Adrian Volenik
You just want to live according to your abilities.
To be able to do that, you need to get rid of the following bad habits:
1) Digital distractions
Let’s start with the habit affecting almost everyone right now. We have to talk about your phone.
You see, when you’re constantly immersed in digital devices, it often leads to reduced focus and productivity.
Per one study, we look at our phones 352 times per day. That’s four times more than in 2019, and I don’t see it getting any better any time soon.
I, personally, lost all control when the war started in 2022. It was simply such an unbelievable event that had me glued to the phone for the rest of the year.
I’m actually still dealing with it.
This bad habit prevents me, you, and everyone else from fully engaging in tasks that require deep concentration and creative thinking.
For instance, writing an article.
To combat this, set designated times for checking devices and consider using productivity techniques like the Pomodoro Technique to stay focused.
With it, you work for 25 minutes and then get a 5-minute break. Which reminds me, it’s time to take a break.
2) Impulse control
I’ll be frank with you. I’m not an impulsive person. I typically think things through (say that five times!).
But I know many people who are very impulsive. From how they talk to how they just do things without having a second thought.
I envy them sometimes; I really do.
Having said that, acting impulsively without considering the consequences can result in hasty decisions that don’t align with your long-term goals.
Developing better impulse control involves pausing before making decisions, weighing the pros and cons, and considering the potential impact on your future.
3) Comfort zone preservation
Staying within your comfort zone feels nice, doesn’t it? But although it gives you a sense of security, it can also limit your exposure to new experiences and challenges.
Pushing yourself to step outside your comfort zone, even in small ways, is very beneficial and leads to personal growth and expanded capabilities.
Saying “no” to every new opportunity or challenge creates a boring but safe and sheltered life.
Evolution, on the other hand, comes from embracing new challenges and learning from them.
4) Avoiding failure at all costs
Avoiding failure at all costs goes hand-in-hand with staying in your comfort zone.
Being too risk-averse prevents you from taking the necessary steps for maturing. And failure is often a starting point to success. Embrace calculated risks and view failures as opportunities to learn and improve.
For example, asking for a raise comes with the risk of your boss declining your request.
However, if you’ve gathered evidence of your contributions, compared your salary to industry standards, and practiced your negotiation skills, you’re taking a calculated risk to improve your compensation.
5) Collecting information
Constantly seeking information without taking actionable steps results in information overload.
There’s no harm in getting thoroughly informed. But it’s what you do with this newfound knowledge is what’s important.
Implement what you’ve learned before seeking out even more information. Hands-on experience is crucial for applying knowledge effectively.
Plus, overanalyzing situations will make you anxious, give you decision paralysis, and increase stress.
Struggling to make decisions, whether big or small, results in missed opportunities and a lack of progress.
Ideally, establish a time limit for decision-making and remind yourself that not every decision needs to be perfect. Making mistakes is part of the learning process.
6) Overloading yourself
Have you ever seen a video of overloaded trains in India? People are cramped inside the wagons, on the sides, and on the roof of the wagons themselves.
That’s how your mind looks when you simultaneously take on too many tasks or projects.
This naturally leads to decreased focus, stress, and a decline in the quality of your work.
You should prioritize tasks, delegate when possible, and set sensible expectations for what you can achieve.
7) Daydreaming
I love daydreaming. My wife often catches me staring into the distance while I’m supposed to work.
While daydreaming can be a source of inspiration and creativity, excessive daydreaming without taking concrete steps can keep you trapped in a cycle of wishful thinking.
Consider turning your daydreams into specific goals and creating actionable plans to achieve them.
For example, stop daydreaming about traveling the world. Instead, ensure you travel to at least two new countries within the next two years.
Research potential travel destinations, create a budget, set aside a specific amount of money each month for travel expenses, and plan the itinerary for each trip.
8) Self-sabotage
Engaging in self-sabotaging behaviors, consciously or unconsciously, can also undermine your efforts and prevent you from reaching your potential.
Identifying these behaviors by self-reflecting or seeking professional advice can help you overcome them.
But what does self-sabotage look like in practice?
In relationships, romantic and otherwise, it means straining them with mistrust, jealousy, or avoidance.
My wife, for instance, always assumes the worst possible outcome in situations. That’s why she has a lot of unnecessary anxiety and stress.
9) Lack of reflection
Let me be honest with you again.
I don’t like self-reflecting too much. I understand that failing to reflect on my own experiences, both successes and failures, can prevent me from learning and growing.
That’s why I now bite the bullet and regularly set aside time to reflect on my actions, decisions, and results to get valuable insights.
Without this, you’re really harming yourself in more ways than one. The same can be said for the following:
10) Avoiding uncomfortable conversations
No one likes having uncomfortable conversations. But there’s a lot of good that can come out of them.
Besides, shying away from difficult conversations damages your interpersonal skills and capacity to fix conflicts.
Developing effective communication and embracing uncomfortable conversations means you’re better equipped to navigate relationships.
11) Not asking for help
Trying to handle everything on your own only limits your potential. You’re simply not leveraging the expertise and support of others.
There’s a reason why most successful people have mentors and even coaches deep into when they’ve already reached success.
Recognize when you need assistance and reach out for help when necessary. Collaborating with others often leads to better results.
12) Skipping leisure
Another thing I’ve been guilty of in the past was never taking enough time to relax. I’ve since wised up and now take time every day for myself. If only for ten minutes.
My family understands this as they saw the harmful health effects overworking had on my body and mind.
But why is not relaxing so harmful?
Neglecting leisure activities that bring you joy results in burnout and decreased overall well-being. Even if you love what you’re doing.
Please include activities you enjoy into your routine to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Learn from my mistakes before it’s too late.
Final thoughts
Many bad habits undermine and suppress your true potential. These are just some of them.
But some of the more obvious ones not in this article include procrastination, perfectionism, negative self-talk, comparing yourself to others, lack of lifelong learning, being close-minded, etc.
No one can eliminate all bad habits, so do your best!
