Productive people have one thing in common: they've found the keys to defeat distraction and procrastination. They excel at focusing and getting through to-do lists–which clearly takes some mental aptitude and strength. Good mental health translates to better productivity, so Reddit user Moist_Apartment5474 polled productive people in r/Productivitycafe by posing the question, "For your mental health what is something or things you avoid?"
Whether you're trying to implement a new habit, break old ones, or finally stick to your New Year's resolution–we can all take some mental health pointers from productive people. They shared a bevy of people, places and things that they have removed or cut from their lives to improve their mental health.
So get ready to take notes–here are 22 of the best responses to the question: "For your mental health what is something or things you avoid?"
1. "Toxic people. Don't try to impress others or make friends with those that don't show interest in you, or make you feel like you don't belong in a group. Sometimes it's better to be alone, then be in a group of people that exclude you." – Jellybean_Pumpkin
2. "Following celebrities/influencers on Instagram. Their highlight reel of constant vacations and buying whatever their heart desires is not good for my mental health. I deleted everyone who I didn’t know personally on instagram during 2020 and it really improved my mental health." – Alybank
3. "If I'm feeling really depressed, I try and avoid sad stories, or social media and the news. It just cements how I feel. Now I try and surround myself with positive stuff rather than the negative." – iambecomeslep
4. "Alcohol. It’s desperate and insidiously harmful for mental health beyond a hangover." – baxterstrangelove
"This is also the number one substance I avoid. I drank heavily for years and when I stopped my mental health improved so dramatically. My physical health through routine medical tests also improved dramatically." – Zipstser257
5. "Rushing. For context, I leave to go to appointments or work with plenty of time to commute. If there’s an accident or traffic jam, I’m still going to be on time. If I’m super early, there is usually a coffee shop or cafe nearby to pass time." – epicenter69
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6. "Multiplayer/online/competitive games (Valorant, Overwatch, League of Legends, CS:GO, Apex Legends, PUBG, Warzone) are filled with the most egotistical and toxic people and make it not fun. I have been switching to single-player games like RDR2, and I enjoy them so much." – Specific_Charge_3297
7. "American football. Checking work email out of hours. TV news." – SeveralButterfly8560
8. "Crowded places." – Fuzzteam7
9. "Weight loss posts, apps, 'inspo'. Never has this done anything for me except make me hate my body. I’ve struggled with EDs my entire life and even at my heaviest those apps and posts only served to make me hate myself more, which made it easier to continue to live unhealthily. I think they can be good for some people in moderation, but they’re also so very destructive."– speltbread12
10. "Weed. It wasn't clear to me how much it was damaging my mental health until I removed it from my life." – Voodoo_Jack
11. "Avoid thinking about what hurts me. These are called intrusive thoughts and are past patterns of co ING. When these thoughts intruded what I personally do is change my thinking. I often pray for myself, I forgive myself. It's not that hard anymore. I have become aware of my thoughts. These thoughts do not incl5 self reflection. I often think of the past and often it can hurt. It is healing at the same time. I also consider any "bad feelings or hurt I have karma. I hurt others and now it is my turn. I am 68 and have been in therapy on and off for 50 years. Hope this helps." – Rosespetetal
12. "News & Politics for sure. It's impossible to 100% tune them out/avoid them, but you can reduce what you see/hear by about 90-95% which goes a long way." – rubix44
13. "Replacing doomscrolling with reading has helped tremendously." – royalfunkstar
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14. "Professionalism. I'm not going to make up an entirely new identity just to do a job. It's bad enough I have to work. I'm not going to cosplay as a middle aged Caucasian from suburbia just to make someone else happy." – Pyredditt
15. "Overwork. I used to be the guy who never really minded when I worked more than 8 hours a day. Then it got to the point where it was threatening my marriage and causing a lot of stress with my wife. I quit that job and quit putting in extra long days for no reward. I might not be 'CEO material' or what have you but I value my family WAY more. I make enough money to be comfortable, I don't want to be the rich guy who alienated his family to get to that point." – Long-Tradition6399
