Nine writers on the habits they’ve decided to give up this year

Nine writers for the Guardian outline a range of things they say they will no longer bother with this year, from smartphones and social media to alcohol, low‑fat foods, people‑pleasing, intermittent fasting and caffeine. Rutger Bregman describes removing addictive apps, asking his wife to set a passcode and block the browser, and keeping only non‑addictive tools; he says the change felt liberating though he still relapses sometimes and argues that bigger regulation of tech would be ideal.

Patrick Grant recounts how worsening hangovers led him to give up alcohol for extended periods and, eight years on, to have forgotten what hangovers feel like. Lucy Prebble says she has closed accounts and given up X after encountering amplified misinformation and disturbing content.

Other writers explain personal reasons and consequences: Josie Long rejects low‑fat and diet foods after a traumatic car crash prompted a new approach to eating; Meera Sodha describes quitting people‑pleasing after therapy and a breakdown, calling it a daily endeavour; Louise Hazel reports that intermittent fasting left her losing muscle and becoming "skinny fat" and argues for focusing on body composition rather than scale weight; Michael Rosen says he stopped caffeine after a prolonged Covid hospital stay disrupted his sleep and now drinks hot water with lemon and naps when tired.

Key Topics

Culture, Rutger Bregman, Patrick Grant, Andi Oliver, Josie Long, Meera Sodha