As a health and wellness journalist, I have adopted three new habits in 2024 that have greatly improved my life.

After speaking with numerous doctors, therapists, and authors, I have identified several practices that I would like to implement in my own life as a health and wellness reporter.

In 2024, I conducted extensive interviews with experts, explored fascinating subjects, and read books that broadened my outlook.

This year, three things inspired by my reporting have positively impacted my life.

3 things my reporting in 2024 inspired me to do

1. Take a social media break for a month

I decided to spend an entire month without social media after being inspired by George Jerjian, author of "Dare to Discover Your Purpose: Retire, Refire, Rewire," who transformed his life through a 30-day silent retreat.

I couldn't dedicate a whole month to a silent retreat, but disconnecting from my social media accounts for the same duration would provide me with the solitude I needed and put an end to the overstimulation caused by constant notifications.

In the noisy world we inhabit, silence is a powerful weapon, Jerjian said in September. It's a rare and valuable commodity that enables you to remove your masks.

"As you remove these masks, you reveal your true identity."

I spent more time with myself through journaling and scheduled daily breaks to appreciate my surroundings. Deleting my X account has been life-changing for me.

2. Embrace the wintertime

I usually dislike the decreasing sunlight and dropping temperatures during winter, which make me prefer staying indoors and avoiding plans.

Reading Kari Leibowitz's "How to Winter" gave me a new perspective on the winter season. Leibowitz, a psychologist and Stanford-trained expert, spent a year in Tromsø, Norway and discovered that its residents embrace their winter season, even though the sun doesn't rise for two full months.

Here's what residents of Tromsø do right to make winter enjoyable:

• They anticipate winter with optimism, expecting it to bring pleasant experiences.
• By planning fun activities and decorating their homes for coziness, they enhance the season's specialness.
• They go outside, regardless of the weather

This is my first holiday season living on my own, so I decided to decorate my apartment like Leibowitz suggests. Additionally, I dusted off the candles in my room and dimmed the lights in the evening for a comfortable atmosphere.

In December, I have plans every weekend, which is quite different from my usual hibernation routine.

3. Gain 'the courage to be disliked'

We decided to read "The Courage to Be Disliked" by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga together at the beginning of the year, as suggested by a close friend.

The book, The Courage to Be Disliked, is founded on Adlerian theory, a psychology developed by Austrian psychotherapist Alfred Adler, which promotes individuals to accept the possibility of being disliked by others in order to lead a more liberated life.

According to the book, being disliked by someone is evidence of exercising freedom and living in accordance with one's own principles.

To live life on your own terms, you must disregard others' opinions and acknowledge that you may never receive recognition for your efforts, yet continue to make those contributions regardless.

The book inspired me to embrace my true self, and I started sharing my creative writing on social media. I don't let the fear of rejection stop me from pursuing what brings me joy.

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