If you want to improve your life, it’s essential that you alter your habits. They form the basis of everything that you do.

But altering them can be a challenge. Thankfully, you don’t have to do it alone. With our support system in place, changing can be easier than you think!

1. Stop procrastinating

Procrastination can be a difficult habit to break, yet many remarkable people manage it every day. The key to breaking free of this pattern lies in understanding why you procrastinate in the first place and finding ways to combat it head-on.

Common causes for procrastinating are our beliefs about time, value and impulsivity. These factors can lead to feelings of helplessness or uncertainty, leading us to put off or postpone tasks which would otherwise be easier now.

People may put off starting exercise until later, even though it would be beneficial in the long run to start now and achieve a healthier body. Similarly, they may put off making an informed decision regarding their diet because they fear facing up to the consequences of their current eating habits.

When it comes to making decisions about when and what to do next, or if you find yourself making them without being in the right frame of mind, chances are you may be a procrastinator. According to Laura Rabin from University of Minnesota’s Center for Emotional Health, procrastination often stems from emotions such as shame.

Procrastination can be combatted through rituals, such as a “starting ritual,” which give you control and motivation over your actions. Other strategies include setting small goals, restricting task durations, and practicing self-compassion.

Procrastinators can benefit from adopting a positive outlook to combat negative thoughts and feelings that cause them to procrastinate. Instead of taking procrastination as evidence that you’re unworthy, focus on the benefits of getting things done – such as the satisfaction that comes from completing tasks successfully.

Once you’ve identified the primary reasons why you procrastinate, create an action plan based on those factors. This should include anti-procrastination strategies tailored to your situation and objectives. It is essential that you stay committed to following through with your plan; make sure to assess its effectiveness periodically and adjust it if needed.

2. Stop comparing yourself to others

If you’ve ever felt the urge to compare yourself with others, know that you are not alone. Comparing yourself can take up a lot of your time, energy and mental space if left unchecked.

Comparing yourself to others can lead to feelings of envy, frustration, and hopelessness. Not only does comparison negatively affect your mental health, but it may also increase the likelihood that you will develop depression or an anxiety disorder.

Comparing yourself to others can be a depressive thought that suggests you don’t measure up. This mindset has the potential to prevent you from pursuing your aspirations and goals in life, leading to feelings of worthlessness and discouragement.

Conversely, if you are willing to acknowledge and celebrate your unique strengths and abilities, you can find a new sense of confidence. According to psychologist Jennifer Pfeffer, when you don’t compare yourself with others, “you free up time for focusing on your talents, skills and accomplishments. In doing so, you gain back time, energy and headspace that was previously wasted on unfair or unrealistic comparisons.”

If you find yourself constantly comparing yourself to others, it could be due to your need for significance. This need is one of the 6 Human Needs that shape every thought, feeling and behavior we experience.

Comparing yourself to others may be a fear of failure, losing what you’ve worked for or discovering that you aren’t special. This belief stems from our need for approval and acceptance from others, which can make it difficult to break away from this pattern.

Instead of worrying about yesterday, focus on becoming better than you were and achieving success for yourself. You can do this by smiling more, helping others more, studying longer, working smarter, and strengthening relationships.

By stopping yourself from comparing yourself to others, you can begin living a more satisfying life with less stress and greater fulfillment. Furthermore, creating an authentically meaningful life that aligns with your values and purpose will bring more fulfillment and less stress into your life.

If you find yourself comparing too often, seeking help from a mental health professional could be beneficial to gain an understanding of the psychological factors causing your unhealthy comparisons. Even once you understand why these comparisons happen so frequently, it will take hard work to break free from this bad habit.

3. Stop wasting time

Habits Remarkable People Abandon Every Day

Time is precious, and if you waste it wasting it away, you’ll regret it. Fortunately, there are ways to stop wasting your time.

The initial step in improving productivity is recognizing where you spend your time. This is essential as it will allow you to identify the source of the issue and decide what needs to change.

Another effective way to save time is by eliminating distractions. By eliminating what prevents you from doing your best work, you’ll be able to focus on what matters most.

For instance, you could ditch those annoying drive-by meetings that take up too much of your time and focus on more pressing matters. Doing this will enable you to remain focused and organized throughout the week.

Additionally, you can reduce the emails that keep you from finishing your work. For instance, set up an auto-responder that notifies people when you will be unavailable for email during certain times of day.

Entrepreneurs with hectic lives need to know how to effectively manage their time. There are numerous tools and tricks that can help organize their schedule and jump-start their business venture.

You could also try using a time-tracking app like Rize to monitor how much of your time you are spending on each task. This will enable you to identify where inefficient efforts are taking place and give yourself an opportunity to make changes that will enhance productivity levels.

Finally, you can choose to spend time on hobbies that will enrich your life outside of work. While this may seem counterintuitive, doing activities you enjoy can actually boost productivity by lifting your mood and motivating you towards reaching your objectives.

No matter if you want to improve your writing, get more sleep, or go snowboarding, it can all be done while still working on your career or business. Plus, the benefits of relaxation and stress relief will help make you more productive when you return to the workplace.

4. Stop slacking off

People often slack off at work for various reasons. Whether they feel overwhelmed or just don’t know what to do, it can be tempting to give in to the temptation of staying home or checking social media. Unfortunately, these habits have serious negative repercussions in the long run and should never be encouraged.

Employers must be able to identify why employees slack off in order to address the problem effectively. But first you must recognize that all employees are unique.

One reason people slack off at work is due to a lack of engagement or value perception. This can be especially problematic for companies without an overarching purpose or mission statement.

Another reason people slack off is due to a lack of challenge or interest. This can especially be an issue for millennials who tend to experience boredom at work and require the sense that their job has some purpose.

Employees who feel engaged and motivated often have more energy to get work done, which in turn reduces stress levels and keeps them from taking breaks for personal care.

You can motivate your workers to do their best work by rewarding them with incentives such as paid time off. This will keep them more focused on tasks, ultimately leading to higher productivity levels.

Finally, be sure to set realistic expectations for your employees and remind them that failure to meet those objectives will have an adverse impact on the success of your company. Doing this will enable them to understand that not meeting expectations could prove costly for all involved.

Slacking off is an all-too-common habit at work, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. By following these tips, you and your team can get back on track and prevent slacking from becoming an addiction that’s difficult to break.

Slacking off is a bad habit that must be broken. Recognize why you slack off and create strategies to prevent it from occurring again in the future.