Shadowing Practice: Things I Quit in My 20s for a Simpler, Happier Life. - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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I know this video sounds really serious, but I'm also going to be really unserious and pull out my memes, okay?
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I know this video sounds really serious, but I'm also going to be really unserious and pull out my memes, okay?
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While I explain to you the eight things that I quit in my 20s that actually made me happier and have a healthier life.
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here are eight things that i quit and removed in my 20s that were making my life smaller i'm not talking about the normal you should quit
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vaping or leave that job that no longer serves you i'm talking about the patterns the habits the way of thinking that you don't even clock is a problem and that has been so normalized and woven into who you are.
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Have you ever had a passing thought of, why does my life feel so boring?
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And when do we start resenting what other people have and compare so much that it hits us so deeply that we're frozen from what we actually want to do?
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And if you are a person that ruminates on these thoughts and feelings, I put together a list for you of the eight things that I quit in my 20s that actually made me happier and have a healthier life.
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I quit Instagram and TikTok about a year ago and I want to be specific as to why.
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It's not necessarily because I was doom scrolling but it was because I was constantly in the cycle of seeing something that I wanted, that I didn't have, that I couldn't have and feeling like I didn't have enough in my life.
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Another perfect nose, another perfect house, another apartment, another outfit, another life that wasn't mine.
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Like there's this Instagram highlight reel version of living that is so heavily romanticized online
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that normal people like you and me look at our normal lives and wonder how it's ever going to measure up to that or why
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it doesn't measure up to that which is crazy work because we are being conditioned to think this way but the truth is
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it's not real that's a curation and illusion that is distracting you from finding true peace i was unknowingly consuming
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curated lifestyles for so long that I would actually look at my life and be like damn like I am a piece of shit.
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Leaving that cycle or at least becoming conscious of it gave me the ability to actually want what I have in life and
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I think removing those tools that actually build that comparison cycle is the best thing that you can do and it's the first step.
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The second thing on my list is quit reacting to fucking everything.
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And I think I learned this as a kid.
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Somewhere along the way, I learned that being reactive meant that you cared.
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For me, it was someone's tone, someone's passive comment, or just changing plans last minute.
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And I felt it so immediately and deeply in those moments.
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What really helped me is starting to look inward instead of reacting outward.
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Like why is she so bothered?
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She as in me.
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Like what is triggering her inside?
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Take a moment to listen to that girl inside of you.
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You realize that maybe there is something in here that you need to pay attention to.
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And I know this part will sound really harsh to some of you.
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But in the grand scheme of things, none of this matters.
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everything that happens in your life none of it actually matters the way that we think it does like i watched this video where a guy was talking about
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how in a hundred years no one is going to remember your name no one is going to remember how awkward you might have came across in
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that conversation or how awkward you may have came off at like a gathering no one is going to remember and not everything
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deserves your energy and most things actually don't the third thing on my list is probably very relatable to all the girlies out there, especially the ones that love clothes.
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I quit buying clothes for the version of myself that I thought I was supposed to be.
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For me, this had a chokehold on me.
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Like I live in LA right now, but I was buying clothes and shoes as if I was living in New York in the winter.
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Like be so fucking serious.
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Like I was buying boots that I knew I would never wear.
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Forcing myself into aesthetics that actually made zero sense for the life and climate that I lived.
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And this is all because I just felt like I needed to look like them.
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But why?
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You're not her.
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You are your own person.
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And honestly, I would wear those things and I felt like I was in a costume.
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Like I did not feel comfortable because it's 80 degrees in LA and I'm wearing freaking long boots that I did not feel comfortable in just because like that was what the aesthetic is or that is what like all the hot girls wear.
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And the truth for me when it comes to clothes is I like being comfortable.
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I like being casual.
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I like being cozy.
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I like being in sweats.
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I like being in a sweat tank top jacket.
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And that's okay.
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And that is okay.
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And that doesn't mean you're not stylish.
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It doesn't mean that you're not cool enough.
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It doesn't mean you're not hot enough.
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You could be a hot bitch in sweats.
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This might sound like a small thing, but it's not.
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What you put on your body every day affects how you feel about yourself every single day.
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get ready for bed with me while i talk about the fourth thing that i quit in my 20s that actually changed my life i quit running on three to
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four hours of sleep honestly for me running on a few hours of sleep felt like something to be proud about because
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i quote unquote was staying up to work or being productive but no girl i was deeply depleted prioritizing sleep
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changed everything and i know everyone has a different schedule a lifestyle and the routine that they have when it comes to their sleep.
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So I won't go too much into it, but I think one takeaway is just please sleep.
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We've all done it.
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We've stayed up way too late all week or just on a weekend and then slept until noon the next day and thinking, okay, I'm good.
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Like I caught up on my sleep, but are you actually catching up on your sleep?
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I don't know if you heard of sleep debt, but it's basically exactly what it sounds like.
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So every night you sleep less than your body needs, you're borrowing from yourself and that adds up.
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But let's say you've been chronically under sleeping for weeks or months or years like someone like me that's super hard to
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undo and there has been studies actually shown that even when people feel like they've recovered their brain function overall health
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and reaction time are so much slower than someone who's never been sleep deprived you just stop noticing how off you feel and that was
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me i was constantly running on three to four hours of sleep and i still catch myself needing to work on this like i have some days where I only sleep for like six hours and I actually feel it the next day.
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But I've been trying to make it a routine and very intentional about getting eight to ten hours of sleep.
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The real fix to all of this is just consistency.
