Your daily habits are small decisions that make up the sum of your life. If you add too many of these unhealthy habits to your lifestyle, they will accumulate over time and can be destructive to your life, rather than helping it thrive. Still, many of us adopt these toxic habits and have no idea that they are diminishing our quality of life. These are the top everyday habits that could be taking their toll and preventing you from reaching your potential.
1. Constantly on your phone
We get it: it’s 2021 and everyone is always on their phones. But controlling your screen time is key to your happiness. With new notifications and updates about people’s lives, it’s information overload. This can make it difficult to live your own and focus on the present. If you feel the need to constantly stare at that bright screen, go for a walk or have coffee with a partner. Connect in real time!
2. Watch TV all day
Enjoying your favorite Netflix show has never been easier. But maybe try limiting that viewing session to an hour or two, so you don’t waste the whole day. Going into a YouTube click hole or watching an entire season in one day can cause time to fade out incorrectly.
3. Focus on others before yourself
It can be tempting to solve other people’s problems and focus on their lives instead of our own. Social media makes it even more tempting. These things can be entertaining and allow you to compare them to your own life, but they don’t help you take control of your own narrative. Focusing on other people’s drama is toxic and doesn’t help you move toward solving your own.
4. Become obsessed with your body
Dieting and going to the gym constantly is something society encourages us to do, but it can be really detrimental to our mental health. Even if you eventually manage to reduce your waist or thigh size to the level you want, constantly counting calories and worrying about how others will see you causes food anxiety and social anxiety. The next time you’re out with friends, eat mac and cheese and don’t feel guilty about it!
5. Sitting too much
Whether you drive all the time or work in an office, too much sitting can kill you! Only 20% of Americans get enough exercise to be considered healthy. When you don’t take steps and sit all day, knee and lower back pain doesn’t appear on its own—it increases your risk of dementia, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
