Toxic habits which you are practising will have a negative and harmful effect on both your mental and physical health. You can have positive and toxic habits that can impact your life and stop you from succeeding. There are ways that you can track these habits with habit trackers which will help you to identify and work through the toxic mind sets and habits that are holding you back.
Toxic habits can not only affect your mental health, but can bring so much negativity into your life. Removing this negativity can improve both your self-esteem and your confidence. Are you guilty of these toxic habits? I am going to share 15 of these habits which are holding you back from becoming your best self and improving the quality of your life.
1. Comparing Yourself To Others
It is only 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 a negative mind set which can affect your thought processes.
Whenever you feel the urge to make comparisons, you should reflect on what you have achieved. The other way to deal with this is to use that energy to motivate you and be inspired by that person instead.
2. Not Believing In Yourself
If you do not believe in yourself, how do you expect anyone else to? Believing in yourself and your abilities will boost your self-confidence and motivation to be successful. It can be hard to believe in yourself, but you can start small.
3. Ignoring Your Self-Care
We can all be so good at looking after our loved ones, but not so good at looking after ourselves. Not taking time out to relax can cause problems, both mentally and physically. In order to be successful, you need to look after yourself, so that you can stay focused and productive. Scheduling some time for yourself and your self-care can help you to relax and limit your stress levels.
4. Dwelling On Past Mistakes
This can stop you from moving forward. Unfortunately, the past has happened and you cannot change that although you can change both the present and the future. Wasting time on things that you cannot change or undo, means that you are not only taking precious time from today, but you are also wasting your energy, increasing your stress and your anxiety levels. Mistakes are a part of life and the most successful people learn from those mistakes and use them to motivate them to do better in the future.
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5. Surrounding Yourself With Negative And Unsupportive People
Spending time with negative people can be taxing to your mental health and can cause stress and anxiety. Having unsupportive people in your life can affect your confidence and your self-worth. Where it is possible, try to eliminate these negative influences from your life. Having people around you who support you and who want to share in and celebrate your success is far more motivating!
6. Not Eating Well Or Eating Enough
Not eating well or eating enough can cause a lack of concentration as well as fatigue. This leads to muscle aches and pains and a whole host of other problems including being either under or overweight or anaemic. You only have one body and it is important to look after it. I am guilty of this; I will either skip a meal or eat junk food when I’m busy. I am trying to make a conscious effort to make healthy choices and eat on a regular basis.
7. Not Forgiving Yourself
We can all be guilty of giving ourselves a hard time when we didn’t achieve a goal, or we didn’t finish our ‘To Do’ List. I am so guilty of doing this myself. Having had to alter my life, due to poor health, I have had to change my mind set when I wasn’t able to do everything that I had planned or wanted to do. I am learning to focus on what I have achieved during the day instead and be happy with that.
It is important to take every day as it comes; it is vital to focus on the positive and your achievements, even when they are seemingly small wins. Punishing yourself takes energy and creates an unhealthy mind set.
8. Getting Little Or No Sleep
Sleep is a priority and it is so vital to a healthy lifestyle. Having a regular routine is so important for both your mental and physical health. After doing some research, I didn’t realise that there were so many benefits! Here are just a few…
- Reduces stress and improves mood
- Lowers your risk of anxiety and depression
- Can improve your concentration and productivity
- Lowers your risk of serious health problems e.g. heart disease
If you have trouble sleeping, start by reducing your screen time i.e. don’t use your technology after 8pm and try to avoid caffeinated drinks after 6pm.
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9. Stop Starting Your Day Reactively
Are you guilty of reaching for your phone first thing in the morning? From the moment that you wake up if you are starting with technology, it can suck out your energy and control your focus before you have even woken up!
Taking the time to wake up, journal, exercise, reflect on what you are grateful for, or eat your breakfast, means that you can plan your day and be proactive rather than reactive. Start your day in a healthier, positive and mindful way by creating a morning routine.