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Like being able to discipline yourself and being like, I need to get that eight to ten hours of sleep.
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And if I don't, then I'm doing myself a disservice.
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I would take melatonin for a week and force my body into a sleeping cycle.
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And I know this sounds really toxic, but I actually read on Reddit that you can take melatonin up to like a month.
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But when you're on the other end of things, your skin clears up, your body feels better.
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Try to get that 8 to 10 hours of sleep.
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The fifth thing on my list is I quit neglecting my body.
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And I'm not going to stay here and tell you what working out, cardio, all of that looks like because it looks different for everybody.
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But I think my main point I want to say is just be active.
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Specifically to the girls who are watching, please weight lift.
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Weight training is going to serve you so much better as you get older.
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You don't have to be that girl that wears the weight belt, does five plates on each side.
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Like you don't have to be that bitch and you don't have to be at the gym for two hours.
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But try to build your bone density and be consistent.
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Future you will be so grateful.
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By the way, if you made it this far into the video, thank you so much.
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I know I've just been yapping at you this whole entire time.
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But on that note, number six on the list is I quit people pleasing and being too available.
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And I want to say something that is not talked about enough.
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But being too available is its own form of self-abandonment.
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You teach people how to treat you.
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And I was teaching people that my time and energy was infinite.
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And it's not.
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But beyond that, I think sometimes being too available for everyone was a method for me to avoid myself.
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And the, what do I do with my thoughts?
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When you're always focused on outward things, whether that is always being accessible, always there for someone, you never have time to sit with you.
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And sitting with yourself and that little girl inside of you that I was talking about earlier is when the real work happens.
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Girls, we made it to number seven on the list.
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Number seven is I quit draining friendships.
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Some friendships from your past will not make it into your future.
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And that is okay.
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I've stayed in friendships way past our expiration date because I don't wanna be that bitch that gave up.
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I don't wanna be that bitch that changed or because we have so much history or because of that guilt that builds inside of you.
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There's actually a lot of content out there specifically around women's friendships and how to spot and navigate them.
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But what I'll say from my own experience is that some connections were simply costing me more than they were giving me.
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Letting them go quietly was one of the most peaceful decisions I've ever made and I have zero regrets because releasing those spaces made room for people that are currently in my life and that I love and that alone is so worth it.
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This is the last one and I will tell my partner to fucking take my mic and throw it the fuck away, okay?
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Number eight on the list, I saved it for last because it's a sensitive topic for a lot of us.
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I quit and removed my resentment that I carried towards my parents.
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I carried resentment for a long time towards my parents, towards my past, towards things that happened that I couldn't change.
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And I used to live in that place of my life would be so different if X, Y, and Z had been different.
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And I think I held onto it because it felt like protection somehow.
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Like the anger and the hurt were proof of what I've been through.
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And it was my story and I wasn't ready to put it down.
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But that bag that you carry, girl, it gets heavy.
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And at some point, you're gonna have to ask yourself, why are you carrying it?
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Is it because it's serving you?
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Or is it because you don't know who you are without it?
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For me, letting it go wasn't about excusing what happened to me.
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It was about deciding that my peace and my energy, all of it mattered more than being right about my pain.
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Thank you so much for making it this far into the video.
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Like I always have to say thank you because it's like, damn, like what do you do for your attention span?
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Because I cannot.
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And I want to say all the things that I talked about today, none of it is easy and it does not happen overnight.
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Growth isn't this clean, linear path that looks super pretty on camera.
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it's slow it's ugly it's uncomfortable and sometimes you're gonna take three steps forward and two steps back but that's still progress and if you don't
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get anything out of this video i think the one thing that i want you to take away is that you are allowed to change you
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are allowed to outgrow things habits people versions of yourself that no longer serve you and you don't owe anyone an explanation for becoming someone better thank you so much for watching this video and i hope you learn something and you will be a fucking okay.
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Okay babe, I will see you in the next one.
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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice English speaking by focusing on important themes discussed in the video "Things I Quit in My 20s for a Simpler, Happier Life." The speaker shares invaluable insights about letting go of toxic habits that hinder personal happiness and fulfillment. By shadowing these thoughts and phrases, you will not only improve your pronunciation but also expand your vocabulary relevant to self-improvement and emotional wellness. This lesson is particularly beneficial for anyone looking to learn English with YouTube, as it emphasizes relatable content in a conversational tone.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Doom scrolling - Continuously watching negative or distressing content online, often leading to feelings of inadequacy.
- Curated lifestyles - Selectively built online personas or presentations that may not reflect genuine experiences.
- Reactive - Responding immediately without considering the consequences; often leads to unnecessary stress.
- Inward reflection - Taking time to understand your own feelings and reactions rather than outwardly reacting.
- Aesthetic - A set of principles guiding the style or design of something; how we choose to express ourselves through visuals.
- Comfortable - Feeling at ease in one's own skin or choices, highlighting the importance of personal satisfaction.
Practice Tips
When practicing English speaking through this video, consider using the shadowspeak technique. Listen to each section carefully, pausing after each sentence or key thought. Try to repeat it aloud with a similar tone and speed, which can enhance your pronunciation. This method allows you to fully engage with the language, helping you internalize it while also improving your fluency. The conversational nature of this video is ideal for this—mimic the speaker's inflections and emotional intonations to capture the nuances of English. Doing this will not only refine your speaking skills but also deepen your understanding of the content. So, let’s learn English with YouTube and make those active speaking practices a regular part of your routine.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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