It’s the Year of The Wood Snake: Discover Ways To Shed Your Old Skin

It’s the Year of The Wood Snake: Discover Ways To Shed Your Old Skin

The Wood Snake is all about transformation, patience, and shedding the layers that no longer serve you. If you’ve been feeling stuck, this is your sign to let go of what’s weighing you down and step into a version of yourself that actually aligns with your future. Whether it’s dead-end relationships, toxic habits, or just a general fear of change, now is the time to shed that old skin and move forward with purpose. Here’s how to do it.

1. Stop Chasing Friendships That Feel One-Sided

thoughtful woman with glasses and notebook

If you’re the one always reaching out, always making plans, always keeping the connection alive, it’s time to ask yourself why. Friendships should be a two-way street, not a full-time job where you’re the only one clocking in. If someone only remembers you when they need something or puts in zero effort, stop making excuses for them. People who care about you will show it without needing reminders. According to Healthline, one-sided friendships can leave you feeling confused and hurt, as you demonstrate interest in the other person’s well-being but they show little interest in you and your needs.

Letting go of one-sided friendships doesn’t mean you’re bitter—it means you’re setting a new standard. The people who truly belong in your life will meet you halfway. The ones who don’t? Let them go without a second thought. Your energy is too valuable to waste on people who treat you like an afterthought.

2. Quit Telling Yourself You’ll Start “Next Month” And Just Do It Already

Jacob Wackerhausen/Shutterstock

How many times have you told yourself you’ll start eating better, working out, learning that skill, or leaving that bad situation “next month”? Be honest—has next month ever actually come? Procrastination isn’t just about laziness; it’s about fear. You convince yourself that you’ll start later because deep down, you’re afraid of failing. According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, procrastination is linked to a variety of poor outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and even physical health issues.

But here’s the truth—waiting doesn’t make things easier, and it sure doesn’t get you closer to your goals. Stop overthinking, stop planning endlessly, and just take the first step. It won’t be perfect, and it won’t always be easy, but starting today is the only way you’ll ever get where you want to be. The longer you wait, the more time you waste.

3. Clean Out That Closet—And Your Social Circle While You’re At It

New Africa/Shutterstock

You know that pile of clothes you keep saying you’ll sort through? The same one filled with things you haven’t worn in years? Yeah, it’s time to let that go. And while you’re at it, take a look at your social circle, too. If there are people in your life who no longer align with who you’re becoming, it might be time to do some decluttering there as well. In fact, The Good Trade says that letting go of friendships that no longer serve you can be an important part of personal growth and moving forward in life.

Holding onto things and people out of habit isn’t growth—it’s stagnation. Just like you wouldn’t keep old, ill-fitting clothes in your closet forever, you shouldn’t hold onto relationships that don’t fit anymore. Make space for new connections, new experiences, and a life that actually reflects where you’re headed.

4. Recognize The Difference Between A Rough Patch And The End

Yuri A/Shutterstock

There’s a difference between pushing through challenges and forcing something that’s already run its course. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a personal goal, knowing when to fight and when to walk away is a skill that will save you years of frustration. Sticking with something just because you’ve already invested time in it isn’t a good enough reason to stay. According to the Gottman Institute, while rough patches are normal in relationships, persistent issues like criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling can be signs of more serious problems.

If something is genuinely fixable, work on it. But if you’re constantly making excuses for why you should hold on, ask yourself if you’re just afraid of starting over. Letting go isn’t failure—it’s freeing yourself for something better.

5. Stop Chasing Dead Ends In Your Love Life

If they wanted to be with you, they would be. No mixed signals, no half-hearted efforts, no guessing games. Stop wasting your time hoping someone will change, show up differently, or finally commit. If they’re inconsistent now, they’ll be inconsistent later. You deserve someone who actually chooses you—not someone who keeps you around as an option.

Walking away from dead-end relationships doesn’t mean you’re giving up on love. It means you respect yourself enough to stop begging for the bare minimum. When you stop settling, you create space for something real, something fulfilling, and something that doesn’t feel like an uphill battle just to get the basics.

6. Move In Silence, But Make Sure You’re Actually Moving

Not everything needs to be announced. Your goals, your plans, your next big move—sometimes, keeping things to yourself is the smartest strategy. But there’s a difference between being private and just standing still. If you’re keeping quiet about your ambitions, make sure it’s because you’re working on them, not just daydreaming about them.

Real progress doesn’t need validation from others. It doesn’t need a public declaration. Keep your focus, put in the effort, and let your results do the talking. The loudest wins are the ones people never saw coming.

7. Get Used To Being Uncomfortable—That’s Where Change Happens

If you’re always waiting for the “perfect time” when things feel safe and easy, you’ll never move forward. Growth is uncomfortable. It forces you to confront fears, push through doubt, and do things that scare you. If you avoid discomfort, you avoid change. And if you avoid change, you stay exactly where you are.

