Are Your Bad Habits Sneaking Up On You?
By Sandy Schroeder
The question of bad habits may not be welcome, but most of us should consider it. I am the queen of justification when it comes to questionable habits. Give me a few moments and I can come up with a convincing rationale for sleeping late, staying up longer, or having a midnight snack.
The problem is bad habits, or even questionable ones, can have a huge impact over time. Most of us do not even notice them until they are locked in place, and very hard to change.
Dr. Travis Bradberry, co-founder of TalentSmart, an agency that serves 75 percent of the Fortune 500 companies, takes a look at some of the bad habits we need to break. When we do break them we will be building the self-control that often determines success. University of Pennsylvania psychologists Angela Duckworth and Martin Seligman say self-control can be twice as important as IQ in earning a high grade point average.
Do You Do These Things?
Frequent online surfing – You may be in the midst of a project when you wonder when your favorite team’s next game is. Checking their schedule can cost you valuable minutes and creative focus. It takes 15 minutes to get into a productive work flow. When you hop out, it will take you 15 more minutes to get back in. If you do this all day long, you may never reach your creative potential.
Mixing conversations and phones – Nothing quenches the fun of a lively discussion as quickly as checking your phone. You have just made it clear where your real attention is, and probably missed a lot of great interaction. Shut your phone down and join the conversation.
Never saying “no” – If you find it all too easy to say “yes,” even when your workload indicates you should say “no,” you may be risking your health as you create stress, anxiety, and burnout. Respect yourself and your work and say “no” when you have to.
Mixing blue lights with bedtime – Light makes a big difference in the amount of rest that we get. Blue lights from phones, computers or tablets can keep you awake as it muffles the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. Get some outdoor light every day and use light-blocking drapes to create a haven for sleep at night.
Undermining meetings – We have all done it. Coming to a meeting, but silently mixing in other tasks. Bradberry says, “If the meeting does not deserve your full attention then you should not be there!” Show up to be part of the meeting. You will send the right signals to everyone else, and learn a lot
If these habits all sound very familiar, see what you can do to shut them down and move faster in the future.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Tempe, Ariz.