6 unhealthy habits you can overcome in 2020

As the new year is fast approaching, people all around the world are getting their proverbial pen and paper ready to write their new year resolutions. Because there’s no better time to put an end to bad habits and start fresh than the beginning of a new year.

Whether you are tired of being a couch potato and want to adopt a more active lifestyle or you’re a binge drinker and you are tired of constantly fighting the brain fog, now is the time to take that first step and become a better version of yourself.

No one said it was easy, but ditching an annoying and unhealthy habit can make a huge difference in improving the quality of your life.

So, here are a few habits that you can do without in 2020:

Procrastination

We’re all guilty of it, there’s no need to claim the moral high ground here. There are so many things that we put off, simply because they bring us no pleasure at all.

People procrastinate for all kinds of reasons, but lack of willpower and self-discipline seem to be the main culprits. However, it’s only normal to experience this in a world that overwhelms you with so much information and opportunities, leaving you confused and helpless.

But procrastination can be fought against:

• One thing you have to do to overcome it, is understanding what motivates you. This will help you focus on the things that really matter and make you more efficient.

• Making short daily to-do lists (not the long scary ones) can boost up your motivation and also keep your self-discipline on track.

• Rewarding yourself after completing a task that you’ve been avoiding will also make things easier and a little bit more fun.

Social media addiction

We’ve heard countless times that we live in the era of social media and the pressure of always staying connected it’s taking its toll. It’s been proven that spending too much time on apps like Instagram or Facebook can lead to depression, anxiety or other mental health issues.

But quitting social media completely might not be the best way to approach this addiction. Experts say that taking small steps and limiting your online time is a good starting point. Use an app that monitors the time you spend on social media so you can start setting boundaries and become more engaged in real life situations.

You can also try to replace you constant need to check your phone with other habits. Whenever you feel bored or anxious, try grabbing a boog instead. It might sound old-school, but if you do it often enough it can become your next favourite thing.

Binge drinking

Having a drink or two when you’re out with your friends sounds like a fun way to spend your time off, but when you start doing it on a daily basis, it can become a problem. Binge drinking can seriously affect your mental and physical health and also the lives of the people around you, so it’s something that you shouldn’t ignore.

If you want to cut back on your drinking, start by setting some limits. You can have a drink or two on the weekends or one drink at dinner time and that will prevent you from going overboard.

However, if you find it hard to quit on your own, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can search for support from an addiction service such as Addiction Advisor or you can talk to your personal GP about it and

Late night snacking

Having a healthy diet is easier said than done. Sometimes eating becomes more of a hobby than a necessity. Snacking all the time, especially at late hours, can do more damage to your body than adding a few pounds. Overeating is linked to conditions such as diabetes and it’s shown to increase inflammation in the body.

The only way to overcome this annoying habit is to stick to a strict meal plan throughout the day, until it becomes a natural routine. Plan your meals in advance and if you want to avoid temptation, get rid of all that junk food in your kitchen.

Overspending

If your credit cards have become your best friends, you’re guilty of it. It’s easy to spend more than you actually have when you never keep track of where your money is going.

The first thing that you should do to avoid overspending, is getting your priorities in order. Make a list with the important stuff, starting with your bills and all the essential items that you have to purchase and see how that goes.

Also, you can read about how to become a savvy spender and manage your budget online. There are countless sources where you will find useful advice and educate yourself on money management.

Impulse shopping

Shopping therapy is still high on the list of coping mechanisms. It works on the basis of instant gratification, but it won’t improve your life in any way. On the contrary, it will leave you with a hole in your budget and your soul, and surrounded by a ton of stuff that you don’t actually need.

As it’s the case with every bad habit, it’s important to know when to stop. You can spend frivolously sometimes, but it’s better if you have a plan when you go shopping. Every time you purchase something, ask yourself if you really need that item.

Creating a budget for everything and trying not to go over it will make you more conscious about your spending habits and it will keep you from shopping impulsively.

If there’s one thing that you must keep in mind when trying to overcome a bad habit, is to start small and be patient. The first step is also the hardest. From there you just have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

Cynthia Madison is a young blogger and economics and marketing graduate. She writes about home, lifestyle and family topics and is a senior contributor to popular niche publications.