10 Toxic Habits to Cut Out of Your Life
I’ve been on a major self improvement kick lately, and have been listening to some great podcasts, reading books, and journaling more. All the research and learning I’ve done lately have led me to think about the “toxic” traits I need to cut out of my life! Honestly, these habits are things that take serious time and energy to really get rid of or improve upon, but the outcome could produce some really great results for you!
Constantly Checking Your Phone
I am definitely guilty of constantly checking my phone. You know that phobia where you think your phone is buzzing and it’s really not? I definitely have that!! I think the habit of reaching for your phone can be a result of so many different things. It could be a social anxiety or awkward situation that has you reaching for it, or even the constant notifications buzzing and distracting you from whatever task you’re trying to complete. Try putting it on do not disturb mode, or putting it away for a little while to focus on the task at hand.
Binging Netflix/Hulu/Etc
In a day and age where streaming services are aplenty, and everyone is talking about what they are watching, it can be really hard to stay away from the TV. I don’t think watching TV occasionally is a bad habit, but I do think binging shows on a regular basis for hours on end is a toxic trait that could be improved upon! My solution is to watch shows while I do other things – like fold laundry, clean up the house, work on house projects (I love to listen to a show while painting), getting ready in the morning, cooking, etc. That being said, there is value in being “still” and listening to your own thoughts instead of constantly having background noise on.
Not Drinking Enough Water
This is probably one of my worst habits. I habitually dehydrated and can’t seem to figure out how to drink enough, but I KNOW it’s so important to your overall health and wellness. The latest thing I am trying is to grab a cold, liter sized water bottle out of the fridge in the morning and bring it with me for the day. I personally like my water cold so that helps me a lot! Another option is to bring a reusable water bottle, like this hydroflask, with you and keep it filled. If you have the water in front of you, you are more likely to drink it!
Bad Sleep Habits
I do not function as a person very well without at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Everyone is different when it comes to how much sleep you get, but the general rule is somewhere between 7 to 9 hours per night for adults. Arguably equally important is going to bed and waking up around the same time every day.
Comparison
Comparing yourself to others is a no win situation. Especially with social media, I know it’s hard not to think “why can’t I have that” or “I wish I could be where they are right now” when you see the curated feeds of your social media. But the reality is, it helps no one and nothing to compare and feel bad about yourself. And every single person you are envying or comparing to, is doing the same thing with someone else, or maybe even you! So my advice is to let go and live your life how you want to without comparing!
Bailing on Plans
It was pointed out to me about 2 years ago that my reputation among my friends was that I bailed a lot. I may have good reasons to – work, family, etc – but nonetheless, my friends still held onto the fact that I last minute cancelled on plans a lot. When I thought about how I felt when my friends bailed on me, I realized how much it sucked. Once I heard the message from them, I made a conscious decision to stick to as many of my plans as possible, and refute my reputation. Two years later, and I feel like I’ve really made a difference. There’s been a few times here and there where things have come up that I can’t change, and I’ve had to change plans, but about 90% of the time, I show up. I really value the friends that show up no matter what, and make the effort to be there. It’s so easy now to just want to stay at home and say “sorry, can’t make it” but your relationships with your friends will really benefit from being the one who always shows up.
Gossiping
Let’s be real, gossiping is another toxic trait that helps no one, and can really hurt someone in the long run. So many settings are tempting to gossip in, and other people can pull you into that kind of talk, but I think we would all benefit from cutting back on gossiping about others in all settings (work, school, friend groups, etc).
Showing Up Late
This habit goes along with bailing. Once you’ve made the commitment that you are going to be somewhere, show up on time to said event. Being late is a sign of disrespect for another person’s time, and I think you should do everything in your power to prevent it. If you are going to be late, let the person know in advance! I am huge on respecting people’s time, and I would never want to make someone wait on me.
Negative Self Talk
The way you speak to yourself has been proven to be very influential on how you feel about yourself. If you are constantly telling yourself negative things (I hate how this looks, or I’m not good enough for that), will inevitably lead you into believing those things to be true. The same goes for positive self talk. The more you tell yourself something, the more you will believe it. I won’t lie though, positive self talk is HARD to consistently participate in. I can be a negative nelly sometimes, and when I am in that headspace, it’s difficult to pull myself out of it. But how powerful does it feel when you can completely change your mood just by changing your mindset!
Overspending on Unnecessary Things
I am a huge online shopper (Amazon is my weakness lol) and sometimes it doesn’t even feel like you’re spending money! I am trying to cut back on overspending generally, and buying things that are unnecessary to help save a little more money! Every little bit helps!
