“More smiling, less worrying. More compassion, less judgment. More blessed, less stressed. More love, less hate.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
The start of 2025 has been far from ideal. The year began with mental struggles, recurring nightmares, and noticeable physical discomfort. On my paternal side, my family has a history of shorter lifespans, while my maternal side has a track record of longevity. As for me, I find myself uncertain, though I recently learned that my grandfather, father, and other paternal relatives have faced issues with heart disease.
These concerns are not new, but my heart-related symptoms have recently become more apparent and concerning—difficulty breathing, among other issues. Some of these problems may be tied to my mental health struggles, but I suspect that others are inherited from my lineage.
Reflecting on my life, I see 2024 as a year of new challenges and career specialization. However, it was also a year when I spent more on health-related matters than ever before. Unfortunately, it was also marked by severe mental health struggles, far worse than in previous years, which became a defining feature of my daily life.
In addition, 2024 was the year I lost two friends who had once been profoundly significant to me. My behavior and choice of words caused these friendships to unravel—one friend blocked me, while the other quietly ceased all communication.
In summary, while 2024 brought gains, it was equally a year of profound losses.
My outlook for 2025 – less is more:
My outlook for 2025 is straightforward: less is more. Reflecting on my past lifestyle, I realize I wasted far too much time on unproductive activities that added little to my life—excessive social media use, unnecessary eating habits, and spending money on items that only ended up cluttering my space.
This year, my resolution is to fully embrace the principle of less is more. I intend to focus my time and resources on things that truly matter—things that could genuinely impact my life and reshape my perspective on the future. Moving forward, I’ll carefully evaluate each aspect of my habits and choices.
I hope that by sharing these resolutions, I might inspire you to reflect on your own habits and make meaningful improvements in your life as well.
Less social media and news feeds:
Experts suggest that in our modern lifestyle, people in the developed world are exposed to as much information in a single day as someone in the Middle Ages might have encountered over an entire year. Yet, despite this exponential increase in information, our brain’s functionality has not evolved to process such volumes efficiently, leading to cognitive overload.
Additionally, research indicates that spending just 30 minutes scrolling through social media platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) can heighten anger levels and contribute to feelings of discomfort. These findings align closely with my own experiences. While watching certain YouTube videos has helped me gain knowledge about modern technologies, the majority of the content I consume has had little to no meaningful impact on my life.
Like many others, my attention span has significantly diminished due to excessive social media usage. I’ve lost count of how many YouTube videos I’ve abandoned halfway through, only to move on to the next one. This lack of focus is a clear symptom of overexposure to digital distractions.
One of my key goals this year is to break free from this pattern by drastically reducing the time I spend on social media. I’m even considering deleting or deactivating accounts for platforms I no longer find useful or necessary. This step feels essential for regaining control over my time and attention.
A particularly helpful app that has helped me reduce time spent on social media and other time-wasting apps is ScreenZen. This app allows you to block access to selected apps and customize the waiting time required to open them. Additionally, you can limit how long you use these apps before they lock again.
Since incorporating ScreenZen into my routine, I’ve significantly reduced my social media usage. However, I’m still experimenting with the app and observing how it impacts my overall mobile habits. While I’m not yet certain of its long-term effectiveness, the early results are promising.
Less eat, more exercise:
In the modern world, most of us consume far more food than is necessary for the energy we expend daily. While I’m not a vocal advocate of veganism, I do recognize its benefits—for both personal health and the environment.
This year, my focus will be on eating less and exercising more, a resolution closely tied to my earlier reflections on my declining physical health. Looking back, I can see that my sedentary lifestyle played a significant role in this decline.
Moreover, I overindulged in food last year, consuming far more than my body actually required. This overconsumption undoubtedly contributed to my overall health issues, and correcting this imbalance has become a top priority for me moving forward.
This year, I’m committed to eating less and exercising more. As part of my exercise routine, I’ve already incorporated jogging on my treadmill. However, I also want to focus on reducing my persistent belly fat by using an app called Six Pack in 30 Days.
The challenge, however, is that these belly-focused exercises require mental stability—something I’ve struggled to achieve. Interestingly, my uncle believes the opposite: that exercise is essential for maintaining and improving mental health.
With that perspective in mind, I’ve decided to take action. Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin working on reducing my belly fat and, who knows, perhaps even achieve a six-pack.
Less spending, more skill improvement:
In addition to improving my overall quality of life through regular exercise and a healthy diet, I aim to continue enhancing my tech skills. Reflecting on last year, I realize I’ve already begun this journey, and I plan to amplify these efforts even further in the year ahead.
One of my specific goals is to achieve the LPIC Linux certification, a milestone that will solidify my foundational knowledge of Linux systems. Alongside this, I intend to start building a Kotlin-based app, with the ultimate goal of releasing it on the Google Play Store.
Moreover, given the rapid advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence, I recognize the importance of dedicating time to learning about these transformative technologies. By reducing the time I spend on social media, I’ll redirect my energy toward activities that truly shape my future. This focused approach will help me achieve both personal and professional growth.
At the same time, I must address another crucial aspect of self-improvement: my spending habits. Reflecting on the past, I realize that I often spent money on items that didn’t significantly enhance the quality of my life—such as digital manga, books, and other nonessential purchases.
This year, my focus will be on spending less and learning more. By being more mindful of where my money goes, I aim to channel my resources toward investments that truly contribute to my personal and professional growth.
Conclusion:
All in all, I am determined to make this year a better one for myself. After enduring so many struggles with my mental health, I am ready to embrace changes that lead to improvement and growth. While I often find myself thinking it’s too late to start something entirely new, I realize this isn’t true. When you genuinely want to make a difference in your life, it’s never too late to begin.