10 fulfilling things that women wish they would have done more often in their lives

Following the heart

It is not exactly a smooth road for women in the world. People in society monitor the group so closely to ensure that they do not stray from the path set for them. They are routinely shamed for things like not marrying at the right age, taking their time with having kids as well as balancing domestic and professional fronts. In trying to tick off these boxes or resist them, women lose themselves so much that they can not make time for things they really want. Therefore, when u/Natural_Sentence3042 asked, "What do you wish you did more of?" on Reddit, the comment section was quickly filled with funny, emotional, and heartwarming responses from women across all age groups. These responses showcase how women fight for space to breathe and follow their hearts in a world not built for their benefit. Here are 10 responses that are sure to encourage women to prioritize themselves.

1. Letting the creative soul fly

My creative hobbies - I used to love to draw and do embroidery, but rarely have the time to get back into it... Or when I do have the time, I just don't feel motivated. - u/Calliarthron. I just started going to drop-in drawing sessions where we draw gestural portraits of live nude models. It's really great! It's 3 hours of flow time and a chance to engage with other artists and improve my own skills. - u/sdbabygirl97. 3D modeling and drawing more. I still can. I know I can, but I'm at a place in my life where my priorities are different. I think if I practiced more in college and high school, I think my life would be very different now. - u/squishedpies

2. Self care

Self Care. I just feel like I constantly need to do something or I am constantly overstimulated/ overwhelmed or lonely, so I just don't. - u/MidnightRhinestone. Exercise. I was fairly active up until recently and then I developed painful heel spurs and now I’m pregnant and so damn exhausted all the time. It’s also currently -30° and getting colder where I live, so I can’t even go for a simple walk. - u/AotearoaCanuck. Exercise. It makes me feel great, but I'm too lazy to actually start a workout. - u/Specialist-Fact807

3. Putting themselves out there

More socializing. I’ve had a really hard time making and maintaining long-term connections over the last few years because I’m so closed off at times. I often feel lonely because of it. - u/umokaygotit. Talk to people. Talking has always been hard for me. Being quiet is comfortable because I’m so insecure and struggle with social cues. My mind can scatter, or I can zone out and forget what I was saying, which is really embarrassing. Also, I can zone out when someone is talking to me, and this just makes me feel like an asshole, so I tend to keep to myself. It sucks because I really do want to be social from time to time. Just in small doses. u/CommunicationIll3305

4. Getting into reading

Reading for fun. u/justsluttybrowsing. I have many books and they excite me. But I've somehow relegated reading to "lazy" and "difficult" at the same time. - u/Waerfeles. My ability to concentrate tanked with perimenopause. - u/lifeuncommon. Reading and learning. I have zero motivation at home to do things (growing up, the home was always for chilling and doing nothing. Homework was done at school/library, reading was done waiting on buses, etc.). Working from home and now having a baby, I’m at home all the time and never make time for hobbies. u/Boredasfekk.

5. Have more romantic partners

Dating. I always stayed too faithful to every guy to a fault, hence why I ended up in an abusive relationship for several years. Or maybe self-love is what I really needed. - u/Love_the_outdoors91. Never felt the wish to do it more until I realized I lacked experience to tell and if I went on more casual dates, it would be easier to move on from the wrong guys when it didn’t work out. And now I don’t even have the desire nor the energy to do it more. - u/Redhaired103. Traveling and experiencing intimacy with a partner. Been single for a while. - u/Efficient-Middle-701

6. Having more time on the bed

Sleep and walk outside. - u/DonaCheli. Because women need so much sleep, especially depending on our cycle! The "Mainstream" opinion/ saying is 7-8 hours, but this is, as usual, the standard for men, while women often need 9-10 hours of sleep. There is so much more going on in our bodies while lots of us do the same or even higher amount of work as men. Of course, our body needs more sleep, but not many talk about it. - u/Kagura0609. Sleep and travel for fun instead of family obligations. - u/aliasgraciousme

7. More time with nature

Frolicking. I need to frolic more. - u/gbfkelly. Walking outside- I don't have a dog currently, as my Sam crossed the rainbow bridge in July and I just don't feel safe walking around my neighborhood without a dog or husband. - u/Danivelle. Exercise! Even if it’s just walking outside. However, I don’t get enough of it because I do not feel safe walking by myself. - u/obtusegoose314. Sleep. Practice playing instruments. Learning a foreign language. And getting out into nature on a trail somewhere in the mountains. - u/Soylent-soliloquy.

8. Seeing the world

I would give anything to be able to travel more. I haven’t left the state in 6 years. I live in NJ and growing up, my parents saw to it that we traveled around and had fun vacations. Now, as a mom and wife who works, I can barely save enough to last me, until my next paycheck. I want so badly to take my son to fun places like my parents did for me, but it’s so hard. I feel like a shit mom because I can’t afford to bring my kid to places where our friends take theirs too. My husband doesn’t like to travel or is adventurous, so I’m pretty much alone on this. I get pretty lonely. - u/Altruistic_Ad884. Travel and go to concerts. A 2024 and going forward goal (I don't do resolutions. Those are destined for failure) of mine is to go to more concerts, which for me means traveling to an extent. I've got two on the books, so I'm already doing okay there. - u/blueberry_pancakes14

9. Prioritizing themselves

Acted out of my own interest instead of the interest of others. - u/rainforrest_berries. Feel happy and content. - u/coffincowgirl. Take care of myself and work towards my future, lol. - u/asleepinthealpine. Prioritizing myself. - u/fo_momma. Everything, except work. Work dominates my life now, to the detriment of hobbies, sleep, relationships, and self-improvement. - u/Salmoninthewell. Self-care. I always think I should get a massage or go away for the weekend, but it’s always the first thing that gets dropped when something comes up. - u/Cerraigh82

10. Take more pictures

I need to take more pictures. It is my New Year's resolution every year, and yet I still regret not taking enough pictures by the end of the year. - u/OriginalGirlNamedTom.  Don’t forget to be IN some of those pictures! One of my regrets from when my kids were little - I was always the one taking the photos, never in them. - u/Rare-Historian7777. Exactly! I’m rarely in photos and now I’m regretting it. My soulmate kitty passed away a year ago - I’m so grateful for the memories, photos, and videos, but really wish we had more photos together. I miss him. - u/lynxpoint.