Sure, it may only be August, but with the rate that 2018 seems to be flying by New Years Eve will be here before we know it. I’m ashamed to admit that the ongoing trend every year is setting New Years Resolutions and swiftly breaking the promises I made to myself by February. However, we all know that the key to succeeding is to plan in advance, so why not start preparing now for all of the things we want to improve in our lives in 2019 and beyond? With my 28th birthday just around the corner, I have self-improvement on the brain, and am on a mission to make sure that my next circle around the sun is my best yet.
Whether you’re also on the cusp of a birthday, want to start preparing for the new year now, or simply feel like you’re in need of some self-improvement, here are a few common bad habits that we all should add to our list of things to stop doing.
- Not taking care of your health. Whether you’re a smoker, a drinker, or haven’t hit the gym in longer than you’d like to admit, there’s no time like the present to make a commitment to yourself and prioritize your health.
- Not having a bedtime. The worst thing you can do for your energy levels is to be inconsistent in terms of bedtime. Pick a realistic time to hit the hay (i.e. don’t pick 8 p.m. and set yourself for failure) and stick to that time every single day – even on weekends.
- Doing things because you think you ‘should.’ Life’s too short to feel obligated to do things based on pressure from others or society. Whether it’s attending a social event that you really don’t want to attend or getting married at 30 to someone you know isn’t the one because you think that’s what society wants from you, ignore these pressures and embrace the magic of not giving a f**k.
- Ignoring your mental health. Mental health is equally as important as physical health – in fact, the two tend to go hand in hand. Eating healthy and exercising can only do so much. If you feel overwhelmed or anxious, examine your life and readjust whatever is fueling those feelings.
- Using non-eco friendly products. There are plenty of small changes we can make to our everyday routines to help protect the environment. With the incredible amount of eco-friendly products available today, there’s no excuse to continue buying things that are bad for Mother Earth and yourself. If you want to learn more about sustainable living, visit a website like trvst.world. We need to act now to save planet earth!
- Trying to please everyone. Just focus on you doing you.
- Not sending back unwanted online purchases. This is the one I’m most guilty of. I’m ashamed of how many purchases currently hang in my closet unworn out of sheer laziness to deal with the returning process.
- Comparing your life to others. Social media is a huge culprit in this. It’s important to remember that the version people portray of themselves on social media isn’t 100% reflective of the truth. Remember never to compare your life to the filtered version of someone else’s.