10. Putting Yourself Down In Front Of Others
Self-sabotage and self-doubt is damaging and can stop you from succeeding. Putting yourself down in front of others shows them that you have little self-respect and not worthy of receiving any either. This can then lead to surrounding yourself with negative people and will undoubtedly hinder your success.
11. Stressing Yourself About Things That Are Out Of Your Control
Unfortunately, we stress about things that actually weren’t as bad as we thought, or worry about the future. If you spend most of your time with this negative energy, you will be missing out on the present. This is something that I have been so guilty of, but I am trying to change this mind set and working on this one day at a time.
12. Not Listening To Your Body
You only have one body and when your body needs something, it will tell you. If your body needs to rest, you should rest – you cannot run on empty. Nourishing your body with the right foods and sleep will help you have the energy to be productive and be able to focus. Not listening to your body can cause burnout, which is exactly what you want to avoid happening as it can lead to problems in relationships and poor performance at work.
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13. Not Letting Go
There comes a point in our lives when we need to let go. You need to let go of the past, the hurt you experienced, loss or even unmet expectations; it is a healthy way to move on. You cannot continue to move forward if we constantly holding on to the past.
14. Unhealthy Habits
Unhealthy habits can create routines that get you stuck in a rut and can hinder you from moving forward to achieve your goals. Unhealthy sleeping patterns can affect how you feel and how productive you can be. Waking up and reaching straight for your phone is an unhealthy routine because you are overloading your mind with information that you are trying to process, having just woken up.
15. Procrastination
How many times have you put off starting or finishing something? Stop procrastinating! It is said that people will often procrastinate because they may be afraid of failing. If you are guilty of this, you could find that you are less productive, leading to missing deadlines. If procrastination occurs over long periods of time, it can lead to complete demotivation.
To help you stop procrastinating, you can start by eliminating distractions in your workspace. This will help to keep your mind focused on the tasks at hand. You can try promising yourself a reward for completing your tasks; this will as a motivator, so that you use your time productively.
Are you guilty of any of these habits? Can relate to any of these habits? I’d love to hear in the comments.
I honestly have to agree with all 15 of these! Being yourself if my key to happiness, if people don’t like you for being you… then they aren’t worth it.
Emma | http://www.lifeofemmax.co.uk
I love this! I’m so guilty of a few of these, especially waking up and going on my phone. It’s so important to surroudn yourself with good people and put yourself first – I completely agree x
These are all so true and resonate with me! I am working through my unhealthy habits, but I still compare myself a lot to others as well as starting the day with my phone on hand, which then implies me staying in bed for longer and then feeling guilty for not finishing things in time during the day! Mostly I am guilty of not letting go, which is such a bad habit! Thank you for sharing x
I read this and was like ‘Check’ against all of them. I think I am only some times aware of my toxic habits but reading this has opened my eyes.
I am so guilty of comparing myself to others, it is completely the killer of joy.
Thank you so much for sharing, brilliant post Lauren xx
I’m so guilty of dwelling on past mistakes 😬 To help with that, I like to write it all down and then rip the paper to pieces – sounds weird but works well for me 😊 Letting go and getting out of toxic friendships can be so hard too! x
Comparison is the absolute worse! Why do we all do it to ourselves!
Katy | http://www.katystephenson.com
Some of the bad habits i am also carrying which i have to get rid off
Thanks for sharing .Your blogs are amazingly good and feel like reading .👍👍
These are all great suggestions but the one I’m working on this year is getting rid of the negativity in my life and focusing in on things and people that bring me joy. Thanks for sharing!
You’ve mentioned so many habits that I know I’m guilty of. Procrastination is something that I really need to stop doing.
oh goodness, lauren you’ve called me RIGHT out! I definitely need to be better on so many of these – sleep and eating better are the main ones xx
They are a working progress for me too!
