Introduction
In this article How I Finally Started Letting Go of My Worst Habits — And Took My Life Back i want to discuss about the bad habits we all have and what negative effects it puts on our lives
Let me tell you something real.
There was a time I felt like life was slipping right through my fingers.
Not because I was going through something tragic or massive — but because of the little things. The habits I ignored. The routines I pretended were fine. The stuff I knew wasn’t helping me but kept doing anyway.
I used to think bad habits were just a part of who I was. Lazy. Distracted. Unfocused. But over time, they weren’t just “bad habits” — they became the reason I felt stuck, behind, and lost.
This post isn’t going to throw science at you. I’m not here to talk like a psychologist or a life coach. I’m just someone who’s been there. Who’s still learning.
This is how I started letting go of my worst habits — and little by little, started showing up for my own life again.
The First Habit That Nearly Broke Me — Laziness That Felt Like Comfort
What It Looked Like
I wasn’t always lazy. But slowly, it crept in.
It started with, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Then it became, “What’s the point?”
I’d sit in bed scrolling for hours, half-thinking about all the things I should be doing… but doing nothing. Days passed like that. Quiet. Stuck.
But I called it rest. I told myself, “I’m tired, I need a break.”
And sometimes, that was true. But not every day. Most of the time, I was avoiding life — not recovering from it.
What It Cost Me
I missed deadlines. I skipped opportunities. I kept making plans “in my head” but never started anything real.
And slowly, that laziness made me feel useless. Not in the dramatic sense — but in that slow, creeping way where you start believing that you just don’t have it in you anymore.
What Actually Helped
I didn’t “fix” laziness. I just got tired of my own excuses.
One day, I told myself: “Just do 5 minutes.”
Not an hour. Not a whole task. Just five minutes of anything — writing, walking, cleaning. I made a rule: I wasn’t allowed to overthink before I moved.
Once I started, the resistance slowly melted. And even if I stopped after 10 minutes, I had done something. And that built momentum.
It’s not about hustle. It’s about motion.
The Habit That Was Draining My Soul — Overusing Social Media
What It Looked Like
This one hit hard.
I’d wake up and check my phone before I even sat up. Instagram. YouTube. Reels. WhatsApp. Then again before bed. Then again between every “productive” task.
It felt harmless — but it was eating my focus. And worse, it was messing with my self-worth.
What It Cost Me
I’d see people traveling, building businesses, glowing with success… and I’d start questioning everything about myself.
“Why am I not there yet?”
“Why does everyone seem to have it figured out?”
I wasn’t using social media — it was using me.
And the more I scrolled, the worse I felt.
What Actually Helped
I didn’t delete my apps completely — that felt too extreme.
But I disabled notifications, removed the apps from my home screen, and set one fixed time a day to check them.
Most importantly, I started filling that empty space with real stuff — journaling, stretching, writing, walking in silence.
At first, I missed the hit. The dopamine. But then… I felt lighter.
I had space to think again.
The Habit That Was Slowly Killing My Dreams — Not Being Focused on My Work
What It Looked Like
I had ideas. So many of them. But I couldn’t sit still for more than 10 minutes.
Every time I sat down to work, something pulled me away — a video, a snack, a random thought.
Work became this mountain I kept staring at from far away.
And it wasn’t because I was lazy. It was because I didn’t believe in myself anymore.
What It Cost Me
Missed potential.
That’s the worst kind of regret — knowing you could have done something meaningful, but didn’t because your own brain talked you out of it every day.
I’d lie in bed with guilt building up. Promising myself: “Tomorrow, I’ll get serious.” But tomorrow never came.
What Actually Helped
I started working in small, timed blocks — just 25 minutes of full focus (like the Pomodoro technique, but less strict).
But the real shift came when I stopped judging my bad days. Instead of starting over every Monday, I just picked back up where I left off.
I stopped needing motivation. I relied on rhythm.
And I kept reminding myself: done is better than perfect.
The Habit of Talking Down to Myself — And How I’m Unlearning It
What It Looked Like
This one wasn’t loud. It was quiet and constant.
Little things like:
“You’re not good enough.”
