Toxic habits to me are habits you are practising that have a negative and harmful effect on your physical or mental health. You can have positive and toxic habits that can impact your life and help boost or stop you from succeeding. There are ways you can track your positive habits with habit trackers. In order to be successful and confident you must work through the toxic habits and mindsets that are holding you back.
I am definitely guilty of practising some of these habits, however I am consciously working on these areas. Toxic habits can not only effect your mental health but can bring so much negativity into your life, removing that negativity can help you to boost self-esteem and confidence. Are you guilty of these toxic habits? I am sharing 5 toxic habits you should quit immediately and start being successful.
1. Comparing yourself to others
It is natural to look at others in similar situations and compare. However, there will be someone who could be comparing themselves to you. Comparison can create such a negative mindset which can affect your thought process. Whenever I look to compare to another, I think about all that I achieved, or I focus on what I have achieved. The other way you can deal with comparison is to use that energy to motivate you, be inspired by that person.
2. Not believing in yourself
If you do not believe in yourself, how do you expect anyone else too? Believing in yourself and your abilities, helps boost your self confidence and motivation to be successful. It can be hard to believe in yourself, but you can start small.
I like to use a page in my bullet journal, where I focus on my positive attributes. I found this really helpful.
Photo by Jealous Weekend on Unsplash
3. Getting little or no sleep
Having a regular routine has so many health benefits. After doing some research I didn’t realise just how many benefits it can give you,
- Reduces stress and can improve mood.
- Lowers your risk of depression.
- Can improve concentration and productivity.
- Lowers your risk of serious health problems e,g, heart disease.
They are just a few of benefits of having a healthy sleep routine. If you have trouble sleeping start off small, keep away from technology and try to avoid caffeinated drinks late in the afternoon. Make sleep a priority.
4. Surrounding yourself with negative and unsupportive people
Spending time with negative people can be taxing on your mental health it can also causes stress and anxiety. If you have unsupportive people in your life, it can effect your self confidence. Where possible try to elimanate these negative influences from your life, it can help motivate you and you will have people in your life who want to celebrate in your success.
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5. Not eating well or enough
Similarly to not enough sleep, not eating enough or well enough can cause lack of concentration, tiredness which can lead to muscle aches and a whole host of other problems. You only have one body and it is important to look after it. I am guilty of this sometimes I will reach for junk food or a takeaway, skip a meal if I am busy. I am making a conscious effort to choose healthier choices.
Are you trying to quit any of these toxic habits? I’d love to hear in the comments.
This is 5 things I have changed this last 4 years and my life is so much betterš Good postš
Thatās great! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Love these 5 tips to get yourself out of a funk. Thanks for this post!
Thank you! Can you link your blog so I can read!
I have a really bad habit of picking my finger nails. Not chewing on them, but picking. It is a really bad habit that I just can’t seem to break. I’ve tried so many things, but I feel like nothing I do will make me stop picking. Which also co-insides not believing in yourself. Any tips? It’s something I have been doing for so long now, from at least when I was 5. Sometimes it peals the skin off my finger and it bleeds everywhere. I just wish I could stop it, but most of the time I don’t even realise that I’m doing it. It’s so frustrating!
Maybe speak to a doctor and see if there is anything you can do to help. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I pick at my nails too. Certain things trigger it such as boredom or when Iām studying. It helps to keep my hands busy with something else such as paper or play-doh. I also tap my feet when Iām studying or stuck sitting in one spot for too long. Having non-vocal, instrumental music with a good rhythm/beat helps.
Such an interesting blog post x
Thanks!
Great post š
Thank you!
Welcome š
I love this blog post Lauren šš
I have been cutting out toxic habits from my own life and found inspiration in your words.
Thatās great! I am glad they help! š
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I have really tried to stop comparing myself to others this year, and it’s really worked wonders on my mental health. I feel like I’m now in my own little bubble, and it’s great xo
Makeup Muddle
I am still working on it. Thatās great! Thank you for reading and commenting!
I feel these are all great topics of discussion right now. I really enjoyed reading this because I’ve juggled them all myself.
Thank you for reading and commenting! I hope you manage to tackle these! X
I hope to! It’s going to be a personal goal.
Such simple suggestions on paper but something I bet so many of us are guilty of doing, almost daily.
Thank you for sharing, a really valuable reminder x x
I am definitely guilty! Thank you for reading and commenting! Xx
This is a really helpful post, Lauren! Sometimes the little changes can make such a big difference in our lives. I’ve recently started going to bed earlier, and I do feel so much more productive and energetic the next day. I love the idea of using your bullet journal to list positive attributes, that is a great way to boost confidence and self-belief when we are not feeling it. Thank you for sharing these suggestions, really inspiring post! <3 xxx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Thank you Bexa for reading and commenting! Yes, little things like that can make a big difference! Going to bed earlier is something I really need to start doing xxx
Great tips, like your lists of can, will, am and done.
Thank you for reading and commenting! Can you link your blog post so I can read c
livingeveryday2017.wordpress
These are helpful tips especially because I’ve been so stressed lately. I shared my morning and bedtime routine on my blog, daily routines help me handle stress ā”
āAthena Christy
https://athenachristy.wordpress.com/
Thatās great you have found ways to help with that! Thank you for reading and commenting!
So agree with number 1! It’s such a toxic thing that can ruin even the good things in your life.
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Kudos to this, with comparison being high on the toxic list. I have killed so much happiness with needless comparison, and it sucks away my belief in myself.
