Everyone has habits they know they should break for one reason or another. But how do you know when something actually is a bad habit — and not just a quirk? Hint? Quirks are cute. Bad habits . . . not so cute. When was the last time you felt warm and fuzzy after someone launched into a political rant at the dinner table? Bad habits can have long-term consequences for you and the people you care about. Hence this list of 145 bad habits to avoid. Because once you call those habits what they are, you can take action to replace them with better ones.
What is Considered a Bad Habit?
A bad habit would flunk a cost-benefit analysis. When you’re honest about why you haven’t broken the habit and about how it affects you, the cost is greater than the benefit. And you want to quit it. You really do. But it’s still hard. Because it’s a habit. You do it without thinking. And sometimes, it makes your life a tiny bit more tolerable in the moment. After all, some folks call an awful lot of habits “bad” that don’t really bother you. So, how do you know it’s truly a bad habit and not just quirky behavior? Look for the following clues: Some bad habits are worse than others. And you might have some habits that would appall someone proud of their good habits but that don’t really bother you and the people whose opinions of you matter most. Don’t choose which habits to break based on what Miss Manners would say. This is your life. And you’re the one most deeply affected by the habits you keep. Ask yourself, as you find your own habits in the list whether you want to see yourself with those same habits five years from now.
10 Most Common Bad Habits
If you have any of the following habits, you’re in good company. These are the most frequently mentioned bad habits, and some of them you may not even want to break. Or maybe you just don’t consider breaking those habits a high priority. Only when they adversely affect your life or someone else’s do they become a problem you can’t ignore. In the lists below, we’ll break down some of the more general or inclusive examples of bad habits into more specific ones.
27 of the Most Annoying Bad Habits
Some bad habits are more annoying than others. Some are just distracting, while others make your life and others’ more difficult or stressful. Some can cheat you of opportunities to advance in your chosen field, while others can put strain on your relationships. Look down the list and be honest with yourself about the habits that are making your life (or someone else’s) more challenging than necessary.
33 Bad Habits for Health and Fitness
Some of these habits will have a direct effect on your mental and physical well-being; the best way to correct them is through reasonable self-care. You don’t have to be perfect, but no one should have to go through life in survival mode. Other bad habits listed here just make it harder for others to be around you when you’re working out at the gym. Most of these can be fixed by treating others as you want to be treated (golden rule stuff). 31 Fun Things To Do By Yourself 9 Ways To Stop Self-Sabotaging Behavior Want To Stop Being So Cynical? 13 Proven Steps
23 Bad Habits with Money
Some bad habits can get you into a really tight spot with your money (and other people’s). And correcting them can make a world of difference in your financial well-being. Think of all the things you’ve done and things you still do that make it impossible to stick to a reasonable budget and to live within your means. Then ask yourself what contrary habits you need in order to turn it around.
33 Bad Habits in Communicating with Others
Some bad habits have a direct effect on our relationships and our ability to communicate effectively with others. And the worst bad habits can even destroy important relationships. The more of these you quit or replace with people-friendly counter-habits, the more effectively you’ll communicate with others. And the easier it will be to make friends and keep them.
19 Bad Habits with Personal Hygiene
Some bad habits repel other people (especially those with a heightened awareness of contagions) so much they may decide to avoid you and even warn others about you. Or they’ll just rant about your “disgusting” habits to anyone who will listen. Aside from the risk of making yourself and other people sick, some of these habits show neglect of self-care or a lack of self-awareness. What will you do about your bad habits? Now that you’ve looked through 136 bad habits to break (not counting the ten most common), which ones stood out as familiar? And which are you most determined to correct? It’s okay if you don’t feel compelled to fix all of them. Start with the ones that cause the most problems for you — or for others. There are longer lists out there, but many of them include habits most would consider normal or at least innocuous — like playing with your hair or using profanity (in moderation). Let’s focus more on those that can actually do harm, even if only by degrees. We’re not going for perfection, here. We’re going for a fuller, more beautiful life. May yours grow in beauty and joy as you replace your worst habits with better ones.
