10 bad habits to ditch in 2017
The clouds are parting, the muddiness of 2016 is fading from your memory, and with that, comes a whole new 12 months for you to learn from. It’s a new year to tackle issues that have been plaguing you — or maybe it’s just a new year for you to try something new. Whatever the case, it’s important to move forward, but also reflect and revamp yourself.
We all have habits: some good, some bad, some questionable — but there are always those habits that no matter how much we try to curb them, they still keep creeping in.
Let’s break down some habits that may be contributing to our stress, sadness, withdrawal or slowing the advancement to our better self, and look at ways to combat these habits in 2017.
After all, what do we have to lose?
Note: we’re not trying to play doctor here, just merely offering some friendly suggestions.
Slow down
In a world where you’re expected to work your daily hours plus make sure you are keeping up to date with your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat and every other social media account, finding a balance and not burning out can be challenging feat. We’re all expected to be our own social media managers in addition to our work and personal lives — and it’s bloody tough.
We focus on a task at hand only soon to be frantically thinking about what needs to be done in two, three hours. We’re multi-tasking and barely taking time to just…do one thing. What a novelty.
It’s all about priorities and knowing what you actually need to do vs. what you think you need to do. The worst thing is finishing the day and thinking “what did I actually accomplish today?” Yet, you’re exhausted from just being meaninglessly busy instead of being productive.
…and actually sleep!
People nowadays are praised for how little sleep they get and professionals wear this “I’m so busy” jargon like a badge of honour. People are actually dying because they are being overworked and not sleeping enough. People are also killing themselves because of it. Some people have gotten so used to little sleep that nodding off for more than three hours just feels weird.
So, if you’re in need of a New Year’s resolution or just want to try it out, check out this 28-day Sleep Revolution Challenge, which is based off of Arianna Huffington’s best-selling book, The Sleep Revolution.
Give up your need to control everything and everyone
Too often we obsess over things we cannot control. We play a game of lottery on the regular but expect concrete results. Like the lottery, life is a gamble, so realize that and take in stride.
Think about the things you can control: your health, your body, your spirituality, your work ethic, your words, your relationships. Stop worrying about if you are going to get canned over a badly executed campaign or if people don’t like you, or your significant other is going to be angry at you because you forgot to text them right away. Make allowance for not controlling everything because if you don’t do so those things that you once could control will soon start becoming jigsawed, skewed and more difficult to keep in check.
Make a list of the things you want to achieve in a day, a week, and control those because, that’s all you can do. Sure, there are going to be side punches and curveballs that come at you, but you’ll be more prepared for them if you’re not so fixated on being in constant control or worrying what might happen next.
As the English proverb notes: “Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
Stop focusing so much on the negatives in life
Easier said than done, but seriously, why are you beating yourself up so much? It’s all about making an effort. Whether it is to focus on what you need to do in life, how you are feeling great today, what you think you could benefit from doing –- whatever the case may be, why let the negatives clutter your positives or better yet, your objectives?
Don’t tell me that if someone gives you a polite smile, it’s ruined your day. It’s as simple as gestures like that, which can lift spirits, so make an attempt to note when things like this happen and weed out the “no one wants to be with me” mind trickery.
Did someone hold the door for you? Give you a seat on the subway when it’s packed? Help you with your bags? Let you go first in line? Struck up a nice conversation? Made you laugh? Make note of these in your everyday instead of all the crappy things people can do because some people can be crappy, but you don’t have to.
Take a walk, learn something, read something, exercise, write, play a game, binge watch a show — do something that occupies the brain, as best as you can.
I know, easier said than done, but trying is all you can do.
Learn to say no, and actually follow through
Another hard thing to do because most of us like to appease or please others so we take on more than we actually can. You know what’s worse? Saying yes and then not delivering. Understand your boundaries and your schedule and embrace saying no, it actually feels nice after you take control. You’re not a robot or some 24/7 wizard so don’t expect people to think you are.
Take more time to observe the people around you
Try the Warren Buffet approach (which he adopted from his mentor, Benjamin Graham), which is actually very straightforward. Take a look around you and think about who you like or admire the most. Why so? Now, repeat this for those around you that you dislike or don’t admire. What are the causes or traits why you dislike them? Make note of both sides and assess your circle and perhaps how you can select the good from some of them and not select the bad from the others. Make sense?
Get rid of negative, toxic people in your life, regardless of who they are
To add to the previous section, take a real close look at who you surround yourself with, who you run to for advice, who you trust and who trusts you. As Jim Rohn notes: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
It’s simple: if being with them makes your heart sink, your blood boil, or you often act like this, consider squashing them in your life.
Look at 2017 as a fresh beginning (since it is) and if the same situation, conversation, argument, etc., keeps happening, why keep trying to change it? It clearly hasn’t thus far.
You can’t change people, but you can change the way you react to people. More so, you can change who you have to react to, and if they’re not helping your happiness then what’s the point of letting them know your life? Stop allowing yourself to be available to the nonsense.
Stop comparing yourself to others, constantly
“The reason why we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” – Steve Furtick
There will always be someone better at (insert anything) and worse at (insert anything) than you, it’s life. The problem is that we are so inundated with other people’s “happy” lives and “successful” memories and “fun” Snapchats about every single moment, that we tend to forget that not everything is what it seems.
We never know what battle someone is fighting, what happens behind closed doors, what someone had to go through an hour before you see them — so have compassion for everyone, but don’t compare yourself in the process.
Which brings us to……..
Take a real close look at your social media use
When you’re sifting through feeds, take notice of how you feel during and at the end of your session. Do you feel down, less important, insufficient? If the answer is yes then you need to make note about what this is doing to your self-esteem. Take a step back and ask yourself: is there one person that is really bugging you with their posts? Are you constantly getting jealous? Instead, follow people that are helping better you — whether it be a site full of quotes or an influential leader or a funny meme feed, take the time to get the right feeds for you. Sure there are fun celebs and personalities that are great to follow, but make sure you mix up your feed with those that are also feeding your mental soul.
A new study claims people want to quit social media more than smoking in 2017. Is the end near?! Maybe! Probably not.
We all need to find a way to mix factual content with personalized content, and do so without getting lost in the mix. Only then will we actually be feeding our brain and body, while comforting them too.
Stop always being available
As mentioned above, you don’t need to entertain or always be there for every single person that reaches out to you. It’s exhausting — and no matter how much you think you can advise or chit chat or hang out with others, it’s taking away from your own time, which maybe you’re doing intentionally, but try taking a step back. Turn your phone off, don’t answer everything right away, take a break from social media, just do something that makes it so everyone knows– “Hey, I’ll get back to you when I can.” You’re allowed. YOU’RE ALLOWED!
Got suggestions? Let us know in the comments below or by tweeting @YahooStyleCA.
