“Things I Regret This Year” is trending across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. You place the text overlay “Things I regret this year” on your video and list specific regrets, one by one.
These can be about habits you’ve dropped, opportunities you’ve avoided, money choices, or relationships you’ve mishandled.
The tone of this trend is more reflective than comedic.
You aren’t venting; you’re acknowledging what didn’t go the way you wanted. Many creators combine the overlay with calm footage from daily life, journal pages, or montage clips from the year.
Instead of presenting perfection, the format centers on honesty.
You share what didn’t work, so the viewer immediately recognizes familiar patterns in their own year.
Why This Trend Matters Today
This trend resonates because regret is a universal experience. Users are already mentally reviewing the year, and this format provides a language for that process.
When you name a regret directly, you make the content specific instead of vague “year-in-review” posts.
There is also a shift toward transparent reflection instead of only highlight reels.
According to platform behavior around end-of-year content, posts that openly discuss lessons and missed chances often get strong saves and comments because people relate to the vulnerability.
For many viewers, this trend isn’t about negativity. It’s about closure.
Sharing regrets signals change without preaching self-help advice. The list itself becomes the message.
How To Do The ‘Things I Regret This Year’ Trend
Create a short video and add the overlay “Things I regret this year.”
Under it, list two to five items, each phrased: “not starting sooner,” “saying yes to everything,” “ignoring rest,” or “avoiding hard conversations.” Keep each line readable at a glance.
Your visuals can be minimal. Journal pages, walking shots, messy desk footage, or clips from your camera roll work. You don’t need to explain each regret in detail. Let the list stand on its own.
- Pro Tip: Balance specificity and privacy. Share regrets that are real but not so detailed that they require lengthy explanations. Concise honesty performs best.
You may also want to check out some of our other social media trend updates.
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