23 Bad Habits I’m Breaking in 2023

Same shhh, different year, new attempt

We all get frustrated after mindlessly downing a box of chocolate cookies, skipping the gym because we feel tired (read: are lazy), or scrolling cat videos deep into the night.

Whenever I don’t accomplish my goals, it’s either due to:

1. My anxiety gut-punching me paralyzed in the heat of the battle
2. But mostly because I’m spending too much time on unnecessary crap — see points listed in the introductory paragraph.

Oftentimes, you don’t need to work harder to attain success. You need to do less of what’s unimportant.

However, you can’t stop doing something you’re unaware of.

That’s why I’ve pinpointed all the bad habits or unhealthy coping mechanisms I found in my life. And they have to go. The goal is to avoid or replace them all with healthier, more productive alternatives. Ones that are worthy of my time and energy.

Use this list to unearth bad habits you want to ditch.

1. Going to bed ultra late, due to…
2. Screens beyond 11 PM. Ain’t nobody got brain for that. “Let me just get this one thing done. It will take only ten minutes.” No, it won’t. You know it won’t. Rest now, continue tomorrow. Otherwise, you’re…
3. Impulse-clicking on funny cat videos and endlessly watching YouTube.
4. Scrolling social media. This means you are not engaged with the task at hand. Or you need a break.
5. Watching Netflix from 11 PM. If you want to binge-watch your life away, make sure to start watching so late, that you have no willpower left for only one episode. After that, it’ll be just one more.
6. Comfort-eating to deal with stress or numb uncomfortable feelings. It’d be better to do stretching, meditation, go outside for a walk, or hit the gym. The body releases chemicals after action. Eat chips, chocolate, and cookies, and you’ll feel like crap. Tick off one healthy habit, and you’ll feel good. Magic.
7. Not turning away from screens when I need a break. Grabbing the phone after finishing something on the laptop doesn’t count as a break. Unless you want to increase your risk of eyestrain and headaches.
8. Re-purchasing Netflix right before the subscription ends because you just started watching a new season. So long as you rate any area of your life below a 7, you have work to do. Those episodes aren’t going anywhere.
9. Doing static stretches without a proper warm-up. Static stretching is pushing a muscle into its “ultimate stretch” and maintaining the stretch for some time. It’s important to know the difference between the discomfort you feel at the end of a stretch, and pain. Discomfort is acceptable. Pain always means stop. After dozens of injuries thanks to sudden static stretches without warming up, you’d think I’ve grown smarter. I have, or I’m trying to.
10. Skipping warmups at dance class. This nearly always results in muscle tears, and, consequently, benching myself for days to weeks.
11. Not listening to cues from my body, e.g. agony or headaches. The body knows what it needs. It also knows when someone you’re interacting with isn’t good for you. Detach yourself, honey.
12. Using lame excuses to skip 20% of the healthy habits that provide 80% of the benefits.
13. Comparing myself to Insta-perfect illusions of people or Twitter bros who hit 40K profit in their first month. This is a waste of resources. Get back to what matters, a.k.a.: your work.
14. Not getting up and moving/stretching in-between Focusmate sessions or meetings. When I don’t, I can easily sit here for 4 hours straight, resulting in stiff joints all around. We’re not made to sit still for 8 hours every day. Move.
15. Dressing like a potato. You could say no one sees you because you work from home anyway. Virtual coworking partners on Focusmate only see your head and shoulders. When you make an effort to look nice, you feel better. And that impacts your work and how you approach everything you do. Hot girls don’t dress like a potato.
16. Allowing condescending down talkers to spew their “advice” onto you. You don’t need to sit there like a good girl and willingly be roasted. Stand up for thyself. Refer them to the wall.
17. Re-installing a dating app in a moment of despair and loneliness in the middle of the night. Save yourself the drama and don’t touch a screen past bedtime.
18. Not speaking up about what I want with men I’m dating out of fear of rejection or conflict. That benefits no one. If you get rejected for speaking up, good. Then this one wasn’t it.
19. Losing myself in the dating process, trying to win someone over by performing. Letting it wreck my healthy habits, routines, and sleep pattern. It kept happening, so that makes it a bad habit. That’s not what a hot girl does. She holds herself to the highest standards and prioritizes her own life. Luckily, as I swore off dating apps and dating overall, I don’t need to worry about any of this anymore.
20. Thinking about what to cook or eat during lunch or after sports when already tired and hangry. Meal plan, or meal prep. Fix the issue before it arises.
21. Sticking to rigid budgets. I still set budgets in my expense tracking spreadsheet, but see them more as a guideline. Not a strict rule. Those 3 dollars that cross the budget are not worth stressing over.
22. Using time and energy to save money. The correct way is the other way around. Or you’re just chasing your own tail.
23. Listening to advice from people who have no experience whatsoever with the path you’re on or the goal you’re chasing. Write that off. Pave the way yourself.

All of this isn’t advanced maths or rocket science. Just the usual. You know, get good sleep. Reduce screen time. Take breaks.

We’ll see how many of these bad habits survive into the new year in my follow up post.

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