How to Stop Taking Yourself so Seriously All The Time

Between life and responsibilities, we often feel suffocated. With the constant need to do our daily tasks and fulfill all the responsibilities, the heaviness becomes too much, and we often forget to enjoy life’s little moments. But, is it worth it? Losing the pleasure in little things for being serious and uptight all the time?

When we’re too focused on doing our tasks and duties, we forget the pleasure of just existing. When you realize this, it’s a sign that you’ve been taking yourself too seriously.

Taking life (and yourself, by extension) seriously is good, but not when it comes to the cost of your laugh, smile, and happiness. When you’re too engrossed in being serious, you miss out on all the joy your life has to offer.

Ask yourself once again; Is it worth it?

Well, in this article, I’ll help you explore the bright side and teach you ways you can stop taking yourself so seriously all the time.

What Does “Taking Yourself Seriously” Mean?

Someone made an innocent comment or a joke that you spent hours thinking about and not in that context. Sounds familiar? Or maybe you’ll agree with me when I say that you don’t know what or how to have fun or do something that doesn’t exactly have a specific purpose.

We are all busy in our lives and I get it, I truly do, but when five days of our week out of seven are spent answering emails, planning meetings, meeting deadlines, handling family conflicts, and running errands in between all that, it can become hard to find some time for yourself just to have fun.

We are so busy in our lives that we’ve stopped to think about and enjoy the little moments in life. I mean, have you ever seen someone enjoying a good laugh and thought, “What’s there to laugh about?” Well, if you have, then you’ve become more than a little jaded and need to lose your seriousness.

Still wondering if you’re taking yourself too seriously? Check out these signs!

Signs You Take Yourself Too Seriously

• You’re constantly worrying about small things
• You’ve stopped joking around with your peers, friends, and family
• You don’t have time to relax and unwind
• You are strict with yourself and others
• You avoid engaging in things that take you out of your comfort zone
• You constantly explain yourself to others
• You always feel like you’re competing with others

Sounds like something you can agree with? If these signs are interfering with your daily life and making it hard for you to relax, then maybe it’s time you speak to a counselor for a solution.

How Does This Affect Your Life?

You may think, “What’s the harm in taking myself so seriously?” Well, what you don’t know is that taking yourself so seriously all the time can leave some long-lasting negative effects on your overall well-being. Some effects can include;

• You lose sight of what’s truly important
• You always worry and worry often leads to stress which can be counterproductive in this case
• You forget to live in the present and lose sight of the positives in life
• You can’t connect properly with people in relationships, making you an unenjoyable person to be around
• Everything seems burdensome rather than enjoyable to you

How to Stop Taking Yourself so Seriously?

Here’s how you can stop taking yourself so seriously all the time;

1. Focus on “Now”

Even though we all experience something negative in life, it doesn’t mean that we have to take it as it comes. Maybe your flight got delayed, or you didn’t ace the test, but it’s OK. Focus on what’s in front of you rather than what happened or what hasn’t happened yet. It’ll help, trust me.

2. See It’s Worth 5 Years Down The Lane

Life has its moments, the ups and downs, but it’s up to us to choose whether to accept it or let it go. Ask yourself, “Will this matter 5 years from now?” If the answer is “No”, then let it go. Don’t spend more than 5 minutes on something that won’t matter five years down the road.

3. Enjoy The Little Moments

I’m not asking you to stop at every block to admire flowers. All I’m asking you to do is to allow yourself little moments of joy every day. If something surprised you, then instead of getting angry at it, enjoy it. Figure it out and let it be. In the end, you might have an amazing story to tell, if nothing else.

4. Change Your Thinking Pattern

Thoughts are just that – thoughts. They become your reality when you act on them. So, if you’re thinking something negative, challenge your thoughts and change your thinking pattern. See what cognitive distortions are hampering your thinking and how you can change them.

5. Avoid Comparisons

It’s the one thing we’re all guilty of doing. Making unnecessary comparisons. When you compare yourself with others, you unwittingly allow yourself to feel worthless. Instead of making comparisons or competing with others, try to live life as it comes. Sometimes, the most unexpected things turn out to be the most important ones.

6. Embrace Being Imperfect

Setbacks and mistakes are a part of life and are meant to happen, but this does not mean that you can’t embrace imperfection. The pressure of being perfect can be more overwhelming than embracing imperfection. Accept that not all of us can be perfect. Once you accept this, see how light your life and outlook become. One or two mistakes do not define who you are.

7. Laugh Out Loud

It’s the secret of life, after all. No matter what happens or what life throws at you, find humor in everything. Laugh out loud, every day. Instead of watching the news all the time, try to watch comedy series or movies. Watch funny cat videos during your break time and try to surround yourself with people with a sense of humor.

Wrap-Up

Life’s too short to be serious all the time. It’s something that’s meant to be lived, not exist. Whether you believe it or not, there is beauty in everything – even imperfections and unpredictability. So, wake up every day with a heart and mind that’s open to new experiences.

When you take life so seriously, you lose the ability to see joy and happiness in little things. Say thanks for each day you get to experience life differently. It’s what makes life so meaningful.

“If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

I hope this blog will help you stop taking yourself so seriously all the time. For more, you can write to us at info@calmsage.com or DM us on our social media pages. You can also share your thoughts and tips with us in the comments below.

Take Care!