We are all constantly trying to adopt new habits in order to be successful. We work on getting up early, drinking more water, making a to-do list for the day, reading more books, and maybe you’ve even printed and use a habit-tracking sheet or journal. It’s important to pick up great habits … but it’s also important to drop those that aren’t propelling you in the direction you want.
The habits hindering your progression toward your goals are often so subtle that you may not even realize you’ve picked them up. These have likely become so ingrained into your daily routine that breaking them feels a little scary. Don’t let this stop you; you’re more than capable of replacing your “less desirable” habits with those that push you to be better. Here are four big habits to drop for success.
Ditch the complaints.
I’m tired … I’m bored. Or, I’m hungry. Sounds like kids after school at the end of summer break, right? Did you know that the average ADULT person complains about 30 times per day? Imagine the things we could get done if we weren’t constantly feeling sorry for ourselves.
I (Julie) have adopted a practice that works wonders in these instances. I like to replace “I’m tired” with “I feel great!” Even though I may feel exhausted, I believe that this exercise is a way to manifest the things you want in your life and refresh your mindset, rather than thinking about the things you wish were better. The next time you catch yourself starting to complain about something, try rewiring your brain by using this method instead!
No more procrastination.
We’ve all had those moments when we would rather check out the TV schedule or social media than check things off our to-do lists, but social media won’t shorten that list. In fact, one study found that 40% of people have experienced financial loss due to procrastination, so let’s get rid of it! Try out these three procrastination-busters next time you find yourself unable to focus:
- Complete the most difficult tasks first. This will make it easier to motivate yourself to accomplish things as you make your way down your to-do list.
- Reward yourself. It’s easier to get things done when there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! Studying? Trying to get through a book you’re not in love with but want to finish? For every chapter (or page) you read, give yourself 3 minutes to listen to a song, or eat a few gummy bears … Whatever gets you motivated!
- Hold yourself accountable. Whether you trust yourself to get things done, or you find a coworker or friend to make sure you finish a task by your deadline, accountability is key!
Stop hanging out with the wrong people.
The people you surround yourself with will deeply impact your life: Choose your friends wisely! The company you keep should inspire and motivate you through their words and actions. If you find that they’re not, it might be time to distance yourself from those relationships and find goal-oriented peers heading in the same direction as you are. As author Joel Osteen once said, “You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life.”
This can get a little bit tricky when it comes to relationships that you’ve had for years, or family and loved ones. The hardest realization is that sometimes people you’ve known forever don’t have the best intentions for you. They may be judging you on your past performance or not trusting you to follow through and be accountable. It’s important to remember that you and your happiness come first. If a relationship is no longer serving you, don’t be afraid to walk away.
Don’t be afraid to push yourself.
Ultimately, work ethic is the most important step to achieving your goals. You can have all the excitement and motivation in the world, but it won’t mean anything if you’re not willing to put in the work. You will never regret going above and beyond the bare minimum. Injuries aside, have you ever finished a workout and thought, “Gosh, I really wish I hadn’t done that?” Probably not. Push yourself to see what you can accomplish, do the hard work even when it’s hard … the reward isn’t always immediate, but it’s always worth it.
Want to know what it took to make somebody successful? Take a good look at their habits. More specifically, it’s important to look at the habits they don’t have. Getting rid of bad habits can take practice (and a whole lot of correction and starting again), but the results will keep your head in the game, and your goals at the forefront.
Let’s focus on more ways to reach those big goals of yours! Read our post to find out if your current goals are ambitious enough.
