Most bad habits you acquire in life are a direct result of your environment, emotions, stress or boredom. What starts out as a way to fit in or a way to occupy your mind turns quickly into something you can’t seem to live without doing. Kicking a bad habit or two is not impossible, it just takes your commitment and willingness to discover the reason you started it in the first place.
Overspending
Overspending is a bad habit that affects one in every five Americans, according to the cited July 2015 article. There are many reasons people overspend. Some do it to keep up with their neighbors and friends, others do it because it makes them feel good and yet others do it because they just can’t say no. This type of spending has only one outcome, financial ruin. Even if you make enough money to pay all your bills on time each month, it’s only a matter of time before you cannot. First, you’ll use a credit card to cover a few household bills and then you’ll look to borrow a loan to pay off your credit card debt. It’s the wrong approach. If you are not able to control yourself and cut back on your purchases, you may need to speak with a therapist and get to the underlining problem.
Alcohol and drug abuse
If you are shy and introverted, alcohol and recreational drugs start out as a way to loosen up and become social. Once you get a buzz or a high feeling you come out of your shell and intermingle without giving it a second thought. After doing this for a few months or a year your habit then tends to escalate and you need more to achieve the same feeling that gives you confidence. It isn’t long after that the recreational use becomes a dependency, something that you now require each day just to make it through. When this happens, it can have a catastrophic effect on your life. Relationships fail, jobs get lost and the friends you once tried to impress no longer invite you to their parties. The good news is that there are places that you can go to such as the Hollywood detox center and get the help you need to make a full recovery.
Nail biting
Nail biting is a nervous habit that generally starts out as a way to release anxiousness, curiosity, boredom, and stress. Nail biting doesn’t just ruin the shape of your nails or stunt their growth, it can also carry with it much more serious health problems. Think about it, your nails touch everything. If you put them into your mouth without washing your hands you have the possibility of acquiring a cold, a viral infection or an infection of the skin that surrounds your nail. There’s no real consensus on why people bite their nails. Nail biting is just one of those habits that your body seems to do when it feels stressed. Some pick at their skin, others pull out their hair and some bite their nails. The good news is that there are ways to control the habit. Make yourself conscious of your habit and keep your hands busy. If you know there are certain times of the day that are problematic, set a timer to go off. Also, take up something that keeps your hands and your mind occupied like doing a puzzle, crosswords, knitting or painting.
Most people have a bad habit or several bad habits. If you have something you do that isn’t good for your health or your wallet, like overspending, excessive drinking or gambling, nail biting or drug abuse, take the initiative to do something about it. Bad habits are things that do not benefit you in the least. They start out when you are bored, emotional or vulnerable. Fortunately, there are ways to put an end these bad habits and start enjoying each day to the fullest.