Hey guess what? We all have bad habits and we are not perfect. Us humans are so used to these habits because we’ve had them forever or they are considered normal in today’s society.

Some habits we start and keep because they are comfortable and easy for us, but if this habit isn’t bringing you joy or making you feel your best it is probably time to switch it up a bit.

These habits below are just some overall general one’s that can be the hardest to change or quit. By taking it step by step each day will help form new habits and change your mood for the better and you will start doing things for you.

Not being kind to yourself

We are so harsh on ourselves these days it’s actually unacceptable but very normalized. With the constant comparison game we feed into it’s more harmful to yourself than you know. A lot of the time we think we are always supposed to be strong and brush things off. When in reality we are better off if we feel the feelings at hand and take the time we need for ourselves. The next time you feel like you need a day to just lay there, do it! If you want dessert after the giant ass meal you just consumed, do it. Another example is we feed off of what other people do, such as what our friends are doing. You go out for dinner and you go to get dessert after. The friends that are with you don’t want dessert because they say they don’t need it. A lot of the time you’ll be like yeah I had a big meal too I don’t need dessert. When really you should be getting/ doing what you want because YOU want to.

Start by speaking to yourself kinder as well. The second we say oh I’ve never done that so I won’t be good at it and then I’m going to embarrass myself. Then I’ll be more worried because I embarrassed myself and then people will talk about me. Then we people spread word about this. My crush Jimmy is going to find out and he won’t like me. Wasn’t that painful to listen to? Our thoughts go on and on and tell us lies, so say nice things to yourself and you will eventually start to believe it too. This is overall being kinder to yourself.

Not moving daily

I think you and me both are tired of hearing how you should exercise each day, but heck it is 100% true. I think what can be overwhelming with exercising at the beginning is you think you have to be in the gym 5 days a week, 2 hours a day and killing yourself with cardio. For other people it can be anxiety for even going to the gym, large dudes with big muscles that you think are judging and the many exercise machines you don’t know how to use. Guess what? All the people in the gym started where you are too not knowing a damn thing. If people happen to be rude or not friendly, block them out because you are just an individual trying to improve yourself and there is nothing wrong with that!

My other point too is that you don’t need to start so aggressively with exercise and you shouldn’t if you’re just getting into it. Start with bodyweight exercises by watching a YouTube video or just start doing more activities like walking places, hiking etc. If you really want to get started in the gym, definitely start out by perfecting your form vs worrying about how much weight you’re trying to lift. Building sustainable small habits can help you big time when starting your fitness journey.

Screen Time

Social media can really hender your mental health if you are not watching how much time you’re spending on it and just scrolling your life away (literally). Being on social media too often can cause anxiety, less patience with simple tasks, and you feeling as if people should be giving you compliments all the time (ego feeding). This can be a really hard habit to break because it’s what everyone is doing and it is so easy to just scroll on your free time. These days you look around and see everyone on their phones, this also leads to social anxiety in public and then you go on your phone and it causes more anxiety. Being in the moment and less on your phone is more attractive anyways.  Start by taking it down a notch a little each day for at least a week and you will already start to feel better.

Eating like poop

Eating like poop leads to feeling like poop. The world more specifically the US makes it so easy for us to grab an overly processed snack or there are plenty of fast food places to feed you ‘real’ wholesome meats and foods for a cheap price. These foods are tasty because they add chemicals to make them more addictive, making it harder for us to eat cleaner. Then when you want to take action and start eating cleaner, healthier foods or more expensive. This is done on purpose to keep you in the trap of eating processed, unhealthy foods. Don’t get me wrong I love me some fast food and junk food here and there to satisfy my cravings, but what helps me is trying to eat three wholesome meals a day with minimal snacking. I eat dessert every single night and never feel guilty because I know that I took care of myself earlier in the day with those three meals. The saying, “everything in moderation” seems very overrated by now, but it is true. If you have no clue where to start, you can start by buying frozen fruits and veggies. These will last you for a little bit, won’t go bad for a while, and actually hold more nutrients because they have been frozen right away. With the right amount of research, there are so many good and yummy recipes that are healthy and you will be surprised.

Not wearing sunscreen

Wear sunscreen on your face everyday!!! Men and women. Do you wanna look like saggy mister krabs in that one episode of spongebob? I didn’t think so. The sun increases your chance for premature aging such as wrinkles and sunspots. Another thing is if you’re in the sun everyday, the ultraviolet rays from the sun enhances your risk for skin cancer. Be smart at a young age and take care of yourself, you are your most valuable investment.

Not learning new things

There are so many tools and topics to learn about these days. The best part is, there is all the free information out there on the internet. If you have the slightest curiosity about something, look it up and learn about it. It is always good to have more knowledge then not enough. This way you could also try new and different things that may lead to a new hobby or even a new career. Growing and learning can be uncomfortable, but you don’t want to live a life just wondering about things and possibilities.

If you need to bring some freshness into your life and just change things around for new energy, try to quit some bad habits. It will be very challenging at first, but once you feel the feeling of better emotions it will be worth it!