There’s practically an endless list of habits I think you should consider getting rid of if you wish to live a healthier and more meaningful life. Granted, what’s “bad” for some people is fair game for others.

If you can’t do it right, you’re not doing it at all? The all-or-nothing attitude is a reflection of perfectionism. No one and nothing is perfect. Fear of failure, fear of criticism, and competitiveness are among the reasons why some people become so-called “perfectionists.”

Like procrastination, wanting things to be flawless all the time can lead to a drop in performance and productivity. Goals may never get achieved and you end up feeling like a total failure. Set achievable goals, avoid procrastination, and reassure yourself that it’s okay to make mistakes.

I can’t think of a boss or anyone else who enjoys it when people show up late. Why is that so? First off, tardiness conveys a lack of self-awareness on your part. Not to mention, it shows you’re not respectful of people’s time or employment rules regarding work hours.

Quitting smoking should be at the top of your bad habit examples list. Your life depends on it. Inhaling nicotine from cigarette smoking is a “leading cancer killer in both men and women in the U.S,” according to the American Lung Association. Smoking tobacco also causes permanent tooth discoloration, gum infections, bad breath, and oral cancer.

Sleeping is quite therapeutic for the mind and body, yet I can’t seem to figure out why so many people go to bed late. Not getting enough shut-eye leaves you feeling lethargic and irritable the next day. It’s difficult to concentrate and be fully productive at work.

A person’s oral hygiene, or lack thereof, says so much about them. I know life gets busy, but teeth and gum health has to be a priority. You’re supposed to brush at least two times a day, rinse with mouthwash, and floss. The oral routine protects against cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, and bad breath.

You don’t want mouth hygiene to spoil your chances of dating success, do you? Men and women are disgusted by foul breath. Not only that, but poor oral hygiene is linked to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

You probably already know this already, but it doesn’t stop you from indulging in fast foods or greasy home cooked foods. What about drinking sugary beverages? That too. Most of us adults have heard from our doctor or someone else that eating bad fats, sugary foods, and too much sodium is bad for our health.

There’s nothing else that soothes away stress and eases my mind like showing up at my favorite home store. I usually end up leaving with hundreds of dollars in goods I don’t need. If you, too, can’t control the impulse to buy unnecessary stuff, don’t feel bad. That’s how you and I cope.

Another skeleton in my closet is emotional eating. Together we can kick the habit to the sun by identifying what triggers the craving for food. According to science, emotional eating stems from stress, grief, loneliness, and anxiety. Overeating, guilt, weight gain, and lowered self-esteem are the potential consequences.

Let’s fight this vice before it becomes an eating disorder by distracting ourselves with constructive activities. They can include distancing ourselves from unhealthy foods, drinking water, or talking with a trusted friend to help ease distress.

Drinking alcohol or using drugs may seem to be the only way to numb out pain or deal with emotional distress. They only provided a temporary fix to the problem, which might persist long after the euphoria is gone. Here’s your chance to cease substance use before it leads to addiction.

It’s so easy to think too much or over analyze things, especially if you’re a perfectionist or prone to worrying. You find yourself doubting decisions, goals, and even your own self. You’ll court anxiety second-guessing your decisions and worrying about work or relationship matters that are out of your control.

Independent decision-making is one of the benefits of being an adult. People might think you lack the ability to stand on your own two feet when you let others decide for you. The problem with this modus operandi is that you’ll be living a life based on other people’s choices and value systems.

The decisions and outcomes may not align with your beliefs, standards, goals, or personal needs. You’re the best person to determine what’s best for you. Don’t allow people to take advantage of you by letting them make choices that can lead you astray.

Almost a century after the world’s first electronic television was invented, watching TV remains one of the most common forms of self-entertainment. Nothing is wrong with that. It’s being glued to the TV for a long time (binge-watching) that’s the problem.

Daily and excessive TV screen time in one sitting have been linked to problems such as over-snacking, weight gain, and sleep deprivation. Cognitive decline and an increased risk of heart issues from inactivity are some of the other downsides.

Watch TV for less than two hours a day and ride a stationary exercise bike while you’re at it!

Going to bed late has become a norm in the age of technology and social media. Even when you’re in bed, you’re scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok one last time before you get some shut-eye.

The habit of frequently checking social media for LIKES, memes, and celebrity gossip can quickly become an addiction that impacts sleep, work, and relationships. Even if it’s your downtime, you could spend it doing constructive things, such as journaling or preparing healthy meals for the next day.