16. "Comparing yourself to others. Be grateful for what you do have instead of what you don't." – truthhurts2222222
17. "The radio.. I don't know why I am like this. Places I've worked where the radio is on constantly all day every day.. the music that is supposedly popular, the presenters, the adverts, the jingles. I have literally left places of employment because of the radio lol.... and yes, I have asked for it to be switched off or even the volume to be lowered for a while. But no, that is out of the question. 'It's always been this way' or 'we've always listened to this station' or 'The day passes quicker'. I don't understand how people do it." – DarthMidnight87
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18. "Having a gut reaction to click bait before researching. I find that I am now more likely to stop and quickly google something than immediately react on the spot." – MirMurMer
19. "Seeing my family too much." – RlyVSS
20. "Compulsive clothing purchases...result, financial problems which further increase stress..." – Mysterious_Leave_971
21. "I avoid people that complain and/or gossip. I have 0 interest in talking shit about other people." – SaffronSpecs
22. "Being productive all the time kills my mental health." – trippingbilly0304
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21 everyday phrases that make people silently scream inside
If you’ve ever cringed at hearing “It is what it is” or rolled your eyes at someone saying “No offense…” before delivering something totally offensive, you’re definitely not alone. Some expressions are so irritating, so overused, or so grammatically cursed that hearing them once more might just push us over the edge.
We asked our Facebook audience, “If you could ban one annoying phrase from existence forever, what would it be?” and holy moly, did the floodgates open. Typically, a given question might rack up around 5,000 comments—but this one? Over 14,000. People shared responses that were funny, petty, brutally honest, and occasionally downright poignant. From phrases that try (and fail) to sound wise, to those so overused they've lost all meaning entirely—here are the top contenders folks are completely done with.
The one phrase nearly everyone wants to vanish
By far the most repeated offender was:
Over and over, users cited this as the ultimate non-response. It’s dismissive, it ends conversations, and it offers exactly zero comfort or help.
Another big category? Expressions meant to comfort that end up being painful or insulting. These include:
Many commenters explained that these phrases, while often well-intentioned, feel dismissive in times of grief or hardship.
Grammar gripes and word crimes
Grammar lovers had a lot of feelings. Some of the most-cited “please stop saying this” phrases included:
And let’s not forget the collective rage over “pacifically” when people mean “specifically.”
Words that reveal more than they intend
Several users took issue with phrases that feel passive-aggressive or intellectually lazy, such as:
As user Jacqueline C. put it, “'To be honest...' What does that mean? That you're not honest any other time?”
Phrases tied to racism, sexism, or toxic positivity
A significant number of respondents took aim at harmful or politically charged phrases. Among them:
These comments weren’t just about annoyance—they were about the emotional weight and social impact of language.
James G. didn’t mince words when he wrote: “‘Go back to your country, then’ 🤬. The epitome of racist. I love my country, plus my ancestors did not ASK to be brought here the way they were.”
Corporate speak and empty buzzwords
You knew these were coming.
These phrases sparked a different kind of rage—one reserved for staff meetings and marketing emails.
Iris H. summed it up: “Most corporate speak. Downsizing. Low hanging fruit. Pivot. etc…..” Just say what you mean, please.
Why this resonated so deeply
There’s something unifying about shared irritation. These phrases might seem harmless or routine, but for many people, they’re like verbal paper cuts—tiny annoyances that, over time, sting a lot more than they should.
Whether it’s poor grammar, dismissive condolences, or flat-out hate speech in disguise, we’re collectively craving language that’s thoughtful, clear, and kind.
So the next time you find yourself reaching for one of these expressions, take a beat. Maybe there’s a better way to say what you mean. Or maybe… just don’t say anything at all.
And if you’ve got your own phrase that should be banished from existence? Don’t worry—there’s still time to add to the list.
Got another phrase that needs to go? Drop it in the comments on our original Facebook post.
Bonus: The top five most hated phrases from our poll
Let’s make 2025 the year we finally stop saying all of them.