In order to go further and achieve more we need to get out of our comfort zones and do things that we have never done before. We need to build new habits in the hope of building a better life.
Maybe more importantly though we need to take a look at what our current habits are doing for us and cut out anything that doesn’t serve our vision.
Below we look at 6 things that you will need to let go of before you can truly move on and build a life of success.
Procrastinating
We all have things that we absolutely need to do in order to take our lives to new heights. The problem is that we don’t necessarily want to do them. Writing a business plan for that new venture is tough. Waking up at 5.00 am to start that new health regime is going to be a challenge. The problem is that until we get them done, nothing is going to change. We can keep telling ourselves that tomorrow is going to be the day, but the reality is that at some point, we just need to take control and get things done.
Only through action will things change.
The first thing to give up therefore, is putting things off. The future is guaranteed to no one and so we have to make the most of each and every day.
Start today and get something on your to do list completed. Do it consistently and before you know it you’ll have replaced a habit of laziness, fear and anxiety with one of action and achievement. Start small and build daily. Before you know it you’ll be getting more things done than you thought were possible!
Negative Thinking
Negative thinking is a sure way to limit the success you achieve in life and to ensure that you are miserable along the way. Negative thought processes are like poison to the brain and once we allow them in, they can become a slippery slope leading to serious self doubt, self sabotage and even mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
The good news is that to some extent we can take charge of the brain. By asking empowering questions and focusing on the positive in life we can build resistance against the urge to self doubt. Make a conscious effort to avoid falling into this trap and build a habit of positive self talk and belief. Do this and watch as you advance confidently and happily towards some serious progress.
Wasting Time
Technology for the most part is a wonderful thing. It allows us to work from home, work on the go and enhances our productivity in many areas. The problem is however, that technology is a double edged sword. The same power that enables us to research, produce and connect more effectively also allows us to waste hours voyeuristically checking up on friends and watching silly videos. The instant gratification that we receive from this is clearly very appealing but social media and the internet in general can, if we are not careful, become an abyss where we lose hours, days and weeks of productivity.
Add this to all those other things vying for our attention and it is easy to see how we can form a habit of time wasting which will have a real impact on the direction we travel in. Give up wasting time by setting daily and weekly schedules and committing to them. Use a time management system like the Pomodoro Technique to ensure that you remain on track and productive throughout the day.
Spending Time With The Wrong People
Have you ever taken an audit of who you are spending time with and what direction they have you moving in? Do you spend time with people out of habit? Doing the same things with the same people, year after year, not questioning what effect these relationships are having on you? Do your friends push you to become the best version of yourself or are they holding you back?
In the area of friendships in particular it can be hard to disassociate ourselves from the emotional and to take stock of what these relationships are actually doing for us. The reality is however that these relationships will either be pushing us towards or holding us back from achieving the life we dream of.
Don’t fall into the trap of spending time with negative people just because you always have done. Spend some time looking at your friendship group and if need be, seek out new friends who will force you to level up.
Not Taking Care Of Yourself
It is far too easy to fall into bad habits in the area of health and fitness, particularly when you consider how much scope there is for making poor choices. Bad eating habits, lack of exercise, stress, sleep deprivation and other poor lifestyle decisions can all negatively impact on our ability to function optimally.
Put yourself first for a change and give up the bad habits of poor diet and inactivity. Put some time aside in your schedule to exercise regularly and plan your meals ahead instead of reaching for takeaways and junk food. Make sure that you put some time aside to manage stress and put in place a bedtime routine to ensure the right amount of quality sleep.
Your future self will thank you for it.
Comparing Yourself To Others
Break the habit of comparing yourself to others. We all do it at times. We look at the manufactured lives of people on social media and convince ourselves that everybody else is living a life superior to our own. We look at the best parts of people's lives and compare them to the daily drudge that we are experiencing and as a resul punish ourselves daily for perceived inadequacies.
Stop it.
Those six packs you see on Instagram are the result of months of starvation or freaky genetics. Those pictures of the new car and smiles, mask the stress and worry of the debt being racked up in order to pay for it.
The habit of comparing yourself to others does nothing but undermine your own victories and it detracts from all the hard work that you are putting in. By all means stay in touch with people and find inspiration in the success of others. Whatever you do though, stop comparing. It serves no purpose but it might just steal a little of your own joy.
Have a look at some of the bad habits you have picked up over the years. Can you replace them with some more positive ones? Is there anything that you do habitually which you would add to this list?
Let me know in the comments section below.
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