You may not have broken your leg, but these bad habits are sure to set you back. We are all guilty of at least one of these things, if not all of them. They've become a part of our daily routine, and we forget they can be really damaging down the line. These habits make us feel comfortable when we sense either an awkward encounter or are just straight-up bored. Even cutting back a little on these things will allow for better habits to take their place.
1. Pulling your phone out to avoid someone
It's blatantly obvious, no matter what you tell yourself. Yeah, it most likely will be a little uncomfortable having to make eye contact with the one person you hope to never see, but it's like any fear: you face it and you move on. Unless it's an emergency situation on your phone, is it really that hard to acknowledge someone and just move forward? If you really don't want to talk to someone, keep walking and give them a brief smile. That way, you aren't being rude or pretending to just see something extremely important on your phone at that very second.
2. Eating when you're bored
Eating is a favorite past time for many people, but like anything else, it should be done in moderation. We've all had those moments when we're kicking ourselves the next day because of something we ate the day before. To save yourself from complaining how you went over your calorie count for the day, eat when your body tells you it needs some sustenance. Eating when you have nothing else to do becomes a mindless activity and then turns into a bad habit. If you're treating your body well and eating healthy foods, you won't get that "hungry" feeling all the time.
3. Saying "it's fine" when it most definitely is not
Honesty is always the best policy. While we try to be respectful, polite, and avoid any confrontation, there are times when you need to stand up for yourself. If you don't agree with someone, if you feel offended, or if you don't understand something, speak up. It's better to get more clarification, rather than letting your irritation keep building up. There's a way to state your opinion in a respectful manner that lets the other person know their communication style or actions aren't working for you. You'll both leave the conversation knowing you were true to yourself and didn't let the other impact what you believe.
4. "She's great and I love her…but"
Starting a sentence with a compliment doesn't mask the true meaning of what you're trying to say. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and yet we try to diminish our true feelings by using that three letter word. We all dread hearing the word "but," and yet we still use it all the time. We use it to complain about someone when trying to give feedback and when we don't want to take the blame. It's a harmful word that discredits the message you're trying to convey. If you want to see a change, just say it. If you want someone to stop doing something, say so. It doesn't mean you love the person any less. It means you respect yourself, your own opinions, and the other person enough to be straightforward.
