Summary

The article outlines 11 bad habits and distractions that can prevent individuals from achieving their goals, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and discipline in personal success.

Abstract

The web content discusses common pitfalls that can derail one's progress towards their annual objectives. It suggests that success is not solely about working harder but also about eliminating counterproductive behaviors. These include staying up late, succumbing to the belief that it's too late to start pursuing goals, associating with negative influences, overusing smartphones, waiting for the perfect moment to begin, lacking clarity in objectives, excessive TV consumption, multitasking, poor time management, procrastination, and underestimating one's capabilities. The article encourages readers to take control of their lives by setting clear goals, establishing boundaries, tracking time effectively, and starting immediately on tasks, while also reminding them of their untapped potential.

Opinions

The author posits that adequate sleep is crucial for productivity and that hustle culture can be detrimental if it leads to exhaustion.
It is suggested that any time is a good time to start working towards goals, dismissing the notion of a "right" time.
The article advises against spending time with people who do not support one's ambitions and suggests seeking out encouraging communities.
It criticizes the overuse of smartphones, advocating for a more disciplined approach to technology.
The idea of waiting for perfect conditions is discouraged; the author emphasizes that action should be taken despite less-than-ideal circumstances.
Clarity in goal-setting is highlighted as a key factor in achieving success.
The author recommends setting boundaries for leisure activities like watching TV to ensure they do not impede personal progress.
A warning is issued against the perils of multitasking, suggesting a focus on a few tasks at a time instead.
The importance of understanding where time is spent is underscored, with time tracking and blocking proposed as solutions.
Procrastination is identified as a significant barrier to goal attainment, with the author urging immediate action, however small.
The article concludes with an inspiring message about the underestimated potential of individuals, quoting Barbara Corcoran's belief in one's capabilities beyond what they might think.

11 Bad Habits and Distractions That Will Hold You Back From Reaching Your Goals This Year

Every day is a fresh start

How are you feeling about what you’ve accomplished this year?

Are you frustrated, disappointed, ready to give up?

Without realizing it, many of us have dozens of bad habits and distractions that set us up for failure.

Instead of forcing yourself to “hustle” or “work harder” work on eliminating the habits that keep you from succeeding.

Here are 11 habits and distractions that when eliminated will put you on the path towards reaching your goals.

Staying Up Late

You think hustling and staying up until midnight (or later) is the way to reach your goals.

But, how good will your work or focus be when you’re exhausted?

No matter how difficult it is, force yourself to go to bed at a time that will give you 7–8 hours of sleep.

Being rested might be the absolute best thing for your goals.

Thinking That You’re Too Late or Behind

As I’m writing this it’s March.

Do you feel like you’re already months behind where you thought you would be?

Maybe you set goals in January and feel it’s too late to get caught up.

Not true.

January 1 is subjective, you can start over whenever you want to.

Today is just as good as any other day.

Listening to Naysayers

Your time is precious.

Don’t spend it around people who don’t believe in you or your ideas.

Look for communities and people that encourage your goals.

For example, if you want to write or work on a goal, join a virtual coworking group to surround yourself with people who will uplift you.

Letting Your Phone Control Your Life

Your phone will take as much from you as it can.

There will always be more apps to check out, feeds to scroll, and emails to reply to.

You are the CEO of your life, not your phone.

You can delete apps or turn off your phone at any time.

When you are 90, will you wish you had spent more time on social media and email? Probably not.

Waiting for the Right Timing

For most things, there will never be a perfect time to start.

Don’t let the need for perfect circumstances hold you back.

If you do, you might look back in 20 years, realize that you never got started, and be shocked that it still doesn’t feel like the perfect time.

Being Unclear About What You Want or Need to Do

You’re much less likely to move forward if you aren’t clear.

Have you ever set an, “exercise more” goal but never followed through?

The clearer you are about what you want or should do, the easier it will be to take that first step, and the next one.

Binge-watching Shows for Hours On Netflix

Watching an hour of Netflix is way more satisfying than three.

You can still have time to watch TV AND reach your goals too.

The key is to give yourself boundaries.

Work on your side hustle, hobby, language learning, goals, etc. for 30 minutes or an hour.

Then, reward yourself with a show.

Trying to Do Too Many Things at Once

If you try to do too much, you’ll inevitably feel overwhelmed.

Don’t do this to yourself.

You don’t need to do everything at once.

Pick 1–3 things to focus on now, and leave the rest for another month or year.

Being Uncertain Where Your Time Is Going

Do you ever get ready for bed and wonder where the day went?

Your evenings are an absolute blur.

My favorite way to get clear on this is time tracking and time blocking.

If you don’t know where your time is going or aren’t happy with how you spend your time, try tracking your hours for a few days or even a full week.

After that, try time blocking your schedule, even during your non-work hours until you get into a routine that you’re happy with.

Waiting Until Tomorrow

How many times have you said you wanted to do something and then decided to put it off until tomorrow?

Then, one month or six months later, you realize you still haven’t made any progress.

If you want to do something, don’t put it off.

Just start working on it, even if it’s only 10 minutes.

Undervaluing Your Potential

Yesterday I was listening to Barbara Corcoran (you might know her from Shark Tank) on the Tim Ferriss show.

Tim’s final question was about what she would put on a billboard and she said,

You’re far more capable than you think you are. -Barbara Corcoran

Regardless of where you’re starting from, take it from Barbara.

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