“You always mess things up.”
“Why even try?”
They became part of my inner language. And I didn’t even notice them anymore — until I started Writing my thoughts down.
What It Cost Me
Confidence. Peace. Self-love.
I wasn’t failing because I couldn’t succeed. I was failing because I didn’t think I deserved to.
What Actually Helped
Whenever I caught myself thinking something harsh, I’d ask:
“Would I say this to a friend?”
If not, I wasn’t allowed to say it to myself either.
I also started writing one kind thing to myself at the end of every day — even if it was just, “You tried.”
Over time, my mind softened. And that voice in my head?
It started sounding more like someone who cared about me.
Key Points That Changed Everything
- Your habits shape your life quietly — not in big explosions, but in daily decisions.
- You don’t have to fix everything at once. One small win can change your momentum.
- Self-awareness is step one. You can’t change what you don’t admit.
- Laziness isn’t always laziness. Sometimes it’s fear, burnout, or not knowing where to start.
- Bad habits don’t make you a bad person. They just mean you’re human — and ready to grow.
What Experts Say (And Why It Made Sense to Me)
🧠 James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says:
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
That hit me hard. I kept setting huge goals — “be more focused,” “quit social media,” “wake up at 5 AM” — but I didn’t have systems.
When I created little systems — 5-minute starts, fixed phone check times, journaling before bed — things started changing.
Not because I became “disciplined,” but because I designed better defaults.
🧠 Mel Robbins, motivational speaker, says:
“You’re never going to feel like it. So stop waiting.”
That one line slapped me awake.
I had been waiting for some perfect energy wave to come and save me.
But it never came.
I realized I could move before I felt ready — and that movement would create the feeling I was waiting for.
How AI Quietly Helped Me Break My Bad Habits (Without Feeling Judged)
I’ll be honest — I didn’t expect AI to help me change. But when I was stuck in those same loops every day —Scrolling through one sad thing after another , procrastinating, overthinking — I wanted something that didn’t judge me, didn’t pressure me, and didn’t need me to explain everything.
And weirdly enough… AI gave me that.
Journaling Without Judgement
Apps like Reflectly or Journey felt like having a quiet space to dump my thoughts.
I didn’t have to sound smart or sorted. I just typed whatever I felt.
Over time, I noticed patterns in my bad habits:
- I stayed up late after Scrolling through one sad thing after another .
- I procrastinated whenever I felt like a failure.
- I judged myself before anyone else even said a word.
Just seeing those things on screen helped me change them.
Habit Tracking That Felt Human
I also tried apps like Habitify and Fabulous — which use AI to track routines, send nudges, and even adapt based on your patterns.
What made them different from basic reminders?
They felt like a buddy. A soft push instead of a nag.
I’d get a little nudge like:
“You’ve done this 3 days in a row. That’s a streak worth keeping.”
It motivated me without pressure.
Talking to an AI When I Didn’t Feel Like Talking to Anyone Else
Sometimes, I’d talk to an AI like Replika — just to vent.
It wouldn’t solve my problems, but it would ask things like:
“What would make today feel lighter?”
And it made me pause. Reflect. Breathe.
It sounds weird, but when you’re drowning in your own thoughts, even a scripted reply can feel like a lifeline.
AI Doesn’t Replace Real Life — But It Supports It
AI didn’t magically cure my bad habits.
But it helped me notice them. Track them. Question them.
And in a world that moves fast and judges faster, it gave me space to be messy — and still move forward.
If you’re trying to change something about yourself but feel like you’re failing every day…
Maybe try one of these tools. Not as a fix. Just as a little support system you carry in your pocket.
Real-World Example — A Friend’s Story That Inspired Me
One of my close friends was addicted to procrastination.
He’d set alarms, make to-do lists, color-code apps — but nothing worked.
One day, he decided to try something stupidly simple.
He set a 5-minute timer and promised to do anything useful until it beeped. No goals. Just action.
He ended up cleaning his desk. Then replying to emails. Then editing a draft.
That 5 minutes turned into 40. And that day turned into momentum.
