List of Bad Habits to Avoid
Being successful isn’t easy. If it were, everyone would be, and we would have fewer problems in today’s society. I believe most people can be successful if they want to be. They just don’t always make the right decisions. I’ve compiled a list of bad habits that people should avoid if they want to be successful.
Bad Habits to Avoid
Getting up late
You can’t expect to be a success in anything by sleeping until 12 or 1 pm each day. You have to get up and seize the moment. A lot of successful people accomplish tons of things before 9 am. You can do it as well. In the past, I was that person sleeping until 1 pm on the weekends. I learned that to be a successful person, I couldn’t afford to do that. The early bird does get the worm. Once you have the willpower to get up early, you can do anything.
Watching too much TV
Watching too much TV will keep you on your couch. To succeed, you must minimize the amount of TV you watch. How could you be productive if you watch TV every hour at home? You can’t be. By turning the TV off, you will become more focused and be able to think clearly. There are a lot of people who love TV. They let it control their life. They are wasting countless hours watching reality television and then wonder why they are stuck in life. Don’t become that person. Change your daily routine and stop watching too much TV.
Procrastination
Next up on the list of bad habits is procrastination. To be honest, I have to fight from time to time. When you procrastinate, you put stuff off to do it later, but most times, you don’t do it. A lot of people procrastinate and don’t try to change. If you don’t try to change, you will be doing nothing forever. It took some time, but I broke this habit. I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to. I get most of the things I must do in a timely matter. When you’re busy, you just can’t afford to procrastinate.
Always being available
You can’t always be available. I mean that being available is answering every phone call, text, IM, tweet, or Facebook notification. You must turn those things on silent or off from time to time to be successful. For example, how could you write an excellent blog post if you’re constantly paying attention to your phone? It’s damn near impossible. Initially, it may be a struggle, but you must start worrying about yourself.
No discipline
Many people have good ideas and goals but can’t pursue them because they lack discipline. Sometimes getting discipline takes time, but it is worth it. Whether you’re trying to pay off debt or lose weight, you must have some discipline. There’s a saying out there that goes like this. “Suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” That is a word right there. You’re the one that has to decide if something is important enough for you to discipline for.
Blaming Others
Next on the list of bad habits is blaming others. When things go wrong for you, it is usually not your colleague’s or your family’s fault. When you blame others for your lack of success, you expect them to be the reason you become successful. Know that success is internal, it is your choice to lead your life in the ways of successful people, and it is also your choice not to. Instead of putting the blame on others and wondering why did Mr. A do this to me? Change the question to how can I prevent this from reoccurring?
Waiting For The Perfect Time
“When I’m ready” is a prevalent trap that a reasonable percentage of unsuccessful people fall into. They wait for a sign instead of creating one. The notion that we will one day be ready, but we are not now- is similar to a mirage that keeps distancing itself as you believe you are getting closer. If you keep waiting for the perfect time to take a step, you will surely miss the opportunity. A feeling like you are not ready is your comfort zone attempting to keep you safe, telling you that if you remain in this bubble, nothing bad can occur. Moving out of your comfort zone opens you to a new land of abundant opportunities and resources.
Comparing Yourself To Others
Comparison is the thief of joy. The issue with comparing yourself with someone else is that you compare a chapter of your life to another chapter of someone else. If you are wondering why you are not as successful as Elon Musk or Warren Buffet, it is because you are just starting, and they have been in business for decades longer than you have.
The things we see in the lives of successful individuals are the highlight reel. We get to see the Forbes nominations, magazine covers, and speeches. But, we do not see all the times they had spent their days just as you are currently trying hard and taking the right steps in the correct direction. Remember, everyone must have a beginning.
Not Taking Care Of Your Health
Successful people know the importance of health in productivity and focus. If you do not take in enough food to sustain your body, you cannot get your tasks done or focus for a long time. Examine your diet as you do your income. Money is vital to settle your bills, and so is food to fuel your body and reach your goals. Your eating habits are very important. This may be the most important thing on this list of bad habits to avoid. A healthy diet is a good habit to have. Your body will thank you for that.
Giving Up When Things Get Tough
There is no such thing as overnight success; it is a myth. Overnight success is a culmination of years of consistent smart and hard work suddenly put under the spotlight. If you want success, get ready to persist for months and even years before hitting the jackpot. Persistence is a mindset. It comes from the understanding that you are moving closer to your goal daily. As long as you are moving, you are winning.
I hope that people are mindful of these habits. You have to make changes if you want to be successful. You can break your old habits with self-control. Switch out the bad ones for different habits.
Below are a few books that also help you make better decisions.
Very well put. As my pastor in New Mexico used to say, “if you can’t say “amen” say “ouch”.
Translation: If you are doing some of the things that I’m talking about…and you can’t say Amen out of guilt….Just say “Ouch”
I said “ouch.” quite a few times while reading your post.
I’m actually writing a book on stuff like that, btw. In it, I give up one thing that I think I’m addicted to for one month and journal about it….
Again, great post.
I can’t wait to check out your book.
@Ty My pastor says the same things. @Jason This blog post definitely hit home!
I have procrastinated before in school. I would wait till the last minute to write a paper. I would be up all night freaking out and trying to get it done in a panic. I still can procrastinate and I have to be diligent about setting goals for myself. Great reminders! =)
No problem. I used to procrastinate in school a lot smh.
Hi Jason,
You’re right about that, there are plenty more. Lack of motivation, lack of enthusiasm, lack of gratitude, lousy attitude are just a few of the things that come to mind in addition to the 5 habits you’ve listed here.
