10 Nasty Habits You Must Eliminate From Your Daily Routine
Our
brains just aren't capable of successfully completing two tasks at the same. So
why do we keep doing it?
Make no mistake about it.
Bad habits are called
"bad" for a reason. They kill our productivity and creativity. They
slow us down. They hold us back from achieving our goals. And they're
detrimental to our health.
Of
course, some bad habits are worse than others. Here are 10 of the worst things
that you may be doing on a daily basis:
1.
Eating when you're not hungry
I get
it. You're so busy that you don't notice that you're snacking on potato chips
and candy throughout the day. The problem with this is that when you're not in
sync with your body's natural hunger and satisfaction signals, you start
overeating. This can lead to weight gain and health concerns like heart disease
and diabetes and, you know, being fat.
How
to fix it: Make
sure you're eating for the right reason: You're hungry. Don't eat because
you're angry, bored, sad, or stressed. When you do snack, stick with healthier
options like fruits, veggies, nuts, and low-fat, whole-grain products. Also,
put your snack on a plate and sit down at the table to enjoy it, like you would
for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. No more out-of-the-box.
2.
Using your mobile devices in bed
You
probably don't realize that this can seriously impact your sleep, as well as
productivity. Research has found that by
staring at the blue and white lights that are emitted from digital screens
you're preventing your brain from releasing the hormone melatonin. This hormone
notifies your body when it's time to fall asleep. By not releasing melatonin,
you have a harder time falling and staying asleep. When you're tired the next
day, it more difficult to stay focused and remain productive.
How
to fix it: Ditch
the phone and read a book before you go to sleep. If you're worried that you'll
be tempted to check your phone, place it across the bedroom so you won't look
at it throughout the night.
3.
Complaining
Science has found that
"not only does expressing negativity tend not to make us feel better, it's
also catching, making listeners feel worse." Even more troublesome,
constantly complaining can harm your physical and mental health by making you
more stressed out. In fact, complaining can
literally kill you.
How
to fix it: Learning
how to not complain doesn't come easy. But it is possible. The first thing to
do is to accept that the world isn't perfect and that sometimes things aren't
going to go your way. You should also work on owning up to your mistakes, being
less judgmental about yourself as well as others, and becoming more assertive.
4.
Being unorganized
You
may think having a cluttered desk isn't that big of a deal. But that couldn't
be further from the truth. Disorganization can stunt your
professional growth and decrease your productivity. It wastes your valuable
time, and can make you feel more anxious and stressed.
How
to fix it: To
become more organized, start by writing down important reminders and making
schedules. Also give everything a home so that you can place things in their
rightful location. Make sure you declutter regularly, such as
every Friday before you go home for the weekend.
5.
Multitasking
Research has found that
multitasking isn't effective. In fact, despite the myth, multitasking has been
found to be less productive than doing one task at a time. The reason? Our
brains just aren't capable of successfully completing two tasks simultaneously.
How
to fix it: Do
one thing at a time. The most effective way is by writing down a to-do list
every night with your most important tasks for the following day. Start with
the first task, cross it off, and then move on to the next task.
6.
Not having a savings goal or plan
Whether
you are saving for retirement or creating an emergency fund, having money set
aside and collecting interest can reduce stress since you don't have to worry
about the future or any "what-if" scenarios. Trust me. Knowing that
you have money to fall back on just in case is a real lifesaver.
How
to fix it: Automate
your savings. For example, take a certain percentage of your paycheck and
automatically deposit it into a savings account. This ensures that you're
constantly saving money.
7.
Putting yourself into debt
Stressing
out over your finances can do some serious damage to your
health.
Money concerns can cause high blood pressure, ulcers, digestive problems,
headaches, depression, and muscle tension or lower-back pain.
How
to fix it: Take
control of your finances by creating and sticking to a budget. This will help you
understand how you're spending your money each month so you can plan
accordingly. For example, if you're spending more than you earn, it's time to
start trimming the fat.
8.
Gossiping
"Gossip
creates gall, envy, and torture that disrupt digestion and create
mal-stress," writes Dr. Kathy Dooley. "This stress exacerbates anxiety,
tension headaches, and other pre-existing symptoms associated with
stress." On top of that, gossip can hurt others and disrupt an otherwise
healthy relationship and workplace environment.
How
to fix it: Believe
it or not, a little gossip can bond
people, as
long as it's done correctly, which means it shouldn't be self-righteous or
malicious. I would still recommend that you don't get caught in the gossip. If
you need to confide in someone, make sure it's someone you can trust, like a
spouse or best friend.
9.
Smoking cigarettes
Smoking
can result in cancer, long-term respiratory diseases, and heart disease. It's
also expensive and just plain nasty. I honestly don't know anyone who enjoys
the stench of stale cigarette smoke.
How
to fix it: Quitting smoking is hard. Because it's
so addictive, you may have to seek counseling or a behavioral therapist.
However, there are nicotine replacements and medicine that can also help you.
10.
Making excuses
Don't
get me wrong. There are times in our lives that prevent us from reaching
deadlines or completing goals. Instead of explaining why we failed, you have to
own up to it. Remember, excuses aren't going to help us become more productive
or successful. They're just a crutch that we use to explain our shortcomings.
How
to fix it: Begin
by setting realistic and attainable goals so that you're not setting yourself
up for failure. Then, establish your priorities and learn to embrace failure. Most important, when you
mess up, hold yourself accountable. You'll be surprised at how liberating it
feels.
By John
Rampton
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