Everyone has their fair share of bad habits, but there are a couple of universal ones that we'd argue most people have. From biting your fingernails to doom-scrolling on your phone for hours, let's take a look at 20 of the most common bad habits most people have, and see how many you share on this list.
1. Procrastination
We know we have a deadline to meet, but why, why is it so hard to stay focused and actually do the work we're supposed to do? Everyone is guilty of procrastinating, even if you don't want to admit it. It's simply a bad habit that most, if not all people have.
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2. Nail Biting
We're not sure how or why this becomes a stress reliever, but for some people, biting their nails is a form of comfort when facing anxiety-inducing situations. Or for others, they do it simply out of boredom!
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3. Tapping Your Foot
Have you ever dealt with someone incessantly tapping their foot while you're trying to enjoy the quiet or just trying to think? It can be very distracting. It's often done when people are bored, nervous, or impatiently waiting for something.
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4. Overeating
Also known as binge eating, sometimes we overeat (especially unhealthy foods) just for the sake of the taste, not because we're actually hungry. This can actually be detrimental to your health, leading to problems like diabetes or weight gain. While it's okay to snack because you're hungry, always make sure there's a reason why you're eating, not just for the fun of it.
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5. Excessive Screen Time
Since social media has blown up and phones have become everyone's best friend, spending too much time staring at the phone has become a bad habit that's hard to shake. There's so much online to look at, it can often feel like we're endlessly scrolling as time just flies by. It can be rather disruptive though, if it's keeping you from accomplishing tasks or preventing you from going to sleep.
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6. Poor Posture
We've all sat in funny, weird forms before for the sake of temporary comfort, but it goes without saying that having poor posture is a bad habit that can cause some serious problems. Whether you're slouching or hunched over, it can lead to back or neck pain if you sit like that for a prolonged period of time.
7. Interrupting Others
Some people just don't know when to listen! You can definitely call it a bad habit if you struggle to keep quiet and constantly interrupt people while they're talking. If you do it repeatedly, it can come across as very rude and impolite. It's important to know when it's your turn to talk and when it's not. It's all about reading those social cues!
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8. Skipping Breakfast
There's a saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a reason! For some reason, a lot of people like to skip breakfast. Whether it's because of a lack of appetite or not enough time, it's often a meal that's ignored. Lunch is in a couple of hours anyway right? However, if you choose to miss breakfast, you'll likely face low energy levels and stomach discomfort from being hungry. Is that really worth it?
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9. Forgeting to Floss
How many of you have straight up lied to your dentist before saying that, "Yes, I do floss everyday." Although flossing is an important part of dental hygiene, it's often overlooked or skipped. Whether it's because you think it's not a crucial step or that it's just a hassle, dentists encourage you to do it for a reason.
10. Impulse Buying
Are you familiar with the sudden, spontaneous feeling of needing something so badly, you just buy it outright without thinking? Impulse buying is definitely a bad habit. Letting your emotions take over you, sometimes you can make bad spending choices that you'll regret. And if it becomes a problem, your wallet will definitely start hurting.
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11. Chewing with Your Mouth Open
Everyone was taught at a young age to always chew with their mouths closed. Not only because it looks gross to look at, but it's just about having plain manners! No one wants to look inside your mouth and all that food you're chewing. Make sure you finish all your food before opening your mouth to talk - we're sure others can patiently wait till then.
12. Gossiping
Gossiping can be a rather dangerous pastime. While you and your friends might enjoy "spilling the tea," in all honesty, gossiping can just be plain mean or hurtful. Talking about others behind their backs never leads to anything good, and can often create lots of misunderstanding and conflict.
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13. Overspending
If there's impulse buying, there's also overspending. Some people just struggle when it comes to finances. Buying more than what's needed or more than what your bank account is saying is okay, can create some pretty serious problems for you.
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14. Lack of Exercise
Thanks to our obsession with our phones, TV, and computers, many peoples' lifestyles have grown quite sedentary. This can cause a lot of health problems, so it's always important to try incorporate some form of exercise into your daily life. It can be as simple as taking a quick walk outside!
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15. Ignoring Mental Health
Some people refuse to accept the state of their mental health and don't want to ask for help. That's likely because there's still a stigma around depression, anxiety, and going to therapy. But we're telling you it's important to get over this bad habit. Always take the time to recognize how you're feeling, and get the help you deserve when it's needed.
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16. Littering
Given the state of our planet, littering is a bad habit that people have seriously got to get over. There's always a trash can nearby, surely you can wait a couple of minutes so you can do good for the planet!
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17. Poor Time Management
Some people struggle to understand how many tasks they can take on, and if they have poor time management, everything's quick to fall apart. Leading to stress, anxiety, and likely some missed deadlines, it's definitely important that you get a good understanding of how to manage your time.
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18. Skipping Sleep
Whether it's pulling an all-nighter or staying up late for the sake of doing something, missing out on much needed sleep is a terrible habit to have. Sleep is so vital to our everyday functioning and mood. The next morning, you're definitely going to wake up grumpy and struggling to keep up.
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19. Doomscrolling
As a society, we've definitely grown dependent of our phones. So much so that doomscrolling has become a bad habit that many people have. This is the act of going through all the negative news or social media posts that leave us feeling stressed about the world, others, or ourselves. While it may seem harmless, it can actually seriously impact your mental health.
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20. Comparing Yourself to Others
We need a little more self-love out here! Most people have plenty of personal insecurities that they keep to themselves. We often take those insecurities, and use them to compare ourselves to others. But no more! It's terrible for our self-esteem and mental health. Everyone needs to focus more on the positives and personal growth.
