Changing My Life in 5 Simple Steps

In yesterday’s blog, I reflected on what it takes to overcome bad habits and fleshed out a few possible methods to do just that. In an effort to put my money where my mouth is, today I put together a list of some of the habits of my daily life that I want to eliminate to promote personal growth in various areas. The list starts small and works to some larger areas of improvement, but each will positively impact the way I live my life:

Stop Biting My Fingernails

I’ve been a biter for as long as I can remember. Chewing on my nails has been a way to release some tension whenever I feel anxiety or nerves building up – but it’s not really the most appealing, or sanitary for that matter. I know a common remedy is to lather up your fingertips with vaseline or some type of repellent, but I know that won’t eliminate the urge, I have to find a healthy replacement. Off the top of my head, some things I can try are chewing gum, finding a small stress ball, or keeping my nails too short to bite in the first place.

Skipping Meals

My first instinct is to blame my work schedule for not establishing a healthy meal routine, but in reality, I know it’s just sheer laziness on my part. I almost never eat breakfast, and I’m fortunate if I eat one full meal on a daily basis – and then I wonder why I feel so tired. Makes no sense, right? In addition to breaking down these bad habits, I plan to establish a solid exercise routine, and I know that if I don’t get my eating patterns under control right away, then it will negatively affect some of my other goals. 

Spending Too Much Time Online

Twitter and Reddit eat up a considerable amount of my free time. Every so often I do learn something valuable, but not nearly enough to justify how much I use them. I’ve already been working to replace mindless scrolling with books, podcasts, and other productive online resources, but there are still plenty of occasions where I could benefit from a break from screens regardless of the content.

Complaining

Whining about this, that, or the other thing is a total waste of energy that otherwise could have been invested towards finding a solution. It may feel good to let off some steam at the time, but it doesn’t ever pay off in the end. You are much better off if you decide to let something bothersome go and just move on. Complaining is draining – save it for when it’s raining.

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” – Maya Angelou

Saying “Yes” Too Often

I’m a textbook people pleaser. One of the main themes I’ve come across over the last few months of my professional training is just how important it is to center-in on your goals and prioritize them above all else. Far too often I find myself disadvantaged because I wanted to help, or more likely because I didn’t want to let someone down. I hope to avoid overcorrecting, as I want to remain open to opportunities for growth both personally and professionally, but I know I need to work at staying focused on what I’m working towards, even if that means saying no from time to time.

I’m positive if I were to overanalyze every aspect of my life, every last one could use some polishing. I don’t plan on limiting my work to better myself to these 5 things, but each of these 5 is a very attainable goal that if successfully completed would directly impact my life with numerous benefits. Improving in the things I do every single day will inevitably improve who I am as a person.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle