The 15 things to leave behind before a new year are the habits that drained you this year: guilt, comparison, fear, excuses, over-scheduling, self-limiting beliefs, toxic company, unrealistic resolutions and the leftover routines of the pandemic years. We first wrote this list at the end of 2020, when everyone wanted to say goodbye to a hard year. Six years on, the pandemic is mostly behind us, but a lot of the baggage stayed. Here is the 2026 edition.
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15 things to leave behind: the short list
| # | Leave behind | Replace it with |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pandemic-era habits | A structured day |
| 2 | Comfort eating and the weight you gained | Realistic routines |
| 3 | The feeling of dread | Calm, informed action |
| 4 | Us vs them thinking | Curiosity about other people |
| 5 | Vague New Year’s resolutions | Small, measurable goals |
| 6 | Guilt | Self-forgiveness |
| 7 | Lack of discipline | A sense of purpose |
| 8 | Self-limiting beliefs | “I am enough” |
| 9 | Toxic friends and family | Boundaries |
| 10 | Over-scheduling | Time to just be |
| 11 | Comparing yourself to others | Your own pace |
| 12 | Fear | Knowledge |
| 13 | Blind loyalty | Open-mindedness |
| 14 | Excuses | Ownership |
| 15 | Lack of inspiration | A reason to move |
1. Pandemic-era habits
We do not mean stop following health guidance. We mean the leftovers of the “lockdown excuse”: the glass of wine at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, the fourth rewatch of the same series, losing track of what day it is. Things were weird, and some of that stuck, so it is time to organize your life again. Which leads directly to our next point.
2. The pounds you put on and the comfort eating
The sourdough phase was fun for a few weeks. But the chips, chocolate, cookies and treats are still around for many of us. Instead of a crash plan, pick one routine you can keep, and build from there.
3. The feeling of dread
We expected Mars colonies and flying cars from our era. Instead the world got COVID-19 and a historic rush to develop vaccines. We lived history, and we can choose to remember it with lessons, not with dread. Take the knowledge, not the fear.
4. Us vs them
This way of thinking holds us back as a species and in our own lives. As Anne Frank is quoted as saying, we all live with the objective of being happy, and our lives are all different and yet the same. We are taught, directly or by media, that sorting people into groups by gender, race, culture, religion, age, nationality or wealth is normal. It creates divides, especially when one group looks superior. Look past the outside.
5. Vague New Year’s resolutions
We have all been guilty of posting a resolution. There is nothing wrong with using the first day of the year to improve yourself. But a 2007 University of Bristol study of 3,000 people found that 88% of those who set resolutions failed. Research on why people fail points to unrealistic goals and not tracking progress.
So make your goals small and measurable, and track them. Need a system? Watch 15 Steps to Plan & Crush Your New Year Resolutions.
6. Guilt
Hard years have a way of making us feel we did too little. You did not write the novel, clear the house or become the perfect home teacher. Aluxers, you did your best under hard circumstances. Drop the guilt and start with a clean slate.
7. Lack of discipline
Once you have forgiven yourself, get out of the funk. Stop waiting for things to change and find a sense of purpose. If that is hard, reach out for help, and book a session with a reputable therapist to understand where you are emotionally, physically and mentally. Our guide on mastering self-discipline can help.
8. Self-limiting beliefs
We have talked a lot about how you become your own rhetoric. “I’m not good enough.” “I’m not smart enough.” “I’m not funny enough.” You are enough. We recommend our Mind Mastery course, where you learn to manage emotions, stress and anxiety and find clarity.
9. Toxic friends and family
One accidental benefit of staying home was that you did not need excuses to skip the relative or friend who drains the room. Many of us realized we did not need them. Be strong enough to keep your distance, and do not be guilted into time with people who leave you worse off.
10. Over-scheduling
Author and former pastor Rob Bell is quoted as saying that busy is a drug a lot of people are addicted to. We treat busy as a sign of success. It is not. Work needs to get done, but so does enjoying the sea, the sun, the grass and the trees. We can slow time down by slowing ourselves down. If your calendar is the problem, watch 15 Reasons Why You Never Have ENOUGH TIME.
11. Comparing yourself to others
What an absolute waste of time. Social feeds make it worse because they show everyone’s highlights. Pick your own pace and measure yourself against who you were last year.
12. Fear
The pandemic was scary, there is no doubt about it. But we know much more now than we did in 2020. Use what you know instead of being driven by dread, and make decisions with facts.
13. Blind loyalty
Whether it is a leader, a brand or a team, support what serves you and the people around you, and stop supporting anyone blindly when their actions no longer match your values. It is okay to change your mind. Always remember that.
14. Excuses
During lockdowns, people gave all kinds of reasons for a day off, from not being able to cook to binge-watching a series all night. They were relatable then. They are not a plan now. Take ownership of what is in your hands.
15. Lack of inspiration
Do you remember the viral video of the Brazilian fitness instructor trying to rev everyone up, with people adding themselves to the clip eating snacks? Instead of being the comedian, be the instructor. Your inspiration is still there, just hidden. Find it and run with it. Need a push? Watch 15 Ways To Keep Yourself MOTIVATED.
Keep reading
- 15 mindset shifts that will change your life: what to put in the space you clear
- 15 little habits to have a better day: small replacements for the things above
- 15 steps to master self-motivation: for when inspiration is missing
- During the coronavirus pandemic, the young are willing to sacrifice the old: our 2020 piece, for context
FAQ
What should you leave behind at the end of the year?
Guilt, comparison, fear, excuses, self-limiting beliefs, toxic company, over-scheduling and unrealistic resolutions are the most common ones to drop.
Why do New Year’s resolutions fail?
A 2007 University of Bristol study of 3,000 people found 88% of those who set resolutions failed. Surveys point to unrealistic goals and not tracking progress.
How do you stop feeling guilty about last year?
Accept that you did your best with what you had. Then pick one small action to start the new year.
How do you stop comparing yourself to others?
Measure yourself against your own past results and limit time on feeds that show everyone else’s highlights.
Is this list about the pandemic?
It started that way in December 2020. We updated it for 2026, keeping the habits and mindsets that lasted beyond the pandemic.
How we put this list together
We kept the themes of our original end-of-2020 list that still hold up in 2026 and removed the ones tied to events that have passed. Statistics on resolutions come from published research, and quotes are attributed to the people widely credited with them.
Last updated: October 2026.