I will be honest and admit it has been hard to stop my mind from automatically making comparisons, and I still fail sometimes but I am getting better at loving myself, and I am happier. š
It is worth the work.
It is hard, but noticing when you are doing it is the first step to tackling how much you do it. I am guilty of it also! But try and reflect on all that I have achieved x
I hate comparing myself to others but I canāt seem to stop doing it. Thatās why I quit social media. Iām in a better headspace when Iām not focusing on other people and instead, focusing on whatās in front of me aka. My own life. Sometimes you physically have to stop yourself if nothing else seems to work. As for a previous commenter, I too pick at my nails. I noticed I pick at them when Iām bored, such as when Iām studying. I also pull my hair out when Iām studying, but only when Iām studying. Certain tasks seem to trigger these habits.
I try not to compare but it is so hard. Itās great you realised social media was that trigger for you and took it away x
Itās hard because it requires a ton of introspection and discipline not to compare yourself to others both online and offline. Even with good intentions, all of us end up playing the compare and despair game. I want to share a quote with you:
āIf you look at what you have in life, youāll always have more. If you look at what you donāt have in life, youāll never have enough.ā -Oprah
That quote is very true!
Great post! I definitely agree with points 1 and 2 š This reminds me I really need to work on my sleep pattern to improve my productivity as Iām always tired š
Yeah I am always tired too. I need to start with some early nights I think x
Me too, I think Iām gonna try to go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night, as whenever I go to bed early I find I just canāt sleep x
Thatās a good idea! X
Comparing yourself to others is a futile use of your time and does nothing but drag you down. And I very much agree, doing this is a very toxic habit. I used to do this too but now, I just look up to others out of admiration and inspiration instead of feeling sorry for myself. Funny how simply re-framing your mindset can work wonders!
Changing the way you look at something can change your whole outlook. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I’m working on breaking the habit of comparing myself to others. It’s the feeling of insecurity, envious and discontented with one’s own life, it’s a thief of joy. It’s important to evaluate why do you compare yourself to others.
Definitely robs you of joy! Thank you for reading and commenting!
My pleasure.
Comparing yourself to others is such a dangerous habit it doesn’t help and just makes you feel bad about yourself! Also not getting enough sleep is my number 1 toxic habit! I just can never fit everything into one day (probably because I procrastinate so much) but I always stay up late and get up early and wonder why I am so tired all the time!
Sleep is something I need to work on! Thank you for reading and commenting!
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick yep I do all 5 of those š¬š¤¦āāļø
Iām always trying, or saying i will make the changes.
I agree with so many of these. I used to be so bad at constantly comparing myself to others. It’s still something I need to work on sometimes. I think we’re all guilty of some of these things sometimes x
Sophie
Definitely are, all we can do is be aware of them and try our best to tackle them. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I agree with some of these! I’m awful with the sleeping one because of my job and working nights haha x
Thank you for reading and commenting. Oh bless you! Can you link your blog so I can read and comment x
Oh wow did you write this about me? I am definitely guilty of so many of these…especially #1!!! But at least being aware of it is the first step towards getting better. I love those lists you’ve made. It definitely helps to put things into perspective.
Thank you for reading and commenting! Definitely noticing it and changing it is important!
This is a great post. One of the bad habits Iāve stopped is drinking Diet Coke all the time. And I feel so much better for it.
Thatās a great thing! Thank you for reading and commenting!
These are some very helpful tips for sure! I definitely need to believe in my self more!
Mel
Thank you for reading and commenting! X
These are so so true and youāre gonna help so many people with these tips!
-Kyra
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Getting a good sleep makes such a huge difference! Great post X
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Thank you for reading and commenting!
YES! Being kinder to myself has been a constant work in progress. I think the last year has been the year where I’ve seen the biggest growth in my confidence and self-estreem. While it’s not a linear process and there are some days that I don’t feel that way at all. I definitely have to say that your 5 habits are a great start to the journey to love ourselves. Great post xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Definitely, self love is important and toxic habits like these can really help personal growth. Thank you for reading and commenting! Xxx
I can relate to these! I need to remember to focus on what I’ve achieved rather than what I haven’t managed to do…yet.
Definitely focusing on the positive is better for your mental health. Thank you for reading and commenting!
THese are spot on. And doing great in one can help with the next and the next… It’s a habit that exponentially creates a better, healthier you!
Thank you for reading and commenting! Can you link your blognx
Can you link your blog*
I really needed to read this post today! Iām always comparing every aspect of myself to others. One thing I loved is the list of positives rather than negatives. Thank you for the daily dose of inspiration xxx
Thank you for reading and commenting! Focusing on the positives is better than the negatives! Xxx
I agree with comparing with others. We often get so busy comparing ourselves to other people but we forget we are enough capable of doing everything in this life.
Thank you for reading and commenting! Can you link your blog x
Great post! I especially love the I can, I am, Iāve done, I will exercise – that is so helpful x
Thank you for reading and commenting! X
That is so true! And we all feel that way, even someone you think is successful will probably be comparing themselves to someone else. Thatās why I like to remind myself of everything I have achieved! Thank you for reading and commenting!
I definitely compare myself to others a bit too much, it’s something I try to work on but always seem to fall back into!
Same! Itās great you keep working on it! Thank you for sharing
I agree!! Iām so proud of myself for ending a friendship that was so unsupportive and took a big amount of my energy. I donāt think anyone should waste their precious time on people who donāt really care and take a lot of your mind and energy. Great post!!
I did the same! It is very liberating isnāt it!! Thatās so good! Thank you for reading and commenting!
Ah i am guilty of not getting enough sleep!
Great post!
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