Do you have bad habits that you need to quit right now? We may not realize it, but we might have bad habits that will have negative consequences for us in the long run. That’s why it’s good for us to stop them right now and replace them with better habits instead.
You don’t have to be too hard on yourself. Try improving yourself one habit at a time. First, you need to identify what habits you need to change as soon as possible.
1. Going to Bed Late
Not everyone is a morning person but everyone should be getting their daily dose of sleep hours. Adults need at least 7-8 hours of sleep at night to allow the body to heal and repair itself. Hitting the snooze button first thing in the morning is not the best way to start the day. Being awake late into the night is one of the most common bad habits that you should quit right away.
Lack of sleep can make you groggy and cranky the next day. It also causes dark eye bags, acne breakouts, dull skin and may even lead to excessive hair fall and other medical issues. More importantly, lack of sleep will make it more difficult for you to start the morning in the right mood.
2. Not Hydrating Properly
Some of us may experience a headache as we work in front of the computer. Most of the time, this is because we don’t drink enough water. The recommended 8 glasses a day also includes your intake of other liquids such as tea, coffee, fruit juice and soups.
Drinking more water helps our body to detoxify. So avoid sugary drinks and opt for lemon water or tea instead. Too much sugar in sodas and sweetened juice drinks is also unhealthy. Feeling hungry? Try drinking a glass of water first. If the hunger pang disappears, it only means you are not drinking enough water.
3. Not Having Set Meal Times
Forgetting to eat because you are inspired or in the flow is good for your work but it can be bad for your stomach and overall health. It can give you a headache as your blood sugar fluctuates. People have collapsed because they forgot to eat both breakfast and lunch. In the long run, this can lead to stomach ulcers which will need medical treatment.
Not scheduling set meal times can also lead to over-eating when you can’t stand your hunger pangs anymore. You may find yourself eating too fast to chew your food which can lead to digestive issues. You may end up craving for and bingeing on sweets, salty or oily foods that are unhealthy for you. This in turn can lead to undesirable weight gain. Preparing your meals ahead of time can help you change this habit.
4. Being a Couch Potato
Sitting for work most of the day can lead to bad posture as well as other physical issues. If you’re sitting most of the time due to binge-watching on your TV or social media addiction; then this is one of the bad habits that you should definitely quit right away.
Get into the habit of moving your body regularly. Take breaks in between work to stand up and stretch. It would be ideal if you can integrate exercise into your morning routine. Exercising helps us detoxify, boost our mood and lift our energy levels. If you stay at home most of the time, doing regular house chores or just dancing to your favorite music is a good way to keep moving.
5. Worrying Too Much
We all have concerns that we can’t easily set aside. However, constantly worrying about them is not helpful and will only stress us out. It is better to communicate your concerns with other people so you can vent out that negative vibe. But don’t dwell on them too much. Take the necessary precautions and do your best.
Most of us worry about “what if’s” and obstacles to our goals that will lead us to failure. In most scenarios, our worries are mostly imaginary. If we do our best to avoid them; they may never happen anyway. So instead of worrying, make a plan and follow it; making adjustments along the way. Keep looking forward to positive “what if’s” instead of the negative scenarios.
Accept that not all our bad habits were intentional choices. Sometimes, we developed them in response to certain life circumstances. We all have our share of bad days and bad choices. As long as we recognize them as such; then we are able to change them and start to reset our health. Replacing bad habits with new ones can be a challenge but the results can be rewarding.
There are many more bad habits that we may have acquired though the years. What other bad habits do you have that you need to quit right now?
Feature Image: Original Photo by Sammy Williams on Unsplash.