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The calendar is turning to 2019 which means millions of people will give lip service to the idea of New Year’s Resolutions.
Among the typical resolutions every January 1st are the proclamation that this will FINALLY be the year to break all the bad habits that hold a person back.
Unfortunately, most people will fail before they even get started. Why? Because the goal is far too vague.
Forbes put together a quick list of the bad habits that plague a majority of people. These are incredibly specific habits that are pretty easy to conquer. All a person has to do is put forth the effort.
The first bad habit is procrastination.
“Putting things off, rationalizing completing projects, chores, etc. at the last minute does nothing but increase stress and anxiety, and very rarely creates more time to get more work done.”
The article suggests “eat the frog” – the frog is that one thing on your to-do list that you have absolutely no motivation to do and tend to put off most frequently – and getting it done as early in the day as possible. This way, the task is complete, out of sight and most importantly out of mind.
The next bad habit is to stop staring at screens so much. This includes the computer screen at work. Push away from the screen, stand up, and go do something else. That something else SHOULD NOT include staring at a phone or playing video games.
Next, be on time and stop making people wait.
“Being late is lazy and disorganized. It is also disrespectful of whomever you are meeting with, whether it be a client or a doctor. Unless legitimately unforeseen circumstances surface, you need to learn how to manage your time, prioritize and not overcommit yourself.”
If you’re chronically late, start waking up earlier or set all of the clocks in your life ahead ten minutes. If you’re continually justifying the reason you’re never on time, that’s just as annoying. Grow up and get places early.
Another bad habit that’s plaguing millions of people is not getting enough sleep every night. Not getting enough sleep at night is not only detrimental to your health but it’s likely holding you back at work.
Finally, the article brings up an awful habit that many, many people never conquer, and it ends up being costly at work, at home and in many other areas of life. Its the bad habit of being unable to take responsibility for your actions.
“It is time to take responsibility for your bad habits, and how you enable yourself to continue them. Your life is not at the mercy of other forces, you have made choices to do or not to do things, like whether to get up early to get something done or to sleep in, or to go to happy hour with friends instead of go to the gym and meet them later. The choices you will have to make will not be easy, but it is time to understand your role in how your habits have sustained.”
It’s not your mom’s fault, dad’s fault, spouses fault, third-grade teacher’s fault or anyone besides the person looking back in the mirror. Own up to your awful habits and change them today.
Screw January 1st. Start right damn now.
[via Forbes]