We’re only a few days into the new year, which means there is no better time to plan for the best year you can. One way to make 2024 great for you is to identify and weed out the habits that stand in your way. Even small habits can make a huge difference.
15 Habits You Should Leave Behind
1. Avoiding a budget
If financial stability and growth are on your 2024 to-do list, you have to start with a detailed budget. It’s important to know how much money is coming in, where it’s going, and what you have available for investments.
2. Not setting a schedule
Time management is essential to accomplish your goals. However, it’s hard to do that if you don’t know where your time goes. With this one, it’s important to design a schedule that works well for you. For example, some people work better by assigning tasks to times of the day when they’re mentally ready for them.
3. Sitting for too long
Physical activity is important to your overall health. Additionally, sitting for too long can result in chronic back pain. It’s a good idea to find ways to engage your body while working such as using a standing desk. You can also schedule breaks where you walk around.
4. Not making time for socializing
Many studies have shown that spending time with others can have a positive impact on your mental health.
5. Not getting enough rest
Your body needs sleep and you’re not doing yourself any favors by not getting rest. The new year is an excellent time to establish a bedtime routine.
6. Not taking social media breaks
According to recent studies, people who spend a lot of time on social media tend to be more prone to depression. Experts suggest determining what you want to accomplish while scrolling social media and taking a break when it’s done.
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7. Setting unrealistic to-do lists
There can be a lot of emphasis on productivity but that doesn’t mean you’re being efficient. It’s better to create a realistic to-do list that you can complete daily.
8. Living in the past
Dwelling on past mistakes can not only affect your mental health but it can also prevent you from making plans for the future. Writing down how the past is holding you back can help.
9. Comparing yourself to others
While looking at others’ successes can act as motivation, too much of it can lead to a standstill. A better option is to focus on your personal growth.
10. Getting stuck in the planning phase
It’s common for large goals to need research. However, you need to determine how much information is enough for you to get started.
11. Not finding the right diet
What you eat says a lot about your health. Now is the right time to determine what changes you need to make to your diet for the best results.
12. Not seeing your doctor
Many illnesses only progress because people don’t have an annual or semi-annual check-up. Talk to your doctor about the right schedule for you and any specialists you need to see.
13. Sticking to multitasking
Though it’s possible to juggle certain tasks, studies show that true multitasking doesn’t exist. Trying to do that can make you less productive. It’s better to prioritize your tasks and assign the appropriate amount of time to them.
14. Being late all the time
This can tie into poor time management but it’s not always that simple. Some people have mental health issues that can make being on time difficult. However, constant lateness can strain professional relationships. It’s advisable to determine what makes you late so you can deal with it.
15. Keeping toxic people around
Toxic people can drain your energy, stop you from accomplishing your goals, and negatively affect your mental health. One way to identify them is that you often get anxiety before being around them. It’s a good idea to learn who they are and put some distance between you.
Why You Shouldn’t Call Habits Good Or Bad
According to lifestyle experts, stepping away from calling habits good or bad can result in a helpful mindset change. When you use those words to define your habits, it’s tempting to hold on to things that feel good in the moment but aren’t serving your overall goals. It’s better to think of your habits as either effective or ineffective regarding your life goals. What are the habits that will lead you in the right direction or what are the ones that are likely to hold you back? You should also consider any habits that are bad for your physical, emotional, or mental health.
How To Change Your Habits
Changing your habits starts with digging into the details of your day. Experts suggest writing down everything you do daily for a week. At the end of each day, you should make a note beside each habit about whether or not they were helpful to you. Once you have a week’s worth of information, you can take things further by digging deeper into why you’ve developed these habits and the steps it would take to put them behind you. For example, if you’re prone to emotional eating, you can start by identifying which emotions trigger you. Then it will be important to find healthier ways to manage them. For some people, reaching out to friends can make a difference while others get better results from speaking with a therapist.
As always, the key to making lifestyle changes stick is being consistent. It’s also a good idea to prioritize what you’d like to change so you don’t get overwhelmed.
A lot of people think about New Year’s resolutions but most of them don’t follow through. If you change your mindset about your habits and make informed decisions about how to change them, you won’t fall into that category.