You don’t have to add tons of fancy self-care practices to improve your mental health.
More often than not, you’ll feel a whole lot better by shedding the stuff weighing you down than by adding new habits. We naturally tend to cling to thoughts, habits, and relationships that drain us without even realising it, and after a while, they take a serious toll. Learning to let go isn’t always easy, but once you do, you create space for more peace, clarity, and genuine happiness. In other words, it’s time to start releasing these things if you want to feel lighter and less miserable.
1. The need to please everyone
Trying to keep everyone happy is exhausting. No matter how much you do, there will always be someone who isn’t satisfied, and that’s not a reflection of you — it’s just life. The constant pressure to meet everyone’s expectations can leave you feeling drained, resentful, and disconnected from your own needs.
Letting go of people-pleasing doesn’t mean you stop caring; it means you stop bending over backwards at your own expense. The more you prioritise what’s right for you, the more at peace you’ll feel. Not everyone will understand, but the people who truly care about you will respect your choices.
2. Petty grudges that don’t actually matter
Carrying resentment is one of the most self-destructive things you can do. It doesn’t punish the person who hurt you; it just keeps you stuck in negativity. The longer you hold onto anger, the more it affects your own happiness, while the person who wronged you probably isn’t even thinking about it.
Letting go of a grudge doesn’t mean what happened was okay; it means you refuse to let it control you. Freeing yourself from resentment allows you to move forward without carrying the past on your shoulders. Forgiveness isn’t about excusing someone’s actions; it’s about choosing your own peace.
3. Comparing yourself to other people in any way
Scrolling through social media and feeling like everyone has it more together than you? It’s a one-way ticket to feeling inadequate. The truth is, people only show the highlights — you’re literally comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s best moments, and that’s never a fair comparison.
The more you focus on your own progress instead of measuring yourself against others, the more content you’ll feel. Your journey is yours, and that’s all that matters. Success, happiness, and personal growth don’t have a deadline, and letting go of comparison makes space for true self-acceptance.
4. Being your own worst and harshest critic
Being hard on yourself doesn’t make you better; it just makes you miserable. That voice in your head that tells you that you’re not good enough? It’s lying. Negative self-talk often comes from old beliefs or past experiences that no longer serve you, yet they continue to shape how you see yourself.
Letting go of harsh self-judgement doesn’t mean ignoring your flaws; it means treating yourself with the same kindness you’d give a friend. Growth happens when you support yourself, not when you tear yourself down. The way you talk to yourself matters, so start choosing words that lift you up instead of breaking you down.
5. The idea that you have to have everything figured out
No one has it all figured out, no matter how put-together they seem. Life is messy, unpredictable, and full of surprises. In other words, waiting until you “have it all sorted” will only keep you feeling stuck. The reality is, no one reaches a point where they suddenly know all the answers.
Letting go of the pressure to have a perfect plan allows you to actually enjoy where you are. You’re figuring it out as you go, and that’s more than okay. Trusting the process and allowing yourself to grow at your own pace is far more valuable than obsessing over getting everything ‘right’ all the time.
6. Toxic relationships
Some relationships drain more energy than they give, and holding onto them out of obligation or history can do serious damage to your mental health. Whether it’s a friend who constantly puts you down, a family member who manipulates you, or a partner who makes you question your worth, toxic relationships are not worth keeping in your life.
Letting go of toxic people doesn’t mean you don’t care. It just means you care about yourself enough to choose peace over constant stress. You deserve relationships that support, uplift, and respect you. Anything less isn’t worth the emotional toll.
7. The fear of saying no
Saying yes to everything might make other people happy, but if it’s making you feel burnt out, it’s time to let go of the guilt and start saying no when you need to. No is not a dirty word; it’s a form of self-respect.
Protecting your energy isn’t selfish; it’s smart. The people who respect you will understand, and the ones who don’t? They probably weren’t respecting you in the first place. Setting boundaries is a sign of strength, not weakness.
8. Overthinking things you can’t change
Replaying conversations, worrying about things that might never happen, or analysing every little detail — overthinking is exhausting, and most of the time, it leads nowhere. It keeps you trapped in a cycle of stress without actually solving anything.
Letting go of the habit of overthinking doesn’t mean ignoring problems; it means recognising when you’re stuck in a loop and choosing to focus on what you can actually control. When a thought is draining you instead of helping you, it’s time to let it go.
9. Negative self-talk
That little voice in your head that tells you that you’re not good enough? It’s been lying to you for years. You wouldn’t let a stranger speak to you like that, so why allow it from yourself? It’s been said already, but it bears repeating: the words you say to yourself matter more than you realise.
Letting go of negative self-talk takes practice, but the more you challenge those thoughts, the quieter they become. Replacing them with kinder, more realistic ones makes a huge difference in how you see yourself. You deserve the same kindness you give to everyone else.
10. The belief that rest is unproductive
Burnout culture has convinced us that unless we’re constantly busy, we’re not doing enough. But rest isn’t laziness; it’s necessary to avoid burnout. Your body and mind both need time to recharge. Letting go of guilt around resting allows you to actually be more productive in the long run. Your best work, best decisions, and best ideas don’t come from exhaustion; they come from being well-rested and mentally refreshed.
11. Seeking validation from other people
Waiting for other people’s approval before you feel good about yourself is a never-ending cycle. No matter how much validation you get, it’ll never be enough if you don’t believe in yourself first. Letting go of the need for constant validation frees you to do things because you want to, not because you need external reassurance. Your worth isn’t based on other people’s opinions; it’s based on how you see yourself.
12. The idea that you have to be happy all the time
Feeling down doesn’t mean you’re failing at life. No one is happy 24/7, and trying to force yourself to be is exhausting. Life comes with ups and downs, and that’s completely normal. Letting go of the expectation that you should always be in a good mood allows you to embrace the full range of emotions without guilt. You’re human, and some days are just harder than others, and that’s okay.
Again, improving your mental health doesn’t always mean adding more; it often means letting go of what’s holding you back. The less energy you waste on things that drain you, the more you can focus on what truly makes you feel good.
