either stay stagnant or actually get better. It’s not like I’ve had a lifetime of absolute chaos, but there was enough junk in my life that I just decided to cut ties with whatever was draining my energy. Honestly? It feels great. I made a massive change for myself and it’s been wonderful. 🙂

Seriously though, thanks again. I’ve never really been the type to take charge, so I’m not even sure how I pulled this off. It just hit me all at once and I went for it. If I hadn't stopped saying "I'll start on Monday," I never would have made it happen.
Sure, the beginning is rough, but if you want it badly enough, you'll make it work.

Sending my best to everyone. 👋

Richard Rivera30 said:Hey everyone.

Look, I’m really not sure if this is the right subforum to start a thread, but I couldn't find anything better suited.

I'm curious about how much these small, simple, or even drastic changes actually help versus how much they might hurt.

I’ve decided to treat this year as my big fresh start.
I made a choice to hit the gym and get back in shape after all those holiday feasts and just being lazy for a few months. I also finally got serious about school. I started studying more, and I actually decided to change my major. It turns out what I was studying just didn't fulfill me. It wasn't even hard; I just didn't care about it and couldn't see myself doing it long-term.
Then there's the social side. I decided to cut ties with certain people. It wasn't because of any huge fights or hatred or anything like that. It's just that I'm tired of dragging things out—meeting up once a month, sending the occasional text, playing the part. I let go of those draining relationships that weren't necessarily "bad," but they were just exhausting my energy.
On top of that, I landed a great job through a recruiter. The people are super interesting and nice, the workload isn't too crazy, and the pay is solid. I’ve even started saving money, which used to be nothing more than a dream for me.
I also deleted Facebook. It was eating up all my free time, and some of the people on there were honestly just exhausting. I used to be glued to it 24/7. I feel so much better now that it's gone. The people who actually matter have my number and know where I live, so they can reach me easily. I don't need some silly app to stay in touch with my friends.

Right now, I am happy. New job, new habits, home life is good. I’m genuinely happy, in the truest sense of the word. Not too high, not too low. This is the first time I’ve done so many productive things for myself in such a short window, so it’s all very new to me. I'm in a bit of a positive shock.

How much do these kinds of massive shifts actually benefit your life? So far, everything is hitting me positively, but for how long? Maybe there aren't any downsides to making these changes, but what should I expect moving forward?

Hope you guys get what I'm saying. 🤣 👋

That’s exactly what I’m aiming for right now. 😁 I'm still in the early stages. 🙂

Jeffrey Ramos4 said:That’s exactly what I’m aiming for right now. 😁 I'm still in the early stages. 🙂

Me too, me too. 🙂 Hats off to the author! That takes serious guts. I need similar changes myself, especially regarding college. I feel like I'm forcing it right now and it's eating at me because I don't see myself finishing that way, but I'm terrified of making a move. I'm a bit of a coward...

You’re doing an absolutely marvelous job! It seems you have this way of making progress feel effortless—this idea of taking things "one small step at a time," even though if one were to actually tally up everything you’ve accomplished, it certainly wouldn't be considered small by any reasonable standard.
Eventually, there comes a morning where you simply wake up and realize the transformation is complete: you aren't fueling your body with junk anymore, your fitness routine has become second nature, you've devoured a mountain of literature, and you've cultivated a circle of truly meaningful relationships. All of this stems from what initially seemed like such trivial, almost inconsequential choices. I found myself particularly nodding in agreement with your insight regarding Facebook; despite what their glossy marketing campaigns might suggest about "connecting the world," it often serves more as a tool for isolation than true connection.
Kudos to you, and please, do keep us posted on any further evolutions!