How To Avoid Regrets Later In Life: 12 Ways

It might be a little negative but life is short. It really is. Some of us may not like to accept that but regardless of how we feel it is what it is. One day we may be young and the time passes by so quickly that suddenly we find ourselves getting older and older, looking back at the things we did and did not do. Reminiscing about the good, the bad and the ugly is normal but if you live a life riddled mostly with reasons to look back regretfully, then you may be stuck with far too many bad and ugly memories.

Many people look back at the past and feel regret as they age. Having regrets in life isn’t a great feeling and this is especially the case if someone finds themselves in their 50s, 60s or 70s looking back at life wishing event X or thing Y was different. Pre-emptively taking action to avoid having regrets later in life is much better than actually having them.

Ways to avoid regrets in life

Here are some strategies to avoid regrets later in life so you can have peace when you’re older:

1. Don’t waste time

 Unless you posses a means to travel back in time you cannot recoup time when it is lost. This means that the day and time you are in right now is happening now and you need to make the best of it. Looking back at silly things that do little in the way of benefiting your life is a key ingredient of regret later on in life. There are many ways we might waste our time and not realize it. Spending too much time using technology, wilfully staying in a relationship you aren’t happy in, dedicating your efforts to unfruitful initiatives –all ways in which you may waste your time and barely realize it. Become aware of what you spend time on, implement time management tactics and stop or redirect yourself every time you see life passing you by.

2. Time management

Not wasting time and managing it are two peas in a pot, but they are still differentiable. Not wasting your time implies not throwing it away. Managing your time implies dedicating the right time to worthwhile things. Managing your time is a way to avoid wasting it, yes, but there are also separate benefits that come from managing time.

There are many ways by which we can dedicate time to meaningful things in life. Make time for family and friends even if you are swamped. Establish work-life balance by creating boundaries at work (if possible). A major source of regret you’re at risk of feeling later in life is wishing you did more of something or gave more time to another. This is why time management or scheduling is so crucial to avoiding regrets.

3. Be aware of but not deterred by mortality

We can wish we’ll live forever and who knows where technology may one day take us (although that’s a whole different debate). It may be sad to think about for some but if you learn to accept the end of life and live despite it then you might ease the effect it could be having on your emotional well-being.

What tends to work best here is radical acceptance. Accept this unfavorable fact of life and learn to find enjoyment despite it. Make an effort to not let your fear govern your day-to-day life. If you waste time pre-occupied and saddened the end, you may end up looking back at your life with regret because you failed to see the beauty in actually living.

4. Do what makes you happy

Now we may not be able to do everything that makes us happy but we should sure try to do as much as we can. We may have social, financial or personal limits on the things we can do but we can seek joyous activities every chance we get. If you’d like to travel but it’s out of budget for you right now then try a staycation. Go somewhere close to home that costs little to no money. The world is beautiful and there’s a good chance you live at least reasonably close to somewhere beautiful. There are also many sources of joy that are free, like spending time with people we love to be around, watching a funny movie, whatever. Don’t live your life devoid of any delight because that is a key for regret. “I wish I got to…” is a statement best avoided.

5. Ignore the past (but learn from it)

Your past is just that, the past. There is no need to dwell on it or relive it. Mistakes are lessons for the future. The wrongdoings of others against us need not have relevance if we do not give them relevance. Learn to forgive and leave any injustices you may have experienced from others in the past where they occurred. Even trauma, which is really just a disturbance in our past, is nothing but a bygone. Living in the past brings with it a risk of missing out on a beautiful present and a promising future. Look for ways to overcome what came and went and focus on what is to come.

6. Chase goals but don’t let success define you

We should have ambition and objectives to work for in life. It is a source of motivation which can push us to do great things. Looking back at a life where you chased your goals and worked for something you felt passionate about should never be a source of regret. But, and this is important, this also applies to when you did not succeed at accomplishing whatever you wanted to. Success in any area of life doesn’t define you. When you are chasing a goal, it is important to enjoy the journey regardless of the destination.

7. Surround yourself with the right people

Surround yourself with experienced people so you can gain experiences. Surround yourself with people you love so you strengthen bonds. Surround yourself with people you admire and start to act like them. The point is make efforts to be around the correct people so you can benefit from them. Even if you you gain little to nothing from these connections, at least you could look back at time spent with people like this as enriching or enjoyable.

8. Watch your health

One of the worst sources of regret is facing the consequences of poor health decisions now later in life. Quit smoking if that’s a habit. Eat right to avoid diabetes and high blood pressure. Exercise to keep your heart and the rest of your body in good condition. Sleep well and for a generous length of time. If you’re stuck on medications, medical devices or medical care because of your own mistakes then you may feel deep regret because of your choices.

Our health is our most valuable blessing. Remember, there may be someone out there praying for the things you might be taking for granted. Watch your health as best you can and do everything in your control to keep your well-being within your desired ideals.  

9. Get your finances in check

Retiring or having the ability to get by comfortably is a great luxury many people don’t have but they can easily attain. Yes, economic hardships can be out of your control but there’s a good chance smart spending and saving are within it. Use your money wisely and plan for retirement at a young age so you avoid feeling regret from financial troubles later in life. Money isn’t everything but it’s important you make an effort to be as financially comfortable as you can be. The point isn’t to obsess over money and risk costing yourself time and peace of mind (this can end up being regret later in life, as well). The goal is to try your best to control whatever you can in terms of your finances and strive to make yourself comfortable.

10. Either solve a problem or live with it

Some things in life are within our control and some are not. When faced with a problem you should see yourself at a crossroads. Give yourself two options: either you opt for peacefully resolving that issue or you live with it and live with whatever consequences come with it. Don’t think back later in life ruminating about how much emotional energy you spent on relatively minute issues. Instead, find content on your own terms. Happiness comes from within and your environment should be given no power over your joy.

11. Be positive

Being positive takes our minds off of toxic thoughts that harm our emotional well-being. When you live a life full of negativity and toxic thought processes, you are not living life at the best level within human reach. Avoid toxic positivity by not being unrealistic or overdoing your positive thinking but also avoid being consumed by negativity. Too many unfavorable thoughts can spiral into rumination, over-thinking, sadness, anxiety and depression. This makes it potentially harmful for your mental health as well.

Try to find things to be appreciative for and look for reassuring thoughts to fill your mind with. If you find your mind straying towards any sort of toxic thought, change your path and replace it with a joyful statement. For example, if you start to fear for the future, remind yourself that you are capable of facing it and reassure yourself by scheduling time to plan for the future.

12. Make your own happiness your first priority

Your happiness should be more important to you then your job, your money, your status, or whatever else people care about these days. You may need to work to get by but you don’t need to make your job a source of distress. Leave work at work and enjoy life. You may need to worry about money because of where you stand financially but take time off from worrying about that and look for a source of laughter and happiness. Nothing is worth sacrificing your happiness for. Even if the world around you seems to be crumbling, your happiness should remain intact. Life is not about finding sunshine, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.