Bad habits. Oh, boy. I certainly have a few of those.
For me, I define a bad habit as something I know I shouldn’t do or something I try not to do but end up doing it anyway. For example:
1. Talking too much. Overcoming my tendency to blather on…and on…and on…has been a lifelong struggle and one I still have not mastered. I’m better now than I used to be, but no one who knows me would say, “Dana? Oh, you can never get a peep out of her.”
2. Picking at my cuticles. I know — ick. You all probably just cringed. I’m sorry. This is 5,000 times worse than biting one’s nails, and yet I do it anyway, usually when I’m stressed or nervous. I’m not as bad now as I was in college, but I still haven’t dispensed with this habit altogether.
3. Obsessing and/or stressing over matters that are largely out of my control. See: launching debut novel, giving birth to first child.
4. Wasting time on the internet. See: Twitter, Facebook.
5. Over-explaining. Whether it’s in one of my books or in a conversation with my husband, I tend to “over explain.” This is a horrible habit in all walks of life, one that implies your reader or friend or husband isn’t smart enough to get your point the first time around (even though that isn’t what I think at all!). I would elaborate more on this one, but…I think you get my point. (:
These are just five so-called bad habits that come to mind right now. I’m sure I have dozens of others (and I’m sure my loved ones could tell you exactly what those are).
But here’s the thing: no one is perfect. And if you think you are…well, I’m pretty sure that proves my point. Bad habits may not be good for us, but if we can recognize them when they rear their heads, we can work toward overcoming them. And if we’re always working toward making ourselves and our habits better (and a little less “bad”), then maybe those habits aren’t so bad after all.
What do you think? Do you think “bad habits” are just a lazy excuse to do things we know we shouldn’t? Or, once we know what our vices are, can they actually make us better?
I think Dana and I might be related – I have some of the same bad habits!
Glad to know I’m not alone!!
Bad habits? Moi? Why, I’m sure you must be referring to my “charming quirks.” 😉
That’s the attitude!
I think we revert to the things that make us comfortable. Even if it’s counterintuitive or counterproductive. Yours don’t seem so bad to me. But that nail biting…;-)
It’s true — habits become habits because they are familiar and, on some level, comforting. But I really need to watch it with the cuticle business…
I see your bad habits as part of what makes you – you. And not necessarily bad, lol. I’m trying not to think about my own bad habits today, and that is probably a bad habit all in itself.
So true! If I weren’t chatty, I wouldn’t be Dana!
Oh, yes. I can relate all too well to #1…
At last, someone who understands…
I share your third and fourth bad habits. It’s so hard to give over them. You think, I’ll only be on the internet for one hour max and then go back to writing … then three hours go by just like that.
The internet is such a time suck!! It’s hard to resist.