For a long time, I was the guy who made grand plans and never followed through.
You know the type:
– Big ideas for the new year
– Ambitious fitness goals
– Career advancement dreams
– And the promise to finally stick to a healthy eating plan.
Yet, year after year, I found myself stuck in the same rut, with little progress towards any of my goals.
I was a psychology enthusiast with big dreams, yet I was struggling to implement any of them. I was the founder of Hack Spirit but couldn’t hack my own life.
The problem? I was clinging on to 7 habits that held me back from actually achieving my goals.
Once I identified and said goodbye to these habits, everything changed.
In this article, I’ll share these 7 detrimental habits with you. If you’re serious about achieving your goals this year, it’s time you said goodbye to them too.
Let’s dive in.
1. Procrastination
We all know how it is. You set a goal, you’re excited about it, but when the time comes to take action, you find a million other things to do.
“I’ll start tomorrow”, “Just one more episode”, or my personal favorite, “I work better under pressure”. Sound familiar?
Procrastination was my worst enemy. It kept me stuck in the same spot, always planning, but never actually doing.
I realized that to achieve my goals, I needed to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start taking action today. Even if it was just a small step, it was progress.
And guess what? The world didn’t end when I started working on my goals before the deadline. In fact, it felt liberating. I had control over my time and my life.
If you’re serious about achieving your goals this year, stop putting things off. Start today, even if you don’t feel completely ready. Remember, progress is progress no matter how small.
Procrastination only leads to stress and disappointment. Break free from this habit and see how your life changes.
2. Fear of Failure
I remember when I first launched Hack Spirit. I was terrified. What if no one visited the site? What if they did, but hated it? What if I had just wasted months of my life on a doomed project?
These thoughts haunted me. It was paralyzing.
Then, I stumbled upon a quote by the renowned psychologist Carl Jung: “The greatest and most important problems of life are all fundamentally insoluble… They can never be solved, but only outgrown.”
It hit me then that I was letting my fear of failure hold me back from trying. And without trying, there’s zero chance of success.
So, I took a deep breath and launched the site. And yes, there were hiccups along the way. But with each setback, I learned and grew.
If you’re letting the fear of failure stop you from pursuing your goals, remember Jung’s words. Problems or potential failures aren’t meant to be feared, but outgrown.
Failure is not the opposite of success. It’s part of it.
3. Negative Self-Talk
I didn’t realize how often I was putting myself down until a friend pointed it out to me. Every time I faced a hurdle, I’d immediately tell myself, “I can’t do this.”
It was as if I had a little voice in my head that was constantly doubting my abilities and undermining my efforts.
Once I became aware of this, I decided to treat myself with the same kindness and respect that I would extend to a friend.
Instead of telling myself “I can’t do this,” I started saying, “I can figure this out.” Instead of seeing obstacles as insurmountable, I saw them as opportunities to learn and grow.
And you know what? It made a huge difference.
The way we talk to ourselves matters. If you’re constantly berating yourself, it’s time for a change. Be your own cheerleader. Encourage yourself. Remember, the words we speak to ourselves are the most powerful ones we hear.
4. Lack of Sleep
Like many others, I used to believe that sleep was a luxury I couldn’t afford. I’d stay up late working, believing that I was getting more done by sacrificing sleep.
However, I was mistaken.
A study showed that people who are sleep-deprived have slower and less precise motor skills. They make more mistakes, their memory is affected and their mood is often worse.
When I read this study, it was a wake-up call (pun intended). I realized that by not prioritizing my sleep, I was actually hindering my productivity and well-being.
I started setting a strict bedtime for myself and made sure to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Not only did my productivity increase, but I also felt happier and more energized.
If you’re serious about achieving your goals this year, make sleep a priority. Your mind and body will thank you for it.
5. Multitasking
I used to pride myself on being able to juggle multiple tasks at once. I thought it made me more productive. But in reality, it was just causing me stress and reducing the quality of my work.
I decided to try focusing on one task at a time. I put all my energy and attention into completing it before moving on to the next one.
The result? My work improved, and I was much less stressed. I found that I could achieve more by doing less.
If you’re also in the habit of multitasking, try focusing on one task at a time. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can achieve when you give your full attention to one thing.
6. Avoiding Discomfort
I used to believe that achieving my goals should be a smooth and pleasant process. Whenever I encountered discomfort or difficulty, I’d take it as a sign that I was on the wrong path and quickly retreat.
But then I realized that discomfort is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign of growth. Every time we step out of our comfort zone, we learn and grow.
So, I started embracing discomfort. For example, when I started learning how to code for Hack Spirit, it was incredibly challenging. But instead of giving up, I embraced the struggle, and eventually, I got better.
If you’re serious about achieving your goals this year, don’t shy away from discomfort. Embrace it as a part of your personal growth journey.
7. Over-planning
Now, you might find this surprising. After all, isn’t planning key to achieving your goals?
Well, yes and no. While having a plan is important, obsessively planning every single detail can actually be counterproductive. It can lead to analysis paralysis, where you become so overwhelmed by the planning process that you never take action.
I was guilty of this. I would spend so much time planning and strategizing that I would run out of energy when it came time to actually do something.
But I decided to strike a balance. I started planning just enough to know what my next step should be, and then I took action.
Here’s a practical tip: Instead of planning your entire journey, just plan the next step. Once you’ve taken that step, plan the next one. This approach will keep you moving forward without getting overwhelmed by the bigger picture.
Conclusion
Breaking old habits is never easy, but it’s necessary if you’re serious about achieving your goals.
Every small step you take towards breaking these habits brings you closer to your goals.
If there’s one piece of advice I’d like to leave you with, it’s this: Be patient with yourself. Change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process and there will be setbacks. But every setback is a set up for a comeback.
Start today. Let go of one bad habit and replace it with a good one. Then move on to the next. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goals.
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