I’m really guilty of these toxic habits, especially #7. A lot of times, when I’m not meeting my own expectations, I am really struggling to forgive myself but now, I’m trying to be mindful and change that. Thanks for sharing this x
I’m guilty of procrastination, I’m also guilty of not believing in my abilities at times. Reading your blog post has brought these to my mind, time to make some changes. Thank you xo
I hope these help! I have a blog post about procrastination coming up, so I hope it helps. X
Ooooooo looking forward to reading it 🙂 thank you
I’m guilty of not getting enough sleep and occasionally too much sleep! I think most people have experienced at least one of these habits before x
Yes! I have especially in the last few months! Thank you for reading Kayleigh! X
Oof. I needed this more than I realized today. I’ve been struggling with a LOT of these toxic habits lately, so the reminder was incredibly necessary. Thank you so much for putting this post together. I’ll be reading it again and again to keep myself in check.
I put this post together as a way of holding me accountable also! These are habits I am working on this year. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I feel so attacked; there’s like maybe 3 things I DONT do that are on this list lol
I am guilty of a lot of these. I wrote this post to continue to hold myself accountable for working on these.
I really loved this list..so true all of the things you mentioned. I am so guilty of a lot of these things on your list. Currently working on changing my habits…
Great writing xox
Kylie
I am working on these and holding myself accountable for working on these this year. Thank you for reading and commenting. X
Thank you so much for this post, I hadn’t realized how many of my habits were toxic. Now I can start changing my habits and work on improving myself.
Loren | Plaid and Sugar
I am using this post to hold me accountable and working on these myself. Thank you for reading. X
Such an excellent post! There are so many habits out there that we engage in on a daily basis some even unconsciously, and we don’t even know how toxic it is for us. Some of these habits I Engage but I am trying to get better. Thanks for sharing.
I am guilty of these and I am holding myself accountable by sharing them and still working on them. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Great post, Lauren. I’m forever trying to convince people to stop – “Stressing Yourself About Things That Are Out Of Your Control”. I get told that I lack imagination for all of the things that could go wrong. I don’t – I just evaluate how likely they are to happen and, if they did happen, how I would deal with them. Having that outlook is enough to stop me from worrying about the vast majority of things.
I can relate to some of them! As of the new year I try to implement a mindful morning routine. Wake up at 6am and try to get out of bed right after (that needs a bit of work), then it includes journalling and meditation.
Xoxo Annaleid
http://Www.actuallyanna.com
Lovely post. I can definitely do some of these things! This blog is a great reminder of what I should be focusing on! Thank you x
I know I tend to put my self-care on the back burner when I am busy. I really try to make a mental note when I am busy to take care of me.
Oh my, I am guilty of so many… But I try to do better and I an thankful for the reminders. Sometimes you just need to hear it, right? Here’s to a better 2021 xx
Yeah this post is acting as a great reminder for me and holds me accountable also!
These are all so true. I’m very guilty of poor self care. Since becoming a mum I feel guilty putting aside time for myself.
I am guilty of some of these, I am working on these and using this post to hold me accountable. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Yes! Great post. I agree with all of them. I think especially since the pandemic, I’ve taken better care of myself but in the past, I would self sabotage with eating badly, not drinking enough water and being really hard on myself for silly things. Thanks for sharing, Lauren! xx
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thanks for sharing, I have a lot of these issues, which I’m trying to work through at the moment 🙂
I am guilty of far too many of these and I do feel worse off for doing them. I am working on myself a lot at the moment so hopefully, they won’t be in my life much longer.
Thank you. Can you link your blog?
Like many others in the comments section, I am way too guilty of many of these. The biggest ones that I’ve been working on is doing more self care and self forgiveness. Thank you for sharing!
I can definitely be a bit of a procrastinator! I always find that the busier I am the more motivated I am so when I have a lot of free time I’m so guilty of procrastinating x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Such an incredibly motivating article, I felt so inspired! I can easily relate to at least 5 points but one instantly popped out to me. The point about self-sabatoge is so real. I used to do that for two reasons. First, I didn’t want people making fun of me so I did it before they could do it to me. Second, I never wanted to appear like I was bragging, so I talked down about myself to appear more modest. I realized that my actions breeded a ground for low self-esteem. Now I only speak up about myself. I’m glad you pointed out self-sabatoge because it’s an important topic in terms of self-care.
