Your daily activities determine your life. Things you do on a seldom basis don’t affect you much, but the things you do every day have an impact. That’s why habits are so powerful and why it’s important to build healthy routines.  

So what happens if you have toxic habits that are draining your energy and making you less productive? Eliminating or reducing some of these practices can help improve your happiness and success. Here are five toxic habits to watch for. 

1. Holding onto the past. 

On average, we have 6,000 to 8,000 thoughts that cross our minds each day. And most of these thoughts are negative. These thoughts can be about what’s going to happen in the future or what happened in the past. However, you don’t have control over these things, so they waste your energy. 

It’s best to let the past go, but if something keeps bothering you, write it down in a journal. Writing is much more powerful than thinking because it allows you to structure your thoughts. Then, you can look for patterns and understand why you keep doing certain behaviors. 

2. Spending too much time on social media. 

Evidence is mounting that there is a link between social media and depression. If social media is causing you to have less joy, happiness and energy, then it’s time to limit your usage. Experts say 30 minutes a day is enough. 

Even though there are benefits to using social media, most people feel frustrated after looking through others’ posts. Because social media can consume a lot of your time, you’re better off investing this into more productive things, such as volunteering, helping others, working in the yard or exercising. 

3. Taking things personally.

Most of the time, people aren’t looking to hurt you. They have their own things going on, and their decisions reflect their life, not yours. The thing is, we often put ourselves at the center of the universe. But you can waste countless hours worrying about what someone said or did to you. 

Instead, try to be neutral and stop attaching negative associations onto the things people do and say. If your friend doesn’t want to go out for dinner, assume they’re tired and want to relax at home. If your partner says something that rubs you the wrong way, ask them to clarify. Usually, there is no personal assault on you. 

4. Overstressing.

It’s easier said than done, but try not to overstress, particularly about things that are out of your control. Most of our stress comes from the past, which is over and done with. Find ways to let go and focus on more positive things in your control. 

To help manage your stress levels, be sure to practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditating, journaling and mindfulness. And, it can also help to give yourself dedicated time each day to stress so that you’re not worrying every minute. 

5. Not practicing self-care. 

When you take care of yourself, it’s easier to be positive, upbeat and self-aware. But when you’re tired, stressed and not eating well, it’s easier to fall into the cycle of negativity and self-doubt. 

Make self-care a priority. You should be getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night and eating well-balanced meals. To ‘clean’ your diet, start by getting rid of processed foods and shop on the outside aisles at the grocery store. 

Aim to exercise for 30 minutes a day. If it’s easier, break this up into three 10-minute intervals. And of course, make sure you leave time to unwind and relax with your favorite hobbies and activities. 

Break Unhealthy Habits with a Psychic Session 

By cutting out these five toxic habits, you can build a healthier, happier and more productive life. If you’re having trouble breaking the cycle of toxic habits, schedule a psychic session with Jack Rourke. 

Through these one-on-one sessions, you can gain a better understanding of your life and why you’re doing certain things, or thinking certain ways. By taking control, you can change your life for the better!