4 Unwanted Habits to Overcome for Having a Healthier Lifestyle

Written by: Derek Goodman

June 1, 2022

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This month we are featuring guest blog writer Derek Goodman and our first website submission. Derek found us and posted his submission directly through our drop Blog menu online. We are thankful and honored to be sought out by writers, like Derek, wanting to contribute to a holistic experience and journey of well-being. Derek brings us simple tips that anyone, anywhere on their path to well-being, can put into practice today! Enjoy.

One of the keys to growing as a person is recognizing unwanted behaviors and replacing them with good ones that better serve you. While this ability comes naturally to some, others may need time and experience under their belt to develop the confidence for making changes. If you’ve made a commitment toward changing for a “better” you, this article explores four behaviors to look out for and how to overcome them.

Always Being Negative

Consistently having a negative outlook on life can reduce confidence and serve as a barrier to achieving personal and professional goals. While the cause of negative thoughts may be past failures or bad experiences, it’s important to not impose them on present and future scenarios.

An effective way to overcome negativity is to practice positive self-talk. As a first step, you can start a journal where you list five things you’re grateful for at the start of the day. The goal of this activity is to condition your mind to focus on the positives and tackle each day with confidence. Additionally, as reported by Mayo Clinic, positive thinking reduces stress levels, strengthens our immune system, and decreases the risk of major diseases.

You can also slow negativity by creating a more positive space at home. When you keep a decluttered, clean, and organized home, you’ll be less likely to complain and criticize and blame others.

Constantly Procrastinating

Procrastination is the act of engaging in an easy and comforting task rather than a challenging and unpleasant one. Engaging in procrastination could be one of the main reasons for you falling short of achieving your goals which negatively affects self-esteem and confidence, as well as breeds negative thoughts.

If you’re struggling to commit toward major goals, switch your approach and focus on completing simple tasks. For example:

  • Engage in 30-minute home workouts rather than planning to go to a gym located an hour away.
  • Start cooking one meal a day, instead of committing to meal prepping for the whole week when you’ve never done it before.
  • Develop the habit of cleaning up after yourself, rather than dedicating one day a week to cleaning for hours.

Achieving these small steps will bring you a sense of fulfillment and develop confidence toward tackling bigger goals.

Always Saying Yes

This will be a tough pill to swallow, but you cannot please everyone. Yes, you may try to be the best parent, partner, colleague, and friend at all times, but there will be instances where you need to put yourself first. While you may feel that you’re being selfish, learning to say “no” is one of the keys to self-care and work-life balance. By saying “no,” you’ll create more time for yourself, which you can dedicate to leisure, hobbies, and relaxation. This in turn will improve your ability to handle stress, help those in need better, and stay on track for achieving personal goals.

Here are a few effective ways to say “no” in common situations you’ll face:

  • If a friend invites you to an event at a future date, instead of making a firm commitment, say “Thanks for the invite, I’ll let you know in a couple of days.” Take this time to go over your schedule and make an informed decision.
  • If you already have your hands full at work, and your manager asks you to do a short-notice presentation, make them aware of the existing deadlines you’re working on. Realizing your workload, they may shift deadlines or delegate the responsibility to someone else.

Eating a Fast-Food Diet

If your diet consists of consuming cold drinks, frozen meals, and takeout from fast-food chains on a regular basis, it’s time to make a change. As reported by Today.com, individuals who eat food containing high sugar and processed grains experience higher levels of fatigue than those who don’t. Additionally, it can lead to weight gain, an increase in blood sugar levels, and other health problems.

If convenience is a prime reason for you to depend on fast food, consider subscribing to a meal prep service that delivers fresh nutritious food to your doorstep or office each day. While it’s no substitute for home cooking, it’ll be a big step in the right direction towards a healthier lifestyle.

While these are just four of the many changes one can make, they’re bound to have a positive impact on well-being and help take forward strides towards achieving your goals.

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