As we approach the end of another year, it’s a good time to reflect on the things we want to change in our lives. And one area where many of us could use some improvement is in the way we behave and think.

In order to make room for new and better habits, it’s important to let go of some of the old ones that are no longer serving us. So if you’re looking to make some changes in 2023, here are eight things you should stop doing right away.

Messaging “hi”… and nothing else.

Do you enjoy giving people anxiety? Want to send someone into an overthinking spiral? Then message them something like “hi”, “hey”, or “hello”, and absolutely nothing else. That’s sure to work.

Seriously though, we’ve all been there and we all know how uncomfortable it is to be left hanging. It’s annoying, unhelpful, and inconsiderate behavior, so please just get on with it and say something else after that initial greeting.

Commenting before reading the article

It’s not just about being prepared for the conversation — it’s also about avoiding potential embarrassment. You don’t want to be that guy who reads a headline and then posts an angry rant about a subject he knows nothing about! Make sure you get all the facts before you say something.

Commenting before reading the article is also one way that disinformation spreads. If you don’t take the time to check your facts, you could end up contributing to a false narrative. It’s important to remain impartial and open-minded when reading articles so that you can get all sides of the story. Even if you disagree with one side, it’s still valuable to understand where they’re coming from before forming an opinion.

Spending hours scrolling through social media feeds.

Life is too short to spend it scrolling on social media. Sure, we all love checking out pics of puppies and funny memes — but if you want to get the most out of life, put down your phone and pick up something more tangible. Not only will you be living more in the moment, but chances are you’re gonna have more fun too! And if you really can’t live without your scroll time, try limiting yourself to just 30 minutes a day — that way, you can spend the rest of your day (and life) doing something that really matters.

Also, we all know by now that too much time on social media can be harmful to our mental health. So let’s try to make it a habit to spend less time on social media in 2023, and we’ll be happier for it.

Throwing away perfectly good avocado/bananas/etc because of their brown spots

In this economy??!?! ?😱 Just kidding, but seriously – don’t throw away your perfectly good food just because it has a few brown spots. Don’t let the ugly exterior fool you – those little speckles are actually a sign that your fruits and vegetables have ripened to perfection!

And if the fruit does turn out to be overripe, there are so many creative ways to still use them (banana bread anyone?).

Sharing fake news on social media

We’ve all been there – you see something online, and it’s just so outrageous that you can’t help but share it with your friends (or enemies). But before you hit the share button and spread misinformation to your entire network, take a deep breath and remember one key thing: fact-checking is your friend.

We’re all responsible for helping to combat the spread of fake news on social media. So, in 2023 let’s make a pact to double-check our sources before we share any kind of information online. With so much misinformation circulating online, being able to identify and call out the sources of lies and inaccurate information is essential.

Hating on Gen Z things just cause you’re older

We get it, you don’t have Tiktok. You don’t understand new slang. Times are changing, fellow old person. We don’t have to get with the program, but you don’t have to hate on what the youths are into just to make yourself feel better.

P.S. A caveat: Can we all agree that we should quash all attempts to bring low-rider jeans back? Let them stay in the early 2000s, please!!! Millennials have lived through enough!!!

P.P.S. If you’re a Gen Z reading this, I also want to say that you should stop hating on millennial/Gen X things just cause you’re younger. (Boomer things are fair game.) However, since hating on older generations is part and parcel of being young, knock yourselves out I guess. Just remember that once Gen Alpha hits their 20s, you can expect the same ridicule — that’s just the circle of life/karma.

Seenzoning when someone asks us to hang out. Just say no!

No offense to your friends, but sometimes you just don’t wanna hang out with them. And that’s totally cool! Instead of seenzoning them, why not just say no in the first place? We get it – saying no isn’t easy. But it’s better than leaving them in limbo, wondering why you’re not responding.

Plus, if you give an honest response, your friends will respect it and won’t take it personally. Your friends will understand. And if they don’t — well, are they really your friends? Life is too short to be spending it with people who can’t respect our boundaries and needs.

Let’s make 2023 the year of honest communication.

Leaving a mess at CLAYGO establishments

Strangely, the concept of CLAYGO (or “Clean As You Go”) remains a topic of debate in the Philippines. Some people think that as paying customers, it’s their right to leave a mess in an establishment. Some people think that practicing CLAYGO could jeopardize the staff’s jobs.

But practicing CLAYGO is just being considerate of other people. If you’re unsure about whether or not you should be cleaning up after yourself, here are situations where you definitely should:

• If the establishment only has 1-2 people on staff and it’s obvious that they’re swamped
• If the establishment has accessible clean-up stations
• If it’s a fast-food establishment
• If there are signs that tell you to clean up

Also, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, people. The next person might not appreciate your sloppy spilt coffee! So, let’s normalize cleaning up after ourselves in public places. The more we do it, the less we’ll have to clear other people’s messes at fast food joints.

Standing up as soon as the plane lands

Stop this madness in 2023. Just because the plane has landed doesn’t mean you have to be out of your seat in two seconds flat. It’s not a race. Everyone else is trying to do the same thing, so take a few moments — AND WAIT FOR THE SEATBELT SIGN TO TURN OFF — before you stand up and wait for your row to start moving.

Standing up while the plane is still taxiing won’t just make other passengers uncomfortable. It’s also dangerous — and not just because you might trip over yourself or a backpack in your eagerness to disembark. It can prevent flight attendants from performing their safety checks properly, and if there’s an emergency situation they won’t be able to help passengers disembark as quickly as possible. So hang tight, keep seated, and you’ll be out of there in no time!

And with that, let’s all make an effort to be better humans in 2023!