When we often make the resolution to achieve something; say lose weight, attain financial freedom etc., we imagine the bigger picture and wait for some huge motivation to hit us. We often forget that it all lies in the daily tiny habits like eating that extra snack or spending that little money you could have saved. The impact is almost nonexistent in the given moment. But in 2, 5 or 10 years you begin to see how stagnant or even worse your life is. In Atomic Habits, James Clear speaks of how tiny habits have the potential to over time affect our entire lives. Practicing little good habits over some years will make you a better person. Same way engaging in negligible amounts of bad habits over a period of time also has a potential of ruining your life.
Here are four habits that are gradually ruining your life;
Phone Addiction
The only thing we all have in equal amounts is time – 24 hours a day. What you choose to do with every minute of yours, determines the kind of life you have. The more time you spend on productive matters, the better your life will be. Spending so much time on your phone mindlessly scrolling through social media will not bring you any positive yield. You will only spend more money on internet bundles and waste precious time that could have been channeled into something productive. Again, the repercussions are not obvious today. Until you will wake up in the near future and realize you could have done better.
Fast Food/Constantly Eating Out
Aside from the uncertainty of hygienic conditions surrounding food preparation areas, we can never be sure of what ingredients were used because we were not there. Fast food can be addictive. You don’t have to spend time cooking. However, the cumulative effects of these foods you keep buying is mostly unhealthy and even life threatening. A study revealed that restaurant fast foods have an excessive amount of sodium. Overconsumption of sodium causes cardiovascular diseases. The only way to be sure you are eating a healthy meal is by preparing it yourself and knowing what went into it. Eating out on occasions isn’t a bad thing, but when you make a habit out of it, you are gradually ruining your life.
Not Exercising
Exercising the body is not a luxury. It is a basic requirement to keep the body fit and the heart healthy. If you are the kind who goes weeks without exercising, be rest assured your older self will be paying the price. Just like everything else, the results will not be apparent today, but as you age, your body declines faster than those who exercise. And you stand a greater chance of chronic diseases. You don’t necessarily have to sign up to the gym to exercise. Basic activities like running, increasing your step count, as well as home workouts, can help you greatly. It is naïve to think that only fat people need to exercise. We all need to keep our heart and body in good shape.
Not Reading
Just like we eat and drink to keep our body fueled and thriving, our minds need nourishment too. The habit of reading is swiftly declining among us because we would rather watch it than read it. Social media has also become the biggest place to unwind, so we make no time to read anything useful aside from Facebook posts and Instagram captions. The impact may not be obvious now, but with time, your mind becomes shallow in comparison with those who read often. You will have limited knowledge of most things in the world. Reading does a lot to your mind and life. Start with a few paragraphs a day and with time, you would be able to read several pages a day.
These are just a few of the things that are not making our lives any better. Remember, little changes everyday lead to a remarkably better life overtime. Stop ruining your life!
