Sometimes, life can get a little stagnant. 

For some of us, this is just a temporary feeling, seasonal almost… and like any season, it will likely pass with time. 

But for many, the feeling of life being a bit too bland and predictable is far more chronic and concerning. 

Left unchecked, it can spiral into things like regular anxiety, stress, and even depression, affecting our relationships, work life, and so on. 

That said, the latter is, for the most part, entirely preventable if the correct actions are taken. 

But first, you have to know what behaviors to avoid. 

In this article, I’ll take you through the behaviors and habits you need to let go of, if you feel life has lost its spark. 

Let’s get to it! 

1) Ignoring your passions

It’s easy to get caught up with life and forget what truly makes us happy. 

Maybe you get swept away into the routine of overworking, motivated solely by making money or climbing the career ladder, and ignore everything else. 

Maybe you’re the type who drops off the grid when in a relationship, and all your energy becomes one-sided, hyperfocused on your partner (I think we all know a few people like this.) 

The thing is, your passions are an integral part of who you are as a human being. 

By ignoring them, you’re doing yourself a major disservice… and eventually, you may end up feeling deeply unfulfilled. 

Working hard is noble, as is giving your partner your undivided attention.

But at the same time, give yourself regular breaks. 

Make it a point to change things up now and then, to recharge. 

Make it a point to reconnect with the activities and hobbies that once brought you joy. 

Through balance, you’ll find meaning. 

2) Surrounding yourself with negative influences 

Remember, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. 

This isn’t some hollow cliche, it’s resoundingly true. 

If you’re constantly around cynical and negative people, be it friends, relatives, your significant other, etc. by sheer osmosis, you’ll end up pretty cynical and negative too. 

And with the world being how it is today, seeing things from a permanently bleak outlook is an easy trap to fall into. 

Years ago, I would hang out with the same three people pretty much every single weekend. 

We wouldn’t discuss ideas, art, or culture. 

We’d almost exclusively talk about how much we collectively hated life and other people in our circle. 

After years of this, I finally caught on: these seemingly harmless weekly meet-ups were affecting my disposition in a bad way. 

Firstly, our gatherings became a bit too predictable, as if we were following a script, and thus provided zero intellectual stimulation. 

Second, I was becoming increasingly more negative and angry.

Thankfully, I’ve since expanded my social circle to include more positive, diverse, and supportive people. 

The difference has been palpable. 

3) Having a stagnant routine

While a routine can generally be a good thing, when your days become too monotonous and mindless, without zero spontaneity, expect a lack of purpose down the line. 

Living on autopilot is no way to, well, live. 

Yes, have a schedule, but don’t feel the need to stick to it religiously. 

Change things up regularly. Be mindful and present. 

If you work most hours, start setting aside time to pursue new hobbies and interests, or hang out with friends. 

Travel to places you’ve never been. 

Go out on dates to nice restaurants and bars. 

Take the occasional risk. 

Challenge yourself constantly and embrace the growth that comes from it. 

Finally, set goals for yourself. 

Without goals, the natural tendency is to feel aimless, like you’re just perpetually going through the motions. 

Get out a notebook and jot down a few goals, both personal and professional, both short and long-term. 

Chip away at those goals every day. 

Celebrate your wins… because, I promise you, with the right attitude, you will indeed have your fair share of wins. 

4) Overloading on screen time 

Other than the residents of remote tribal villages in the Peruvian Amazon with no cell reception, these days, nobody is safe from mindless hourly scrolling. 

The sheer amount of vapid stimuli on social media is astounding; it’s by definition, infinite. 

Just the other day, I caught myself bingeing through Instagram reels for almost two hours. 

I remember telling myself countless times during that episode, “Just a few more reels.” 

The next thing I knew, it was the middle of the day, and I hadn’t done anything remotely productive. 

I emerged from that digitally-induced trance feeling both numb and guilty for wasting time. 

The fact is, excessive use of devices, whether it’s your smartphone tablet, or game console, can detract and disconnect you from more authentic experiences. 

If you’re not careful, screen time can consume you completely, becoming a predominant theme of your days. 

Not good. You deserve better. 

Make your days count. Limit screen time and try to engage in more face-to-face interactions and other real-world pursuits. 

5) Suppressing emotions 

When you keep your emotions bottled up, never thoroughly communicating them, this can be incredibly stressful… and demotivating. 

In the context of a relationship, for instance, if you suppress your true feelings and thoughts, rather than thriving, your union will be filled with resentment, regret, and torment. 

Rather than be consistently happy, you’ll just feel fed up, both with yourself and your partner. 

Before you know it, life becomes tedious since you weren’t assertive enough to voice your concerns and make the necessary changes. 

Bottling up your emotions is no way to live. You owe it to yourself to start talking. 

If you don’t feel comfortable communicating with the people in your vicinity, seek professional help. 

Once you find healthy ways to express and process your emotions, it’ll be a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. 

6) Neglecting relationships 

At the end of the day, your close relationships are what count in life, so don’t get complacent. 

I have a friend who once had it all… at least on paper: a beautiful and loving wife, two kind, overachieving daughters, and a great four-bedroom home on the outskirts of town. 

But he took everything for granted, constantly valuing partying and his social life (and likely other women) over his family. 

He was never home, and soon his wife got fed up and left him, taking the kids along with her. 

Naturally, when they left, he became incredibly lonely and desolate. 

Failing to nurture relationships can lead to loneliness. 

Investing time and effort into building and maintaining meaningful connections will always go a long way. 

So don’t be like my friend. 

Don’t wait until it’s too late before doing the right thing… not just in your relationships but in life in general. 

Keep moving forward with purpose and everything else will follow. You got this.