I’ve always been an early riser, have had years of military and police discipline. I think procrastination is a form of justification for laziness, which goes against living ON purpose.
Kind Regards,
Bill
I agree.
I have always struggled with procrastination. In college I would wait to the last minute to do papers. I would be stress however, I would still get good grades which probably reinforced my procrastination. As I got closer to finishing graduated school, I had to stop procrastinating and really set goals to finish things in a timely matter so I would not be stressed out. Currently, I struggle with watching too much television. I need to take your advice and turn the television off.
You will see a lot of changes when you turn off the TV.
My big one is letting myself get sucked down the rabbit hole otherwise known at the SmartPhone… TV typically takes a backseat these days though and it’s great that everything can be put on the DVR.
I forgot about the smart phone. I should right a post about that.
Did you say you forget about smart phone? It’s a massive things in today’s time.
I actually do almost all my blogging with the TV on in the background. It works surprisingly well.
That’s interesting. I usually can’t focus much with the TV on.
I’ve been doing it since high school days so I think it’s just a habit. I sometimes need to shut it off to really zone in on something, usually how I’m wording something in a blog post or email. Usually, though, I can be very productive with something on in the background.
I continue to have a problem with a few of these. Sometimes I knock it out of the park and others they manage to sneak their way back in.
I understand. Its a work in progress.
You are right mate… Every point to mention is really make a lot of sense. Among some points from the list I am always facing trouble and make my self a bit stronger 🙂
They are good suggestions.
Hi Jason; Yes, those are just five. I suspect you have a follow up post or two in the works. smile I do often turn off all the noise to write a post, but most of the time I manage to tune out the noise once I get going. I share a house with my mom, younger brother, nephew and a crazy dog. so finding completely uninterrupted time and space is next to impossible. I do get in daily exercise and reading for pleasure and inspiration along with work. I don’t have a problem with the phone or email. I can turn them both off. and as a blind person the best tool i have is a cell phone that can talk enough for me to know who is calling. this is amazing because it lets me know when I don’t need to answer. thanks for the post and take care, Max
You are making it happen.
I think with age I have gotten more focused and disciplined and therefore successful in whatever the endeavor is I am pursuing. I do love tv and it is a guilty pleasure I cannot deny; but so is chocolate. I do think the one point you are missing in order to achieve success is visualization. Simply believing that what you want will happen.
I agree visualization is a major component of achieving success.
Hi Jason – Its usually the things you don’t want to do that you tend to put off – I found that if I do the difficult things first, it gives me a boost to tackle the rest of the day.
Lenie
I agree with ll the facts you have mentioned here! TV and phone, according to me are the greatest distractions and should be used sensibly!
You’re right!
Were you talking about me… LOL. These are habits are absolutely on point. My biggest is letting others distract me. it takes me off my game and then it take me a great deal of time to get back into the groove. 🙂
Distractions are one of the things that I am working on controlling. I will admit that it’s very hard when a lot of people are asking you about things.
You are 100 per cent correct in all of these…but I bet most all of us are guilty of doing a few. Mine is TV…though never during the day. But I watch a lot of TV at night simply because I enjoy the writing of some the scripted TV shows and find that I learn a lot about the craft or writing by watching them. Sounds like an excuse, right? Like I’m studying??? LOL But I do rise at 5:00 AM every day and get to work!
There’s nothing wrong with watching TV at night. You get a pass because you get up at 5 am and get to work. 🙂
Hi Jason,
I can almost related to each one of them although getting up late and watching TV are two of those habits I can’t relate to anymore since it has been at least 7 years since I enjoyed doing either.
Always being available is something which I have been doing and this is something I do realize I need to control more. This certainly causes broken focus which is evil.
Thank you for bringing these points together as a great reminder.
Regards,
Kumar
Hey Jason, cant say I have a problem with any of these but its always good to remind oneself so as not to get complacent
Bad habits, let’s see. I say I’m going to exercise and then run out of time. Really bad, but, in my defense, I was in a car accident which ended my running career in December of 2013. Been really tough to get motivated. Working hard on at least walking everyday for 20-30 minutes until I totally heal.
Sorry to hear that. Good luck!
OK i have to admit that I am extremely guilty of watching too much tv. But that is how I wind down. but a do get up early and do not procratinate so I guess I am ahead of the curve. great post
Thanks.
Ah, yes, a good reminder to break bad habits. Sometimes procrastination works in my favor. Having a deadline close at hand causes me to be more motivated and productive.
I’m glad that works for you. It’s the opposite for me.
There are many more to be successful , I also agree with your list and if I see my belief then we are asked to get up early If you will get up early then your day will be long enough to complete many tasks.
Procrastination… this is what sometimes kill me… I wish I will overcome this…
Watching TV… you will not believe that I have a television in my room that I have not turned on from last 2 years …..
I do not have time for that.
Oh yeah this post hits home. There are a few of these I struggle with. Mostly procrastination, distractions and TV.
Getting up early is one I recently solved. I’m in a new routine where I wake up at 6:30am, bike to work, shower and am at my desk for 7:15-7:30am. That’s probably 1-2 hours earlier than it used to be. At first my new routine was exhausting but now I’m going to bed earlier (and watching less TV as a result) which makes waking up at 6:30am easier. Who knows. I might start pushing that forward to 6:15 or 6am soon.
That’s great that your routine is helping you out. I have a couple of days where I wake up 45 minutes earlier than I normally do. I get so much more done.
Hey Jason,
Indeed some great points.
I am one of the laziest persons in my family and I get up so late in the morning, I want to change but can’t help it.
And at this age, it is not easy to change habits.
Thanks for reading.