Natonya | https://justnatonya.wordpress.com
I agree with all the 15 points you have made. I try to avoid toxic people for sure. But taking care of myself is probably last on my list. I must change my unhealthy habits before I regret. One of them is sleep and sitting the whole day in front of my laptop, which has started giving me backache. Thanks for this lovely post my dear. You have thought over every little detail that matters. 🙂
Via | https://glossnglitters.com
I absolutely love all your points on taking care of our bodies by eating well and getting enough sleep! We only have one sanctum in which to live and our physical health is as important as our mental and emotional wellbeing. Practicing small, healthy habits make a big difference in the long run. 🙂
I’m definitely guilty of most of these to some degree! These are all such great tips though and it’s so important to check yourself for your personal development!
#3 is a biggie Lauren. After suffering for years I decided to up the self care routine. Now I spend up to 4 hours daily meditating, doing various forms of yoga and exercising. We began today walking on the beach at 6 AM, followed up with meditating and doing Kriya yoga. Going within lets you become your best self.
Ryan
That’s great you have found something that works for you!
I think surrounding yourself with toxic people and comparing yourself to others is the biggest clichés that happen more often than not. Super insightful, Lauren.
Ana C, http://www.adreamersland.com
http://www.facebook.com/adreamersland
http://www.instagram.com/anaccsa
I’m guilty of a few, I must admit!
I am so guilty of all of these things sometimes multiple of these things at the same time! Lately, I have been working toward bettering my life (it seems to come in waves as soon as I notice I’m slipping or not satisfied with what I’m doing and feeling) so it’s really helpful to be reminded of what habits I need to steer away from!
Great tips. I know that I need to work on sleeping better – that has always been a weakness of mine. I’m bad for just curling up with a book or my phone and staying up WAY later than I intended… Which wouldn’t be an issue if I didn’t have things to do early in AM getting me back out of bed again lol I have said a few times that working on my sleeping habits/bedtime routine is a priority in 2021 and I really do want to stick to that!
I am definitely guilty of a few of these. I think the way you laid it out forces people to acknowledge it and that’s the way to improve!
It also acts as a great reminder for me and holds me accountable. Thank you for reading and commenting! X
Unfortunately I am very guilty of most of these toxic habits and it’s not until I read this post that I realised how toxic they can be. I used to work with a confidence coach and she always said that we’d never speak to a friend the way we speak to ourselves, which is so true. Thank you for such a helpful post, Lauren xx
This is SUCH a great post Lauren, thanks for sharing. I totally agree with everything you’ve said – especially about not ignoring self-care and prioritising sleep! I always feel so much better when I take the time to relax 🙂
Really agree with this! I’m definitely guilty of a few of these. Great post! X
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Unfortunately I am guilty of so many of these! Comparison is the thief of joy as they say and I do this all the time, especially with my blog. I am also guilty of stressing about things that are out of my control. Sometimes it even keeps me up at night, which keeps me from sleeping enough. It’s a vicious cycle. I am working on these things so I can be happier and more successful. 🙂
Yeah I am guilty of some of these, sharing the post is a way of holding me accountable. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I’m real big on dwelling on past mistakes. I think it’s my anxiety that’s to blame for that too. I’ll think of things I’ve done years ago and still have so much shame and embarrassment about it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to move on. Great read girly💗
Definitely guilty of a lot of these, it’s only recently that I’ve become aware of how much I do these habits which is worrying! Definitely working on kicking these habits for 2021! X
I think what you meant is “Dwelling on Past Mistakes” in your fourth habit (without the stop). These are true, couldn’t agree more! I’ve always written a similar one on my blog. Thanks for sharing! Insightful.
http://www.lifebeginsattwenty.com
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Great post! I’m definitely guilty of dwelling on past mistakes x
Amazing post! I am guilty of way more of these than I’d like to admit. I think the worst one for me though, is stressing about things that are out of my control. I am working on being more present, but it is definitely still a struggle. Thanks for sharing this! It’s a great reminder.