Understanding Energy-Draining Habits and How to Overcome Them
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Your habits shape your future. — Jack Canfield
I am passionate about developing sustainable, healthy, and productive routines to enhance my life.
With this focus, I began testing various 30-day challenges aimed at cultivating positive habits. However, I also realized that many of my daily actions were depleting my energy.
This article will discuss those energy-draining habits and provide strategies to either change or avoid them, enabling you to live your best life. Let's explore this together.
You Strive to Please Everyone
Growing up in a culture that emphasizes people-pleasing, I found it difficult to say "no." Here are some lessons I learned:
- It’s impolite to decline requests from elders.
- Saying "no" to colleagues is considered rude.
- Refusing a manager or boss is seen as detrimental.
- You should apologize even when you’ve done nothing wrong.
- It’s unacceptable to share when your feelings are hurt.
These teachings ingrained in me a tendency to seek approval from others, and I found validation in their praise.
How to Change This Habit
The key is learning to say "no." This simple word carries immense power. Recognizing your self-worth is essential. I apply a straightforward prioritization strategy in both my work and personal life:
- Identify three key tasks to accomplish each day.
- If I can't complete them, I confidently express that I have too much on my plate.
- After finishing my top three tasks, I might help others if I have the energy, but I don’t feel obligated to please everyone.
You Live for the Weekend
Albert Einstein once said, "I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." When I relocated to North America, I noticed a prevalent eagerness for the weekend, which many associate with fun.
In my upbringing, I didn’t learn to live solely for the weekends. Conversations with others revealed some common sentiments:
- Weekdays drain our vitality.
- They are filled with chores and responsibilities.
- Weekdays feel confining.
- Many unconsciously believe that weekends are the only time for enjoyment.
- Our minds often tell us that the workweek is tedious.
How to Alter This Perspective
While enjoying weekends is fine if it revitalizes you, it becomes an issue if you feel depleted when they end.
Here are two strategies:
- Start your day by tackling the most challenging tasks first.
- Take a midday break for a walk in nature to recharge.
You Resist Change
Change can be daunting, yet it is essential for growth. My grandmother used to say that stagnant water eventually becomes foul.
Jim Rohn wisely noted that "Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change." Fear of losing control often holds us back from embracing change.
How to Embrace Change
Begin with small steps. Lean on your support network—friends, family, or even a great boss. Meditation can help manage negative thoughts, and letting go of perfectionism is crucial.
You Feel Financially Trapped
Living paycheck to paycheck can feel like imprisonment, where one unexpected expense throws your budget into chaos.
A report indicates that one in three adults struggles to meet basic financial obligations, such as food, housing, and medical expenses.
How to Improve Your Financial Situation
Many financial experts offer various rules, but I believe the root of this issue is bad spending habits developed over time. A simple principle I follow is not to spend more than I earn.
Explore budgeting strategies, but always remember: never exceed your income.
You Are Stuck in the Past
Living in the past can be challenging, particularly when unresolved pain lingers. We all have a history, and dwelling on it can obscure our present and hinder our ability to create a joyful future.
How to Move Forward
Identify your emotional patterns.
- Something may trigger memories of the past.
- It might be time to part with items that evoke those memories.
- Focus on the present; take a walk if negative feelings arise.
- Practice meditation to center yourself.
You Spend Excessive Time on Social Media
Our energy and mood can be significantly influenced by our social media usage. Scrolling through feeds can either uplift us or leave us feeling down.
Surveys suggest that individuals spend an average of over four hours daily on their phones.
How to Limit Social Media Use
I employ a straightforward method to manage my screen time.
- Monitor your daily usage.
- I aim to limit my phone time to 90 minutes, which includes both necessary calls and mindless scrolling.
- To reduce temptation, a friend organizes apps into folders away from the home screen.
- Some individuals even delete apps and designate specific times for social media check-ins, such as every Saturday evening.
Breaking bad habits takes time and dedication. It's a process of trial and error until you find what works.
Recommended Reading: 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success — (Amazon affiliate link)
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