5 Toxic Habits To Avoid In Life
They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Can you imagine how many habits you might have picked up on over the years? Granted that some of those habits might be healthy and life-changing but, there might be a few habits that are toxic and not as good for you or the surrounding people.
In today’s article, I will shed light on 5 toxic habits to avoid in life.
Disclaimer- This article is for educational purposes and is based on personal opinions. This article is not a substitute for professional advice, but general guidance. We advise you to always listen to your intuition and always do what is right for you. If you can relate to any of these signs, please do not take this feedback as an attack on your character. This article is meant to be a self-improvement guide for those of you who have been feeling a little stuck.
1. Gossiping-
Gossip is idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tattling. Many of us may have participated in gossiping in some way or the other. Although it isn’t possible to never have negative thoughts about something/ someone, you can control what you do with these thoughts.
For instance, instead of saying it out loud, write down all your thoughts in a notebook or on your phone, start your voice recorder and speak your mind out.
Photo by Keira Burton on Pexels.com
2. Not Forgiving Yourself-
We all make mistakes at some stage in our lives; but, to find happiness, we must be able to let go of the consequences of our mistakes. You must forgive yourself and learn to walk through the pain of your past mistakes.
One thing is certain: you will make mistakes; learn from them, forgive yourself, and don’t hang on to these harmful feelings indefinitely; they will negatively impact your mental health.
It’s important to learn to laugh when things go wrong because sometimes they will. Self-forgiveness is the intentional preservation of inner peace and a reflection of a healthy self-concept.
Accept your humanity, acknowledge your faults, affirm your emotions, take responsibility, discover your inspiration, consider the lessons you’ve learned, set clear boundaries, treat yourself with love, compassion, and gratitude, and make amends as needed.
3. Blaming-
It is easy to blame your actions on someone else, but is that the right way to go? We all like challenges in life, why not challenge ourselves to own up to what we have said/done? The next you find yourself in a situation where you want to blame your doings on someone else, take a step back. Analyze why you want to blame someone else, recognize why it is easier to do so, and then think of a way to own up to your doings.
Photo by Liza Summer on Pexels.com
4. Trying to please everyone-
Do you often find yourself doing something just to make someone else happy?
Sure, doing something just to make someone happy is admirable and important at times, but most of the time, the issue is our inability to say no.
If you can’t say no to the wrong things, you won’t be able to say yes to the ventures, people, and opportunities that excite you
Here’s what you can do instead;
Recognize your worth. Remind yourself of your goals and the steps necessary to achieve them. Saying yes to others often means saying no to yourself.
The first step, however, is to figure out what you want to achieve. You must be conscious of your life’s mission, ambitions, and objectives.
5. Drinking/smoking-
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down the mind and body’s functioning. This is because it reduces interaction between the brain’s neurons, which regulate all of the body’s functions. Even a small amount of alcohol can cause side effects such as dizziness, giddiness, and sleepiness. Moderate drinking is defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as anything over one drink per day for women and adults over the age of 65 and more than two drinks per day for men under 65.
Children and teenagers shouldn’t drink. Drinking more than a moderate amount at once can cause nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbances, and poor judgment. Accidents and falls are more likely to occur following excessive alcohol intake.
While the long-term effects of combining alcohol and tobacco are still being investigated, preliminary research indicates that mixing the two substances can have severe and long-term health consequences. Smoking and drinking together with have been linked to an increased risk of throat and esophageal cancer in studies. This may be because the alcohol dissolves the chemicals in the cigarette when it is still in the mouth. Carcinogens can get trapped against the sensitive tissues of the throat as a result of this. Furthermore, consuming alcohol and smoking at the same time affects the body’s ability to metabolize all substances. This ensures the tobacco carcinogens remain in the body for a longer period. Longer exposure to carcinogens increases the risk of fatal diseases such as cancer.
References;
American Addiction Centers (April 8, 2020). The Effects of Mixing Alcohol and Tobacco. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from
Responses