How does it benefit you to skip lunch? Generally, employers don’t pay you to take a lunch break. Even if that were the case, the habit of skipping your mealtime can eventually affect your health. Perhaps you’re seeking admiration or promotion, and think you need to impress your boss with workaholic tactics.

Always remember that you are not indispensable. Eating your meals on time is a show of self-care. Taking breaks also allows you to move away from the stressful work environment to reset and return energized and focused.

Things like binge-watching TV, lengthy video-gaming sessions, doing a sit-down job, and lounging around are bound to affect your health in some way or another. Now you don’t necessarily have to run a mile or exercise 2-3 hours a day to stay active, healthy, and fit.

Get up and walk around your office building or neighborhood at intervals. Do some gardening, clean the house, walk, bike, or swim. You’re not only dismantling an unhealthy routine, you’re also investing in your physical and mental health.

Picking away at your nostrils in public or not isn’t attractive at all. There’s a broad assumption that you’re picking boogers. What else could it be? Let’s not talk about the eating part. Even if it’s nose hair, there’s something about the habit that absolutely grosses people out.

You like to be in everyone’s good graces. I get it. It makes you feel nice, but what about the physical, emotional and psychological costs of being a people-pleaser? Commit to ending that tendency by practicing saying “No.”

If you think always saying, “Yes,” is gratifying, wait until you realize how empowering it is to let people handle their own problems. You’ll regain your sense of self, avoid caregiver burnout, and have more time to do you.

Don’t waste time and effort on trivial matters. You’ll just work yourself up and lose focus on more important matters. You’ll cheat yourself out of the valuable time you could redirect toward achieving your goals and enjoying quality time with loved ones.

Living life without goals is like being in a boat without a sail. When you go about your day, whether it’s at work or home, do you feel a lack of sense of purpose? Do you feel empty or lost?

Your job may have established work goals, but you need to get into the habit of setting personal short-term and long-term goals. For example, buying a home, losing weight, traveling, or changing negative behaviors.

Never tell yourself you’re too old to learn anything new. Better yet, don’t convince yourself that you know everything. Arrogance is the definition of such an attitude and not too many people enjoy interacting with know-it-alls.

Snap out of that mindset and make a commitment to continue building your knowledge base. You can start by reading books and expert articles related to areas you struggle with… e.g., communication skills, coping with adversity, or establishing healthy relationships. Life should become easier to navigate once you start applying what you’ve learned.

Reflecting, not dwelling, on things done and said is a healthy habit to pursue. This new habit is a foundation for growth in various areas of life. When you don’t stop to retrace your steps or examine your thoughts and actions, you’re more prone to repeating mistakes.

Biting your nails, pens, pencils, or ice is a bad habit that is discouraged by dentists. You may not have realized the habit until now, since many people do it without thinking. The practice is often done to relieve stress or anxiety, but some people nibble the back of a pen or pencil while brainstorming for ideas.

Developing self-awareness and finding healthy ways to manage stress are helpful strategies to combat this tendency. What’s more, is that you may avoid damaging your teeth and save money on expensive dental restoration.

We all have bad days and don’t feel like communicating or socializing. That doesn’t make it okay to go mute or disregard and dismiss friends or loved ones. You still have a duty to respond to certain needs of your partner or children. Not only is it rude, but you’re also demonstrating a lack of empathy and trouble self-regulating.

Bad habits are a lot like an addiction. They are often easy to pick up, yet never easy to break free from.  Whether it’s a food, drug, sex or alcohol-related addiction… it requires determination and willpower on your part, along with a support system and sometimes outside help, to preserve.  Habits aren’t much different.

Sure, one might argue that most bad habits won’t kill you… but I would disagree.  Bad habits are the start of what often spawns a chain reaction towards self destruction, or worse.  Take our last example, for instance, “ignoring your loved ones”. 

While this act in itself may not hurt you in the short-term, what happens when the dad you’ve been holding a grudge towards for years dies suddenly… leaving you second-guessing your decision to “ice” him? Now you’re depressed and wracked with feelings of guilt.

This eventually affects your work and your personal life, and will likely result in your pushing people away and having to seek counseling. Maybe even be put on antidepressants.  And over what? A bad habit you had a choice of breaking, but let your pride and stubbornness prevent you from doing so.

Don’t let other people’s shortcomings become your own. And don’t be a sheep and follow the crowd in order to fit in. Every day, you wake up with the power to choose a path for yourself that leads somewhere positive… a place where the sky’s the limit.