We all have a few bad habits — but sometimes a minor behavioral pattern can morph into a larger one that affects your quality of life. Consider looking for ways to improve your outlook if you notice yourself engaging in any of the habits listed below. If you stop these patterns early, you’ll experience a more positive outlook in general.
1. Being Negative About Small Details
Being overly positive isn’t the goal here, and neither is faking happiness when you are genuinely upset. If you notice that you have an unkind word to say to everyone, or that you can’t seem to get through the day without constant irritation, ask yourself why. You may have picked up a bad habit — or, according to the Mayo Clinic, you might be clinically depressed.
Many people experience depression as sadness or emptiness, while others develop symptoms such as low self-esteem and chronic negative thoughts. If you feel that you can’t control your negativity, think about seeing a qualified mental health practitioner from Aspiring Families who can help you work through these feelings.
2. Wasting Your Work Hours at a Job You Hate
Everyone has bad days at work, but it’s not normal — or sustainable — to hate your job long term. Life is too short to spend your working life doing something that you dislike. If you can’t afford to change jobs right now, or if you don’t have the qualifications to apply for another position, think about going back to school part-time to study for a job that aligns with your current goals.
If you’re tired of feeling burnt out, consider starting a home business for a career change without a commute. You may be able to balance your work and home life better, especially if you are a parent. According to Zenbusiness, don’t forget to designate a workspace at home, set a schedule you can keep, and purchase software that can help you with bookkeeping if this is your choice.
3. Taking Care of Everyone But Yourself
While caretaking can be a noble endeavor, you shouldn’t have to remind your spouse to eat breakfast and obsess over your children’s homework to make sure they don’t fall behind in school. Likewise, you shouldn’t function as the go-to therapist in your social circle — even if you are actually a credentialed therapist.
If you don’t take care of yourself as well, you and your family will suffer. Ask yourself whether your caretaking is truly needed and helpful to others or if it distracts you from confronting your own problems.
4. Assuming Responsibility for Others’ Problems or Feelings
Is your teenaged daughter throwing a tantrum because you won’t let her go out on a Thursday night? Is your sister upset with you because you can’t be available whenever she needs to talk? Those things aren’t your problems. When you assume responsibility for the thoughts and feelings that other people should be managing by themselves, you may drive yourself crazy trying to “fix” them when you should be taking care of yourself.
5. Expecting Your Partner To Make You Happy
You are responsible for your own happiness. If you have low self-esteem or feel that having the right partner should complete you, you’re setting your future relationships up for failure. This bad habit puts way too much pressure on both you and your partner to be perfect. It also puts you in the mindset that your partner is responsible for your contentment in life. While he or she can certainly make your life feel more complete, the only person who is responsible for your ultimate contentment is you.
Many of these bad habits will take time to break. Focus on living your best life and taking responsibility for yourself and your actions, setting good boundaries with other people, and focusing on what you’re grateful for to have a higher quality of life starting today.
Guest Post by Dorothy Watson, Mental Wellness Center