We love you, but you’ve really got to stop with all the nail-biting.
Bad habits afflict us all.
The Habit: Always Running Late
Why you might do it:The nice reason?
Photo: Getty Images
You’re a pleaser and an overdoer, packing too much in.
But the not-so-nice explanation?
Either way, you lack some essentialtime-management skills.
How to break it:When someone asks you to do something, don’t accept right away.
Say you’ll get back to them, then decide whether you truly have the time.
Also, figure out which tasks always seem to make you late.
Tricks: Set your watch five minutes fast and build in time for unexpected delays.
And always call ahead if you’re running late.
Avoiding the task gives you temporary relief, but, of course, feels terrible in the long run.
A good trick to get you started: Hold yourself accountable and bring in a friend.
Make a check out to an organization you don’t support and give it to a friend to hold.
If you don’t finish the self-assigned task by a certain date, have her mail the donation.
If you make yourself accountable for the consequences, it will motivate you to wrap up the task.
Doesn’t sound like the strategy for you?
Try other smartways to break your procrastination habit.
The Habit: Disorganization
Why you might do it:You may be a visual processor.
You like to be surrounded by a mess because it’s stimulatingand it reminds you to do your work.
But it backfires since you waste time searching for things.
Plus, it can really aggravate anxiety; acluttered space can truly lead to a cluttered mind.
Use folders or boxes in different colors.
“She’s still being visually stimulated, but her stuff is organized.”
Just ask that pen you keep clicking.
How to break it:If you’re a large-triple-latte drinker, cut back.
To control energy peaks and troughs, it’s also important toget enough exerciseandsleep.
For your legs, place both feet flat on the floor and then push down.
Do these subtle exercises until the need to fidget subsides.
Pretend you’re someone else who has to listen (and watch) you smacking your gum.
Not great, right?
You might just be embarrassed enough to stop.
When you hear yourself doing it, make a note of it, and then stop.
Every time you choose to stop, your brain rewires to makenotsmacking your gum the default.
Eventually, with a little effort, you won’t do it at all.
Or you might just be tired and stressed (understandable).
Regular physical activity really helps combat the mental and physical fatigue that can contribute to slouching.
To be honest, we’re all starting at a disadvantage.
You’re petrified of missing something important or being left out.
If you gotta, turn off notifications for the most distracting or enticing apps.
Low-hanging fruit might be to keep a stress ball nearby to play with when you feel the urge.
Be vigilant about keeping your nails short and well filed.
Wear gloves (yes, really).
If your partner or friends say something about your whining, take note.
But a person who gossips by habit doesn’t truly believe they’re good enough on their own.
How to break it:Become exceptionally attuned to what you choose to talk about.
Use your conversations to share your experiences, such as discovering a new restaurant or your latest vacation.
Plus, you never know who could be in earshot of your conversation.
Gossiping also makes you seem untrustworthy.
You may even lose friends and professional contacts when people realize you’re a gossip.
How to break it:Train yourself to care less.
You’ll start to realize that the consequences aren’t so dire.
Set time limits for tasks, and use an alarm.
Finally, just for fun, do something you actually don’t excel at.
Take a drawing class, even though you didn’t get the family’s doodling gene.
Play a game of shuffleboard, despite never having played before.
Don’t keep score, just make a run at enjoy learning something new.
Many of the above tricks apply to a variety of habits.
