Comparison, you thief!
Ain’t none of us have the time to waste on comparing our lives to others, whether those others sit next to us from 9-5 or live behind an Instagram handle. For the sake of our sanity, we gotta knock it off! Here are 15 things you can do instead of comparing yourself to others. Some are distraction techniques, some dive into the psychology of it all, some will result in a cleaner refrigerator.
All of them, though, help eliminate the riffraff of comparison to clear the path for your own successes.
Are there certain neighborhoods, malls, mommy groups, or gym classes that make you feel less than? You don’t need to fully avoid them—in fact, exposure therapy might be beneficial—but take mental note (or a physical note!) of what sends you down that bumpy road to comparison so if you’re in an icky state of mind, you know to avoid it.
Remember that episode of Friends in which Phoebe tries to find an unselfish good deed? There isn’t one, and that’s fine. Doing good things for good people makes you feel good. What’s so wrong with that?
You don’t need to know what kind of natural wine that French blogger is sipping for happy hour or see shaky concert clips of the show you had to miss because you couldn’t find a babysitter. It’s simply unhealthy. Become friends with the mute button instead.
Walks cure everything, I’m sure of it. The combination of fresh air and a sense of meandering and letting your body move in the one-foot-in-front-of-the-other way it was born to do clears your head of that comparison clutter.
Giving attention, even if it’s just a scribbled note in a journal, to the things you’re grateful for puts the emphasis on what you do have, not what you want or what they have or, more likely, what it looks like they have. Daily, tiny twists of perspective eventually pave the way for a new course of (grateful, positive) thought.
Tell your top people how much you admire their courage or humor. Venmo them $5 to get coffee. A little boost in their day = a little boost in your day = win/win. Here, steal some of these compliments.
Whoever you’re comparing yourself to, they’re just living, breathing, burping people too, with insecurities and one wonky eyebrow just like you.
Taking inspiration from others’ work is one thing; consuming too much of others’ work—especially first thing in the morning!—instead of making your own is another. Find space to both do your own thing while admiring their thing. May I recommend leaving certain apps closed until mid-day?
Unless you’re on the cover of a gossip magazine, trust me: People think about your life less than you think. Keep those blinders on and stay in your own lane.
What would the little kindergarten-sized you think if she knew you were spending the first half-hour of the day scrolling through Instagram and then obsessing over the perceived lives of others? Do right by little you.
Success doesn’t happen over the course of a decade, much less overnight. Remind yourself that everyone moves at their own pace, which is why some of us go back to grad school in our 30s or get published for the first time in our 40s. You know the phrase: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.
Breaking free from your peer group momentarily releases expectations of where you think you should be—career-wise, baby-making-wise, whatever-wise. The old are sage, the young are spontaneous, and both remind you of what really matters in life: being kind.
Make it through a harrowing childbirth? Nail that presentation? You did that. That’s yours. No one can take that away from you. Hold those moments close for little pats on your own back when things go off-course.
This whole life thing goes by fast, which you know from those new spindly hairs sprouting on your chin and your baby who isn’t much of a baby anymore. A single second spent worrying about other people and their success or opinions is wasted time. Turns out you can get more money, more accolades, but you cannot ever, ever, ever get more time. Use it wisely.
Scrub your refrigerator, stare into space, count to 1,000. Anything, literally anything, is more productive than comparing yourself to others.
Megan is a writer, editor, etc.-er who muses about life, design and travel for Domino, Lonny, Hunker and more. Her life rules include, but are not limited to: zipper when merging, tip in cash and contribute to your IRA. Be a pal and subscribe to her newsletter Night Vision or follow her on Instagram.
BY Megan McCarty - October 20, 2019
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Thank you for being here. For being open to enjoying life’s simple pleasures and looking inward to understand yourself, your neighbors, and your fellow humans! I’m looking forward to chatting with you.
This is amazing. Great motivation!
K A T E L A T E L Y //
http://www.katelately.co
I must say since i applied what i read here to my life i have seen huge difference in my relationship with others and my life in general. thanks for this beautiful article.
Controlling Women Can You Have a Happy Relationship with One?
Remind yourself that everyone moves at their own pace..this is absolutely true indeed
I don’t like to compare myself. It’s a really bad habit. Check https://pro-academic-writers.com/blog/descriptive-essay this page to find out why.
very good article, I like it.
Nice one keep it 👆
You helped me so much as a writer’s conference newbie with the same advice you just wrote. And when I was a college journalism major, our prof told us the same for newspaper writing. Thanks!