We all make choices. Some are great, others… not so much.

Regret is a powerful thing. It’s that gnawing feeling that keeps you up at night, whispering “what if” and “if only”. It’s a haunting echo of choices made in haste or without much thought.

Psychology has a lot to say about regret, particularly when it comes to life choices. It turns out, there are certain decisions we’re likely to rue a decade down the line.

Intrigued? You should be. Check out these 9 life choices you’ll probably regret in ten years, according to psychology. Trust me, you’ll want to avoid these pitfalls.

1) Neglecting your health

Your twenties and thirties can feel invincible. Late nights, junk food, skipping workouts – it doesn’t seem to leave a mark, does it?

But here’s the catch. The choices we make about our health in our younger years have a way of catching up with us.

Psychology tells us that we are notorious for underestimating future regret, especially when it comes to health. We think – “I’ll start eating right next week”, “I’ll join the gym after this project”, “One more cigarette won’t hurt”.

And before we know it, years have passed and we are left grappling with health issues that could have been avoided.

Neglecting your health is one choice that you’re likely to regret ten years down the line. So make those lifestyle changes now – your future self will thank you.

2) Not prioritizing relationships

Confession time. I was a workaholic. To me, success was all about climbing that corporate ladder and I clocked long hours at work, thinking it was the only way to get ahead.

In the process, I neglected my relationships. Family dinners were missed, hangouts with friends became rare, and quality time with my partner was replaced by quick pecks on the cheek as I rushed out the door.

It took a personal crisis to make me realize the importance of having a support system. My friends and family were there for me in ways that my job never could be.

Humans are social beings. We thrive on connections and relationships. When we neglect these, we’re likely to feel a deep sense of regret years down the line.

3) Ignoring your passions

Did you know, the average person spends roughly 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime? That’s a significant chunk of our lives. Now imagine spending all that time doing something you don’t enjoy.

Ignoring our passions and settling for a job we dislike is a choice we’re likely to regret later in life.

When we’re passionate about what we do, work feels less like a chore and more like an extension of who we are. It leads to increased satisfaction and happiness.

So whether your passion is painting, writing, coding or teaching, find a way to incorporate it into your life. 

4) Letting fear dictate your choices

Fear can be a powerful deterrent. It can stop us from taking risks, embracing change, or pursuing our dreams.

But here’s the kicker. According to psychology, we’re more likely to regret the things we didn’t do because of fear, than the times we took a leap of faith.

Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown – these can all hold us back from living our best lives. But overcoming these fears and stepping into the unknown can lead to growth and opportunities you’d never have experienced otherwise.

So don’t let fear dictate your choices. You don’t want to look back in ten years and regret letting fear hold you back.

5) Not expressing your feelings

Life is short, and it’s even shorter when we leave words unsaid and feelings unexpressed.

How many times have you wanted to tell someone you love them, apologize for a mistake, or express your appreciation, but held back?

Bottling up our emotions can lead to regret later in life. Emotional expression is not just about being honest with others, it’s about being honest with ourselves. It’s about living authentically.

So wear your heart on your sleeve. Tell people you care, say I’m sorry when you’re wrong, and let gratitude fill your interactions. 

6) Not investing in self-improvement

I was once stuck in a rut. My days were filled with a monotonous routine of work, eat, sleep, repeat. I was comfortable, but I wasn’t growing.

Then, I discovered the power of self-improvement. Books became my best friends. I took up courses to learn new skills. I started working on my physical and mental health.

Continual self-improvement is really important for overall satisfaction and happiness. Learning new things, developing skills, working on our wellbeing – these can all contribute to a more fulfilling life.

Stagnation leads to regret. So invest in your personal growth. In ten years, you’ll be proud of the person you’ve become.

7) Not standing up for yourself

It’s easy to fall into the habit of pleasing others at the cost of your own needs. Maybe it’s your boss, your partner, or even your friends. You compromise, you sacrifice, and you put yourself last.

However, consistently putting others’ needs before our own can lead to resentment and a loss of self-respect.

Standing up for yourself doesn’t mean being selfish or rude. It means asserting your needs, setting boundaries, and respecting your own worth.

So start saying ‘no’ when needed, voice your opinions, and don’t let anyone take you for granted. You don’t want to look back in ten years and regret not standing up for yourself.

8) Not living in the moment

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. We’re often so busy planning for the future or dwelling on the past that we forget to live in the present.

Psychology tells us that mindfulness – the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment – can lead to greater satisfaction and happiness.

So take time to smell the roses, enjoy your coffee, savor your meals, and truly listen when someone talks. Life is a collection of moments. Don’t let them slip away unnoticed.

You don’t want to look back in ten years and realize you forgot to live.

Final thoughts: It’s all about perspective

In the end, our life choices and the regret, or lack thereof, that follows, are often deeply intertwined with our perspective towards life.

Psychologist Daniel Gilbert, in his book “Stumbling on Happiness”, points out that humans are notoriously bad at predicting what will make us happy in the future. This is because we tend to overestimate the intensity and duration of our emotional reactions to future events.

We believe that certain decisions will have a much larger impact on our lives than they actually do. And when reality doesn’t meet our expectations, regret creeps in.

But here’s the thing. Regret isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s a signal that we have learned something valuable, something that can guide our future choices.

So as you navigate your life journey, remember that it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to feel regret. What matters is how we learn from these experiences and use them to make better choices in the future.