We are starting a new Season and almost ending the year. This is a crucial time to break bad habits before 2025. There is no need to wait for the beginning of the year, the first of the month, Monday, or a new Season. The best time to break bad habits is today. Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ time because there will never be one. Seize the power of the present and start now.
Now, I will be honest. I am also creating this list to remind myself of a few bad habits I must break. This is a shared journey for me, and I hope this list resonates with you, reminding you of the bad habits you can quit now and not spend another day living with old bad habits.
25 bad habits to break before 2025
- A bad vice
Depending on your bad vice, this can be different for different people. For example, if you are a smoker, are you spending a lot of money on cigarettes instead of paying off debt? Do you drink alcohol on occasion, then it leads to one drink after another? Then you sleep late, sleep in, and waste a whole day, and it happens more than you would like. It is a vice you need to break.
- Waiting for the perfect time
It’s easy to wait for the perfect time to start a new job or business or reach financial goals. But the truth is, the perfect time may never come. The key is to take action now. By taking the first step, you’re already on your way to creating the life you truly want.
- Complaining
I don’t know about you, but you get tired of hearing someone complaining after a while. Especially if it is about the same thing. They hate their job, live paycheck to paycheck, or have a bad relationship. If we get tired of hearing someone complain, then I am sure they feel the same way if we are complaining to someone.
Instead of complaining, do something to make a change. Make a plan to get a job you can enjoy, save before you spend, and leave a bad relationship.
- Overthinking
I am guilty of this. I overthink everything! But as time passes, I realize there is a slim chance that what I think will not happen will happen. What will happen will happen, and overthinking will not change it. You need to plan, let whatever happens happen, and stop overthinking.
- Over committing
As much as you want to spend time with family and friends, you must not over-commit. When you over-commit, you are not spending valuable time with your loved ones or making time for yourself. It’s the same when it comes to your work. Do not overcommit in your job, which may cause you some stress later.
- People pleasing
Instead of trying to please people, you should do what is convenient. We will not be able to please everyone. To avoid getting overwhelmed, plan and do what is easy and doable for you. Not something that is out of your way or not convenient for you.
- Overspending
This could be overspending on takeout, non-essentials, clothing, or home decorations. If you stop overspending and use what you already have, you will find that you already have enough. Enough clothing, home decorations, skincare items, and so on.
- Not setting goals
You should be setting a few goals you wish to accomplish. Whether they are short-term or long-term, monthly or weekly. As long as you set some goals, you can figure out what you need to do to create the life you want. Goals can include financial goals or exercise goals.
- You deserve it mindset
Raise your hand if you are guilty of this. I was so guilty of this. Every time I would receive my paycheck, I would tell myself I deserved to buy myself a new outfit, a new purse, or dinner and drinks. While purchasing something you may need is okay, it is a bad habit to do it all the time just because you feel like you deserve it for all your hard work.
- Making minimum payments on debt
If you owe any debt, right now is the time to look at it. Write down how much you owe, who you owe, and the interest rate. You will be surprised how much money goes on the interest if you make the minimum payment. Tackle that debt by making extra payments and avoid making the minimum payments.
Need tips to pay off debt? Read my 13 Simple Tips to Pay Off Debt Now on a Low-Income
- Instant gratification
This can happen in many ways, big or small, but we should avoid instant gratification. For example, you need a vehicle, but the interest is high, and you decide to get the loan instead of waiting to save money and get a better deal. Another example is when you hit the snooze button and skip your morning walk.
- Not exercising
Exercising has many benefits, so it is essential to make time for it. It can help you lose weight, improve your mood, and promote better sleep. You can start with ten minutes a day, a couple of days a week. Then, increase the time and add more days a week of exercise.
- Not putting yourself first
Making time for ourselves is sometimes the last thing we do. Now is the time to start putting ourselves first more often. Schedule your yearly checkup, wellness check, and dental cleaning. Take the time to do a hobby or start a new hobby. Even taking as little as thirty minutes for yourself daily is essential.
- Living in a cluttered home
Our living space should always be clean, tidy, and clutter-free. Living in a clutter-free home has many benefits, including reduced stress and better sleep. A clutter-free home will also increase your productivity. It would be best if you started your decluttering journey today.
Related post for decluttering
10 Benefits of an Organized Home Plus 10 Tips to Get Started
15 Simple Tips to Declutter Your Bedroom for Better Sleep
How to Declutter Your Kitchen and Keep it Clean and Tidy
- Not creating routines
Creating daily, weekly, or monthly routines can simplify your life. Routines you should make are morning routines, nighttime routines, and cleaning routines, to name just a few.
- Skipping Skincare
Depending on your age, skin type, and skin concerns, you should create a skincare that works for you. You can start by seeing a dermatologist for some recommendations. If not, I suggest researching your skin type and concerns and trying out trial sizes first. Make your skincare simple. Do not buy a lot of skincare products. Find what works and stick with it.
- Not making time for self-care
Although skin care is also a form of self-care, you must include other self-care types daily and make time for yourself. This could consist of reading, walking outdoors, enjoying a warm coffee, journaling, or taking a nap when needed.
- Multi-tasking
While you may think multi-tasking can help you be more productive and get things done in less time. It can also lead to cause mistakes and stress. Instead, try to do one task at a time, putting all your attention to that task, and when done, move on to the next task. This will make your day less stressful.
- Binge watching Netflix
This can cause you to lose plenty of hours not being productive and working on self-improvement. We don’t exercise cause we say we do not have enough time, we do not start a side hustle cause we lack time, and so on. You will be surprised how much time we have left if we do not binge-watch.
- Endless scrolling
It happens to the best of us! Instead, limit the time you spend on your phone. It can be challenging at first, but it gets easier once you do It for a few weeks. Delete social media accounts and just stick to one.
- Sleeping in every day
Do you wait until the last 30 minutes to get up to get ready for work or start your day? Doing this will make your morning chaotic and can cause stress due to being in a rush. Instead, get up earlier to create a slow morning routine that prioritizes you first. This can include exercise, skincare, reading, or drinking coffee.
- Caring for what people think
This was me years ago. I cared or worried about what people would think about my clothes or actions. Now, I do not care what people think, and I use a capsule wardrobe and do not worry about any trends. Doing this saves me time getting ready and money by not chasing trends.
- Not planning your days
Take some time, maybe on Sunday, to plan for the week. Planning your days/week will make your days much simpler. Write down appointments, exercise, a cleaning task, and your meals.
- Don’t wait till tomorrow
Do not wait to do something till tomorrow if you can do it today. You never know what tomorrow will bring, so if you can get ahead, do not wait. If you wait, you might not have the energy, or what if you get sick? Then, you will get behind on your days, which can cause you to be overwhelmed with all the things you need to do.
- Not making your bed
Yes, I had to end this list by making your bed! Seriously, you must make it a habit to make your bed daily. Making your bed will instantly make your room look tidier. If you have a crazy busy day, at least you have one productive thing done: your bed.
Final thoughts
These are twenty-five habits you should break. If you want to start the new year with good habits, start now. I do not recommend trying to create good habits all at once, but by implementing a few weekly and slowly adding more, you will be able to stick to good habits. But by choosing the bad habits you know you need to break, you will start becoming a better version of yourself.
In his book Atomic Habits, best-selling author James Clear states that, on average, it can take more than two months for a new habit to become automatic. However, it also depends on the person and their behavior. I highly recommend you read the book to help you build good habits.
Comment below and let me know what habits you will break.