Stop expecting transformation to feel good all the time. The moments that challenge you the most are the ones that shape you. If it’s uncomfortable, that means you’re doing something right.

8. Stop Wasting Your Time With Things That Don’t Serve You

That could be a toxic relationship, a draining job, or even habits that keep you stuck. Whatever it is, if it’s not bringing value to your life, why are you still holding onto it? Time is the one thing you can’t get back. Every minute spent on something that doesn’t serve you is a minute stolen from something that could.

Start being ruthless with your time and energy. If something isn’t adding to your life, it’s taking away from it. And you don’t have time for that anymore.

9. Trust Your Gut And Stop Second-Guessing Everything

You’ve ignored that little voice in your head before, and where did it get you? Probably in situations that you had no business being in. Your gut instinct is there for a reason—it picks up on things before your conscious mind does. But instead of trusting yourself, you overanalyze, doubt your own judgment, and talk yourself into bad decisions.

Stop questioning yourself every time you feel uneasy about something. If something feels off, it probably is. If you’re constantly having to convince yourself that something is fine, it probably isn’t. The more you learn to trust your intuition, the less time you’ll waste justifying red flags. Your gut is rarely wrong—start listening to it.

10. Stop Repeating The Same Vicious Cycles And Calling It Growth

Mix and Match Studio/Shutterstock

You tell yourself you’re learning, but are you? Or are you just making the same mistakes over and over again with different people, different jobs, or different situations? Growth isn’t about going in circles—it’s about moving forward. If you keep finding yourself in the same frustrating situations, it’s time to ask yourself what needs to change.

Breaking the cycle means doing things differently, even when it’s uncomfortable. It means setting boundaries where you used to give second chances. It means saying no where you used to say yes. If your “growth” still feels like the same old struggle, it’s not growth—it’s just repetition with new excuses.

11. Learn To Adapt, Or The World Will Move On Without You

RZ Images/Shutterstock

Change isn’t coming—it’s already here. The world doesn’t slow down just because you don’t feel ready. If you’re still clinging to outdated ways of thinking, resisting new opportunities, or refusing to adjust when life throws you a curveball, you’re only making things harder for yourself.

Being adaptable doesn’t mean you have to abandon everything you know. It just means you stay open, willing to learn, and ready to shift when needed. The people who thrive aren’t the ones who refuse to change—they’re the ones who learn how to evolve. If you don’t, life will pass you by, and you’ll be stuck wondering why nothing ever works in your favor.

12. Detach From The Past Before It Drags You Back In

Rido/Shutterstock

Your past might have shaped you, but it doesn’t have to define you. If you’re still holding onto old mistakes, past relationships, or things you should have let go of a long time ago, you’re making it impossible to move forward. The more energy you put into reliving the past, the less you have to build your future.

Detaching doesn’t mean forgetting—it means refusing to let what happened before control what happens next. You can acknowledge your past without letting it dictate your choices. Stop letting old wounds, regrets, and memories keep you stuck. You don’t live there anymore.

13. Stop Being Desperate For Approval And Learn To Self-Validate

Nicoleta Ionescu/Shutterstock

Waiting for other people to tell you that you’re good enough is exhausting. If you constantly need external validation to feel secure, you’ll never truly be free. One day, people will approve of you. The next day, they won’t. And if your self-worth depends on that, you’ll always be at the mercy of their opinions.

Real confidence comes from knowing your own worth, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Stop looking for permission to be proud of yourself. Stop seeking applause for every move you make. When you learn to validate yourself, outside approval becomes irrelevant. And that’s real freedom.

14. Get Back In Touch With The Things You Used To Love

seeing boyfriend once a week

Somewhere along the way, you let go of things that once made you happy. Maybe life got too busy, or maybe you convinced yourself that those things didn’t matter anymore. But the truth is, they do. The hobbies, passions, and simple joys you used to have weren’t meaningless—they were a part of you.

Reconnect with what lights you up. Pick up that book, start that project, go back to the activities that once made you feel alive. Life isn’t just about responsibilities—it’s about joy. Stop depriving yourself of the things that make you, you.

15. Make Smarter Moves Instead Of Just Faster Ones

Luis Molinero/Shutterstock

Speed means nothing if you’re running in the wrong direction. In a world obsessed with instant gratification, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind if you’re not making big, fast moves. But rushing into things without a clear plan only leads to mistakes and wasted effort.

Stop making decisions out of impatience. Stop comparing your timeline to other people’s. Thoughtful, intentional moves will always take you further than reckless, desperate ones. Success isn’t about being the fastest—it’s about being the most prepared. Play the long game, and you’ll thank yourself later.

 

Georgia is a passionate story-teller and accomplished lifestyle journalist originally from Australia, now based in New York City. She writes lifestyle content for Bolde Media, publishers of Bolde, Star Candy and Earth Animals.