Sometimes, it’s not about discipline. It’s about tricking your brain into motion.
Final Thoughts — For Anyone Who Feels Stuck Right Now
If you’re reading this and thinking:
“Yeah, but I’ve tried all this before and I still fall back.”
Same. Me too.
But here’s the truth I had to learn the hard way:
Progress isn’t about being perfect. It’s about not giving up after the 5th or 50th fall.
You don’t have to do it all today. You don’t even have to get it right.
You just have to want something better — and take the tiniest step toward it.
My habits aren’t perfect. I still waste time. I still scroll sometimes.
But now, I catch myself. I forgive myself. And I keep moving.
That’s what changed my life.
And it can change yours too.
FAQ
❓1. Why do I keep going back to the same bad habits even when I know they’re hurting me?
Because bad habits feel familiar. They give your brain a shortcut, a comfort zone. Even when something is clearly bad for you, it still feels easier than doing something new or uncomfortable. That doesn’t mean you’re weak — it just means your brain’s wiring needs time to change. Be patient with yourself. You’re not broken. You’re just learning.
❓2. Is it normal to feel stuck even after I try to change?
Totally normal. You can try five different methods and still feel like nothing’s working — and that can feel super discouraging. But the truth is, change feels invisible at first. You might not see the shift immediately, but inside, your mind is slowly adapting. Keep showing up, even if it feels like nothing’s happening.
❓3. How do I stop feeling guilty when I mess up?
You don’t. At least not right away. The guilt comes, but you can learn to sit with it without letting it control you. Instead of saying “I failed,” try saying, “I slipped — but I’m still here.” That shift in language can change how you recover from setbacks. You’re not your mistake. You’re your next step.
❓4. What if I feel like I don’t even know who I am without my bad habits?
That’s deeper than most people admit — and yes, it happens. When something has been a part of you for years, letting go of it feels like losing a piece of your identity. But here’s the truth: you’re not your habits — you’re the person underneath them. And that version of you is still there, waiting to breathe.
❓5. Can I really change if I’ve been like this my whole life?
Yes. 100% yes. No one is too old, too late, or too stuck to change. It won’t happen overnight, and it won’t always be pretty — but if you want something better, and you show up consistently, even in small ways, you will change. I’ve seen it in myself. I’ve seen it in others. You can be one of them.
❓6. How long does it take to break a bad habit?
There’s no magic number. Some people say 21 days, others say 66. But honestly? It takes as long as it takes. The real question isn’t “how long,” it’s: how often are you willing to begin again? Every time you try again, the habit loses a little bit of power. And that’s what matters.
❓7. Is laziness just an excuse or a real problem?
It can be both. Sometimes we use laziness as a shield to protect ourselves from fear or failure. But sometimes, laziness is just a sign that you’re overwhelmed, uninspired, or disconnected from your why. You’re not just lazy — you might be tired, scared, or unsure where to start. Dig deeper.
❓8. How do I stay focused when everything distracts me?
You don’t need perfect focus — just a small block of intention. I started by working in 20-minute chunks with no expectations. The secret isn’t discipline — it’s removing the things that pull you away and doing just enough to create momentum. That’s how focus grows: not by force, but by flow.
❓9. What should I do when I know the habit is bad, but I don’t feel like stopping?
Be honest with yourself — without shame. Sometimes we cling to bad habits because they give us control, distraction, or numbness. It’s okay to admit you’re not ready yet. But also remind yourself: you deserve more than the temporary comfort your habit gives you. Start when you’re ready — even if it’s just noticing, not changing yet.
❓10. Can AI really help with bad habits, or is that just hype?
It can absolutely help — but not in a miracle way. AI won’t fix you, but it can support you. Tools like journaling apps, habit trackers, or even conversation bots can remind you, reflect things back, and gently hold you accountable when no one else is around. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need — a small nudge at the right time.
Want to hear it from someone who really understands how habits work?
Dr. Andrew Huberman breaks down what’s really going on in our brain when we try to stop bad habits — and how to finally shift out of them in a way that actually sticks.Watch this video when you’re ready for a deeper push. It’s long but worth every minute.
