5 Lifestyle Habits To Cut From Your Day To Day That Are Hindering Your Well being

Prior to the pandemic, if I had a hard work day I would practically always head out with friends to some nearby bar or go home and curl up on my couch to watch some new Netflix series.

During the very beginning of the pandemic? That times 5, well minus going out to a bar, that wasn’t possible.

If this sounds familiar and you’re trying to undo some of the bad habits picked up over the last two years, you’re not alone.

In fact, we’re right there along with 61% other Americans who are also trying to break some of the unhealthy pandemic habits we took on.

I'll forego the obvious ones (drinking, smoking) and instead bring some focus into smaller more subtle habits that creep up and set us back from achieving a healthier balanced life.

Always Being Reactive

You know those coworkers who, when something comes up at work, they’ll just shrug it off and say, “Not my job, not my problem”?

Constantly being reactive and acting as though the world is out to get you is extremely exhausting to keep up let alone enjoyable for anyone else to be around someone like that.

It’s also increasingly stressful to lead a life in this mode as this can lead to bursts of anger that may seemingly come out of nowhere, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure just to name a few.

Instead, aiming to be proactive can completely change a situation that may seem bad to manageable. Proactive people make things happen and other people follow suit, wanting to also be a part of change and success.

My favorite quote on this is,

“Being successful requires being proactive and not waiting for life to come to you. It means you’re on offense, not defense. You’re active, not passive."

— Benjamin P. Hardy

Sitting All Day

Though commonly preached about, this deserves just as much attention as everyone can benefit from getting more exercise, especially since the average person spends half their day sitting.

And office workers? Pre-pandemic, they were sitting an 15 hours every single day.

All that sitting takes a toll on your body over time so while right now it may feel comfy to stay in and curl up in bed or the couch, getting some movement provides so many benefits.

I hate going to the gym so instead I’ll opt to walk outside my neighborhood or even walk on my treadmill I have at home if the weather outside isn’t ideal.

It’s no wonder that after a walk, I’ll feel lighter, more content, as well more focused which is just a few of the benefits from getting up and walking. Not to mention, it also aides in,

• Alleviating depression and fatigue
• Improving cardiac health
• Reduce musculoskeletal pain

But if taking a walk, outside or not, is simply not possible even just standing from time to time is beneficial.

Checking Your Phone Right Away

Upon waking do you reach for your phone or computer only to spend hours scrolling through social media or work notifications?

I did too, and it completely messed with my productivity and mood levels throughout the day.

Did you know that around 80% of people check their phone soon after waking and on average, Americans check their phones 262 times per day —which is once every 5.5 minutes.

All that constant screen time means more dopamine hits that our brain has to handle and though once in a while being on your phone is harmless, there is a thing as too much at a point.

We’re not meant to consume so much from the moment we open our eyes to the time we hit the sheets so taking a step back to even simply rest your eyesight can help somewhat.

Instead of reaching for the phone soon after waking, take some time to stretch, get some water — or even sit somewhere even if it’s for 10–15 minutes to simply be and take in the morning light.

Eating In Front Of A Screen

When’s the last time you actually savored and took a meal in silence without your phone or TV in front of you?

Too often do we tend to eat in front of our computer or have one hand forking up some noodles and the other holding up our phone to watch the latest on social media.

It may seem benign to do so because one might think, well it’s part of my ritual to always watch something because it’s nice to have something to look forward to when eating right?

However, there’s several health risks with doing so and doing it constantly can lead to,

• Obesity
• High blood sugar
• Bloating
• Insulin Resistance

When scarfing down food, and especially when doing it in front of a screen, you’re less likely to process signals of fullness leading to over-eating and the subsequent stomach ache.

This doesn’t mean doing away with screens altogether but instead, doing mindful eating for one can help. Slowly chew your food and savor all the different flavors of the dish a la Remy from Ratatouille.

Eat fiber rich foods to keep you fuller longer and put your fork down between each mouthful so as not to constantly take bite after bite without chewing thoroughly.

Eating intentionally and mindfully will not only help make you feel more full and satisfied but in the long run your body will thank you for it.

Binge watching Shows

America’s second favorite pastime activity, watching show after show because who on this earth doesn’t have Netflix and HBO Max or at least have access to it?

As much as I love watching a great series, it’s not necessarily the best thing to do all in one go as tempting as it may be.

A simple Google search on the effects of binge watching and you’ll see things like sleep problems, heart problems and cognitive decline listed which for me, made me re-think my watching habits.

There’s truth in that if you find yourself constantly re-watching the same shows or watching tons of TV means there’s underlying issues like depression or life dissatisfaction.

Or perhaps not, everyone is different and the reason someone finishes a whole series may be for a completely different purpose than the next person.

Though instead of leaning into sitting in front of screen — try a new hobby or if you’re feeling ambitious, try out a screen detox for however long be it 60 days or whenever.

Earlier last year I did a 10-day digital detox and it’s done wonders personally thanks to this book as it has many great tips on how to actually do it.

TDLR

It takes roughly around 66 days for a new habit to become second nature but on the flip side… UN-doing a habit can take anywhere from 18 days to 254 days. Some habits die hard but when it comes to those that directly compromise our health and well being, some things need to be eliminated, plain and simple.

That doesn’t mean stop doing something altogether but to do it gradually and over time, as with stocks, those small and improved habits compound into a huge lifestyle impact.