Only set realistic goals. Photo: People swim in the Moossee near Bern, where the temperature is 4 degrees.
Keystone / Anthony Anex
Who says new year says new challenges. But sometimes the key to success is the things you don’t do. In any case, this is the opinion of author Rolf Dobelli, who thought about how to live life well.
This content was published on
January 7, 2025 – 11:03
In his latest book “Die Not-To-Do-Liste”, Rolf Dobelli takes stock of the behaviors to avoid for the new year. Here are five of them.
1. Say no to social media
Social media is a perfect way to stir up jealousy. Since only the most beneficial images and videos are shared, we inevitably feel inadequate seeing them scroll across our screen. They also rob us of our attention: our brain is distracted, our concentration decreases and we become less productive.
For the year 2025, social networks should therefore be high on our “list of things not to do”, believes Rolf Dobelli.
2. Don’t be someone who can’t be counted on
You can go far, even without having an extraordinary IQ or creativity, as long as you are reliable.
Reliability is often considered the most underestimated key to success. However, this is the most important factor. Intellectual excellence or creativity alone does not protect us against failure, whereas reliability provides solid support and helps reduce this risk.
3. Don’t set unrealistic goals
Setting a goal of remaining attractive into old age or living forever is hopeless, no matter how many vitamins you take. The quest for permanent happiness or fame is also unrealistic.
Instead, ask yourself: what kind of person would I like to become this year?
4. Don’t always say yes to everything
Giving time to others, being there for them and helping them are admirable acts. They enrich our lives and give it meaning – but only up to a certain point. This is achieved when you notice that you are losing yourself.
Rolf Dobelli’s advice: practice “five seconds before you say no.” With each request, take five seconds or less to decide and default to “no” unless the request is clearly important.
Avoid phrases like “I’m thinking about it” or “maybe” if you actually want to say “no.”
5. Don’t try to change people
It is impossible to change the personality of others, whether by motivating them or putting pressure on them. Avoid situations in which you try to change others. It is often better to distance yourself from people with whom you don’t get along.
Rolf Dobelli.
EPA/ARNE DEDERT
To marry with the aim of changing your partner is to choose the path of unhappiness. In an existing relationship, there are three options: accept the particularities of your partner, change yourself, or consider a separation.
In conclusion
Create your own “don’t do list” in 2025. Instead of constantly searching for what will make you healthy, just avoid unhealthy habits.
Instead of fixating on becoming rich, avoid predictable expenses. Instead of analyzing what makes relationships succeed, pay attention to what can cause them to fail.
And finally, instead of chasing happiness, eliminate everything that stops you from feeling it. Good year!
Who is Rolf Dobelli?
After studying philosophy, Rolf Dobelli worked as an entrepreneur and executive, notably for Swissair.
He is the founder of “WORLD.MINDS”, an international community of minds from science, economics and geopolitics.
Rolf Dobelli writes novels and specialist works, including the bestsellers “The Art of Thinking Clearly”, “The Art of Acting Intelligently” as well as “The Art of Living Well” and “The Art of Living numerically”.
In 2024 he published his book “Die Not-To-Do-Liste: 52 Wege, die grössten Lebensfehler vermeiden” (The Not-To-Do-Liste: 52 Ways to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes in Life).
Translated from German using DeepL/dbu
