They say the only thing more traumatic than a death or a long-distance move is a break-up. After years of investing time, effort, and energy into a person, going separate ways can feel like you’ve lost a significant part of your life and be hard to adjust to a new normal.
The same can be said when we break up with bad habits. While recognizing the toxicity and negative implications they have on our daily routines is an amazing first step, removing them entirely can be a difficult process, as many of these customs have become a comfort, a crutch, or something to rely on when things start to spiral out of control.
Creators, in particular, are notorious for adopting a bevy of not-so-great practices in the workspace. From a lack of self-care and boundaries to over-hustling and alienation, we can sometimes become so consumed with achieving results that we lose sight of the people, places, and things that matter most.
To provide tips and tricks on overcoming five of the most common bad habits below, we tapped into the expertise of master certified life coach and CEO Susan Hyatt, who specializes in helping women “get more of whatever they want.”
5 bad habits of creators (plus how to end them)
1. Low-quality thinking
Low-quality thinking, or what Hyatt calls the “root of procrastination, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt” is when someone questions their abilities because other people seemingly do it better or their work isn’t getting enough attention.
Hyatt’s quick tip: “Eavesdrop on yourself every hour on the hour. Notice what you are saying to yourself. Is it getting you closer to what you want or further away from your goals? If it isn't useful and it also makes you feel negatively, then that's reason enough to get to work and feed your mind higher-quality thoughts.”
2. Lack of self-care
This bad habit speaks for itself, but many content creators find it difficult to pause and take time to partake in activities that better themselves or elevate their mood. This can be as simple as taking a yoga class or as complex as modifying an unproductive sleeping routine. Either way, it’s important to find moments throughout the day that are for you and only you.
Hyatt’s quick tip: “Create a morning ritual that includes movement of some kind. Start small. Even if it's five minutes of walking, stretching, or dancing around your bedroom. You will start to increase your energy and your connection to your higher wisdom.”
3. Inability to set boundaries
It’s easy to become a “yes” person if you feel like opportunities provide some sort of forward motion or trajectory with your career. But a burnout is inevitable if you over-stack your calendar with calls, meetings, and events that aren’t really moving the needle. On top of that, it’s important to establish an identity outside of the office — a well-balanced creator is a successful creator because they’re not hyper-fixated on the high performance and productivity aspects of themselves.
Hyatt’s quick tip: “Establish and protect regular business hours. This is a game changer! If we guard our work time and personal time, then we naturally will heal the tendency to procrastinate or fall into people-pleasing habits.”
4. Overworking
Overworking is a byproduct of not being able to set boundaries. Beyond saying “yes” to practically everything, many creators feel as if they need to dedicate every waking hour to their business and accommodate any request that comes their way. This is unhealthy and may even lead to resenting the areas in your life that you’re most passionate about.
Hyatt’s quick tip: “Consider that it's not the amount of time that you work or how many hours you put in, but the energy that you bring to the time that you have. Challenge yourself to condense your work hours, show up fully to your business hours, and then allow yourself to have an actual life that includes rest and fun. My mantra is ‘the more fun that I have, the more money that I make.’”
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5. Lack of community and/or friends
It’s easy to alienate yourself from society when you pour your heart and soul into a project. On top of this avoidable loneliness, it will also be much more difficult to break the aforementioned bad habits without a support squad. Carve out time in your schedule, no matter how busy, for face-to-face interaction. The energy you receive from others can give you the boost you need to get through your day-to-day. It may even inspire different ideas to take shape and get you the next level.
Hyatt’s quick tip: “Join a local group, online community, or hire a coach to help you stay accountable.”
General Tips on Breaking Bad Habits
Now that the bad habits have been recognized, it’s time to remedy them. Here are a few helpful Hyatt-approved tidbits to keep in mind as you begin to make real and effective changes:
- The more intense the discomfort, the more ready and motivated for change you will be. That said, don’t wait too long to address the discomfort or you’ll risk feeling overwhelmed.
- There is power in deciding to make a change instead of just thinking about it. Once you make a decision, stick to it and clarity should follow suit.
- Choose an era. Ask yourself “what era am I in?” This claims and creates a shift in identity. “You are no longer thinking about joining a gym and trying to lift weights. You are now in your Muscle Mommy Era. You are no longer ‘just bad with money.’ You are in your Building Wealth Era,” explains Hyatt.
- Replace one of the five low-quality habits above with high-quality habits that counter them. “On average, it takes about 60 days to fully own your new high-quality habits,” reminds Hyatt. Give yourself the grace to explore and grow accustomed to this new and enhanced version of yourself — you deserve it!
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