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From biting your nails to running late, kick these 10 bad habits to the curb.
Bad habits afflict us all. But whether your particular fixation is merely annoying, wastes time, or could actually hurt someone, there are tricks and techniques to nip it in the bud. Here's how to get started.
Habits That Are Just Annoying
The Habit: Smacking Gum
Why you do it: It's an oral fixation that serves as a security blanket when you're nervous or anxious.
How to stop: Switch to hard candy. If you don't want to give up gum, have a friend stop you every time she hears you doing it. Continue smacking and recognize what an irritating sound it is. You might be embarrassed enough to stop.
Why you do it: It's an oral fixation that serves as a security blanket when you're nervous or anxious.
How to stop: Switch to hard candy. If you don't want to give up gum, have a friend stop you every time she hears you doing it. Continue smacking and recognize what an irritating sound it is. You might be embarrassed enough to stop.
The Habit: Nail Biting
Why you do it: You use it to derive comfort and relieve stress.
How to stop: First, note when you bite your nails, and then substitute another action, such as squeezing a stress ball. Try painting your nails with a polish that has a foul taste. Or get a manicure. After paying for it, you'll think twice about ruining the results.
Why you do it: You use it to derive comfort and relieve stress.
How to stop: First, note when you bite your nails, and then substitute another action, such as squeezing a stress ball. Try painting your nails with a polish that has a foul taste. Or get a manicure. After paying for it, you'll think twice about ruining the results.
The Habit: Slouching
Why you do it: You may have slouched when growing up because you were self-conscious or taller than others, and the posture stuck. Or you might just be tired.
How to stop: Take dance lessons, Pilates, or yoga to strengthen the abdominals and upper-back muscles. A simple shoulder-shrug exercise—think of touching your shoulders to your earlobes—is an even easier way to combat slouching. Do 10 rotations forward and 10 rotations back. This will raise consciousness of posture.
Why you do it: You may have slouched when growing up because you were self-conscious or taller than others, and the posture stuck. Or you might just be tired.
How to stop: Take dance lessons, Pilates, or yoga to strengthen the abdominals and upper-back muscles. A simple shoulder-shrug exercise—think of touching your shoulders to your earlobes—is an even easier way to combat slouching. Do 10 rotations forward and 10 rotations back. This will raise consciousness of posture.
Habits That Waste Time
The Habit: Disorganization
Why you do it: You may be a visual processor. You like to be surrounded by a mess because it's stimulating—and it reminds you to do your work. But it backfires, because you waste time searching for things.
How to stop: Separate papers into a pile you need to do and a pile you can think about doing. Use folders or boxes in different colors and set up a system that works for you. Start with basic steps, like putting your keys in the same place every day.
Why you do it: You may be a visual processor. You like to be surrounded by a mess because it's stimulating—and it reminds you to do your work. But it backfires, because you waste time searching for things.
How to stop: Separate papers into a pile you need to do and a pile you can think about doing. Use folders or boxes in different colors and set up a system that works for you. Start with basic steps, like putting your keys in the same place every day.
The Habit: Running Late
Why you do it: The nice reason? You're a pleaser and an overdoer, packing in too much. Not so nice? Deep down, you may think your time is more important than that of those waiting.
How to stop: When someone asks you to do something, don't accept right away; decide whether you have time. Also, figure out which tasks always make you late. Time yourself to see how long they take, then allot enough time in your routine. Tricks: Set your watch five minutes fast and build in time for delays. And always call ahead if you're running late. Not only is it gracious but the shame of making repeated calls might be your incentive to be punctual.
Why you do it: The nice reason? You're a pleaser and an overdoer, packing in too much. Not so nice? Deep down, you may think your time is more important than that of those waiting.
How to stop: When someone asks you to do something, don't accept right away; decide whether you have time. Also, figure out which tasks always make you late. Time yourself to see how long they take, then allot enough time in your routine. Tricks: Set your watch five minutes fast and build in time for delays. And always call ahead if you're running late. Not only is it gracious but the shame of making repeated calls might be your incentive to be punctual.
The Habit: Perfectionism
Why you do it: Mom and Dad had high expectations. ("Only a B, Mary?") You define yourself by what you do, yet nothing gets done.
How to stop: Train yourself to care less. Deliberately do a poor job when performing a small chore—one that has no professional or personal impact, such as making the bed. You'll see the consequences aren't so dire. Set time limits for tasks, and use an alarm. There will be no room in the schedule for that "one more thing" to make it perfect.
Why you do it: Mom and Dad had high expectations. ("Only a B, Mary?") You define yourself by what you do, yet nothing gets done.
How to stop: Train yourself to care less. Deliberately do a poor job when performing a small chore—one that has no professional or personal impact, such as making the bed. You'll see the consequences aren't so dire. Set time limits for tasks, and use an alarm. There will be no room in the schedule for that "one more thing" to make it perfect.
The Habit: Procrastination
Why you do it: It's a strategy for managing the anxiety of having to complete a task.
How to stop: Recognize that when you procrastinate, others may think you don't care about the job. One trick: Make out a check to an organization you despise and give it to a friend to hold. If you don't finish the self-assigned task by a certain date, have her mail the check. Making yourself accountable for the consequences will motivate you to wrap up the task.
Why you do it: It's a strategy for managing the anxiety of having to complete a task.
How to stop: Recognize that when you procrastinate, others may think you don't care about the job. One trick: Make out a check to an organization you despise and give it to a friend to hold. If you don't finish the self-assigned task by a certain date, have her mail the check. Making yourself accountable for the consequences will motivate you to wrap up the task.
Habits That Can Be Destructive
The Habit: Gossiping
Why you do it: You try to take the focus off your flaws by exposing those of others. A person who gossips by habit doesn't truly believe she's good enough on her own.
How to stop: Share your experiences, such as discovering a new restaurant. Brush up on current events, music, or sports. Keep in mind that gossiping makes you seem untrustworthy. You may even lose friends and contacts.
Why you do it: You try to take the focus off your flaws by exposing those of others. A person who gossips by habit doesn't truly believe she's good enough on her own.
How to stop: Share your experiences, such as discovering a new restaurant. Brush up on current events, music, or sports. Keep in mind that gossiping makes you seem untrustworthy. You may even lose friends and contacts.
The Habit: Name-dropping
Why you do it: You feel insignificant and want to be perceived as special.
How to stop: Remind yourself that you don't need to resort to mentioning names as a way of increasing your value. If you can't resist dropping a name or two, do so in a non-self-promoting way or with humor. Do it to share information, as opposed to putting someone down or making yourself look more important.
Why you do it: You feel insignificant and want to be perceived as special.
How to stop: Remind yourself that you don't need to resort to mentioning names as a way of increasing your value. If you can't resist dropping a name or two, do so in a non-self-promoting way or with humor. Do it to share information, as opposed to putting someone down or making yourself look more important.
The Habit: Whining
Why you do it: You don't feel confident in your power to request something.
How to stop: Simply state what you want by making a direct request. For example, instead of ruining an evening out by complaining that you got stuck at a table next to the kitchen, politely ask the waiter to reseat you. Remember: Most people will develop a resistance to whiners.
Why you do it: You don't feel confident in your power to request something.
How to stop: Simply state what you want by making a direct request. For example, instead of ruining an evening out by complaining that you got stuck at a table next to the kitchen, politely ask the waiter to reseat you. Remember: Most people will develop a resistance to whiners.
Copyright 2008 Time Inc. REAL SIMPLE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Used with permission.
©ConAgra Foods, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Start Making Choices does not provide medical advice.
Information is intended for educational purposes only. See additional information.
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