You Have to Stop Doing This
There are lots of things you do in your day-to-day that are actively damaging your wellbeing. You might not know it, but these “harmless” habits are actually quite harmful! You might realize it in a few months or a few years, but it’s better to stop these behaviors early. With that in mind, here are 20 habits you should stop immediately.
1. Too Long on the Toilet
Spending long hours on the toilet isn't always beneficial for your health. It can put excess pressure on the veins in the rectal area, which can lead to hemorrhoids. It can also have negative effects on your circulation and pelvic floor with prolonged periods of sitting. Occasional short visits can also have a cumulative effect on your digestive and vascular health if you're not careful.
2. Loud Headphones
Listening to headphones at a high volume for a long time is not dangerous. Loud sounds over a long period of time can permanently damage your hearing. This can cause tinnitus, hearing loss, and auditory fatigue. Even if you don't notice discomfort, there is a risk to your long-term hearing health.
3. Minimum Payments
Paying only the minimum amount on debt can create an illusion of affordability, but it actually allows interest to accrue, making it more difficult to pay off the balance. This can significantly increase the total amount owed over time and prolong the repayment period. Making minimum payments can also compromise financial stability and set back efforts to become debt-free.
4. Neglecting Time Off
Working incessantly without rest might seem productive, but it risks chronic stress and burnout, harming overall health. Lack of rest hinders mental clarity, weakens the immune system, and heightens heart disease risk. This practice ultimately diminishes personal well-being and long-term professional effectiveness.
5. Avoiding Hard Subjects
Avoiding awkward topics out of politeness might seem considerate, but it can stop issues from being resolved. Leaving uncomfortable subjects unaddressed allows misunderstandings, tension, and resentment to fester over time. Learning to navigate these conversations with thoughtfulness promotes healthier relationships and more effective communication.
6. Bathroom Breaks
Using the bathroom only when necessary may seem convenient, but it can cause stress on your bladder and urinary tract. Regularly delaying urination can increase the risk of urinary tract infections and weaken bladder muscles over time. Ignoring the urge to urinate frequently can lead to discomfort and potential long-term issues.
7. Sticking It Out
Remaining in an unhappy relationship can sometimes be seen as a form of loyalty, but it often has a detrimental impact on emotional health. If the relationship isn't fixed, long-term dissatisfaction can contribute to emotional stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Making conscious decisions about the relationship's future can help safeguard your mental well-being and personal development.
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8. People Pleasing
Constantly prioritizing the needs of others over your own can have a negative impact on your emotional well-being. Habitual people-pleasing can lead to resentment, burnout, and the feeling of giving more than you receive. It's important to learn how to set and maintain healthy boundaries to take care of yourself and nurture your relationships.
9. Lack of Sleep
Going on regular sleepless nights might not sound like a big deal, but it can have significant negative effects on physical and mental health. Consistently getting less than the recommended amount of sleep can lead to reduced cognitive function, a weakened immune system, and an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders. Ensuring that you are getting enough rest is crucial for maintaining optimal health and preventing long-term health issues.
10. Procrastinating Healthcare
Delaying treatment for health concerns may seem harmless, but it can lead to minor issues developing into more serious conditions. Delayed care can result in increased complexity of treatment, higher costs, and prolonged recovery periods. Seeking timely care for health concerns is important for preventing complications and ensuring long-term well-being.
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11. Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk might not feel like it has much impact, but it can diminish self-esteem and cause stress over time. Habitual self-criticism can reinforce negative beliefs about ourselves and have harmful effects on mental health. Neutral, constructive self-reflections, such as acknowledging a mistake without moralizing it, can promote growth.
12. Expectations
It is easy to believe that if you treat others well, others will treat you in the same way. However, placing your hopes in this concept will often only leave you feeling disappointed and lead to damaged relationships. Every person has their own values and priorities and often different resources, time, and abilities. In many cases, basing your connection to other people on reciprocity will only lead to resentment.
13. No Sunscreen
It can be tempting to skip sunscreen when you’re running errands, leaving for just a moment, or if the sky is cloudy. It is easy to forget that UV exposure from the sun causes long-term skin damage. The results of repeated UV exposure include premature aging, increased risk of sunburn, and a dramatically higher risk of skin cancer.
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14. Doomscrolling
Scrolling endlessly through negative news or social media, called doomscrolling, may feel like harmless information-seeking. It can actually raise anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and interfere with sleep and focus. Reducing and being mindful of this behavior can help preserve mental health and emotional well-being.
15. Doctor Visits
While it might make sense to you only to see a doctor when symptoms are at their worst, it’s important to understand that this strategy severely limits the likelihood of early detection of more serious health issues. It’s easier to treat many conditions early on, but when they become more advanced, they can result in higher costs, more involved and painful treatments, and worse health outcomes. Keep in mind that your future health depends on being proactive in these situations.
16. Sweeping Things Under the Rug
It's like sweeping problems under the rug and pretending they don't exist in order to “keep the peace,” at least for the moment. The habit of sweeping things under the rug, over the course of a lifetime, will cause tension, resentment, and a loss of trust in relationships. It's far better to deal with things openly and respectfully for the sake of better communication and harmony over the long run.
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17. Hot Lemon Water
While it can be healthy to drink hot lemon water every day, the acidity can also slowly wear down the enamel of your teeth over time. This can lead to more sensitivity, cavities, and longer-term dental problems. Practice moderation and try using a straw or rinsing your mouth out after consuming lemon water.
18. Financial Illiteracy
Neglecting financial literacy, avoiding budgets, and living on credit can lead to short-term convenience but long-term repercussions. It typically results in insurmountable debt, poor credit, and limited financial security that are hard to rectify in adulthood. Cultivating financial awareness and planning from an early age is crucial for long-term stability, independence, and well-being.
19. Junk Food
It's easy to fool yourself into thinking you can eat junk food all the time, particularly if you're not overweight. However, your body will silently accumulate damage from a bad diet over the years. Poor nutrition can contribute to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease risk in even the healthiest of people.
20. Clean Plate Club
Eating a few extra bites past satiety may seem harmless, but it promotes overeating and ignores the body's natural signals. This habit can lead to weight gain and related health issues over time. Mindful portion control and tuning into your body's cues support physical and mental health.
