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3 Things I Want To Stop Doing

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Three Habits I'd Like to STOP Doing // Pugs & Pearls Blog

So, what do you think: Is it harder to start a new habit or quit an old one? 

With our current busy schedule, I've been so good at planning ahead and keeping organized. It's the only thing that is keeping me on track! As I've been planning I've been thinking about my mission statement for the year and ways that I can better accomplish that as we enter the second half of 2018. (It's almost June!!)

So many of our goals are all about starting new habits or doing something new. Like: starting a workout routine, or making a new budget. Maybe it's my mind set lately, but all I can think of are things I want to stop doing!

Here is what I'm thinking:

I want to stop talking about myself.
In all honesty, I think this habit got started because of blogging. If you come to my blog then you obviously do care some measure about me and my life. But I cannot assume that everyone in real life cares about the details I share here. 

I've noticed in many conversations lately that I'm turning the subject back to myself. Ironically, I hate it when other people do this to me. If someone changes the subject like that, it makes you feel like what you were saying wasn't important or that they don't care. That's not what I want to do to somebody, especially because I do care what they are saying. It's just a bad habit, and most of the time it's because I don't what else to say. 

Instead, I would really like to ask more questions about whatever it is the person is saying and show them that I truly do care about them and their life. It's so flattering when someone takes an interest in you like that! 

I want to stop checking my phone so often.
It's not a secret that I have an obsessive personality, so I'm not really sure how much of this I can blame on myself and blame on that. I find myself checking my phone ALL the time. It's not just when I have a notification, it's when I'm bored or even for no reason at all. 

One day I decided I was only going to check Instagram once that day. Then around 11 am I sat down to take a break from whatever I was doing and my finger just habitually clicked on Instagram! I was so annoyed that I couldn't go 3 hours. 

I would really like to be able to go all day without browsing, and then only check my phone when I hear a notification that I need to respond to. I'd like to say that I wouldn't even need to check it then, but I know myself and if I don't respond to a text right away I will forget to. 

I want to stop going to bed with makeup on my face.
I used to be awful about this! So I am happy to say I've made improvements. Half the battle was finding a skin care routine that I liked, and I'm loving my DIY system. I do that faithfully every morning. But some nights I fall asleep on the couch and then into bed when Blake wakes me up a little while later. 

Now that I'm in my late twenties, I know that skin care is crucial! This falls in line so well with my goal for the year of doing things I will thank myself for later. I know I will thank myself in the future for taking good care of my skin now!

I think what will help me, is developing an after dinner routine. It may be lame to get get into pjs at 6 o'clock but if I do my skin care routine then, I can relax and not worry about trying to do it at 10 when all I want to do is sleep. (Because face it I'm usually asleep by 9.) 

In summary:
It's important to be proud of the good habits you've got down pat! I try to think of the things I'm doing well often. Because, let's face it, it's a slippery slope and all too easy to only dwell on the things you don't like or want to change. 

But, if you want to reach your goals you do have to do an audit once in awhile! Striving to be a better person is what I would call my ultimate life goal. I think working on these three things will help me do that. The first two will help me be more engaged and more in the moment! The last thing won't necessarily make me a good person, but spending time caring for yourself is important. You can't pour from an empty cup, after all. 

So, leave a comment below with how you are doing with your yearly goals! Are your goals more oriented to what you want to start doing or what you want to stop doing? Tell me a habit you are proud of, and one you'd like to work on!

25 comments

  1. I always go to bed with make up on which is terrible, but on the bright side, I literally only wear eyeliner and eyeshadow, so I guess it isn't as bad as it would be if I wore skin stuff. I do need to get into the habit of cleaning it off though!
    I am SOOO bad with my phone too. I am always scrolling because it's a habit / addiction where it just needs to be in my hand - ugh!
    I think it's great that you recognized number one about yourself! I think we all do that and could work on improving.

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    1. Yes, I don't wear a whole lotta makeup, but I notice a huge difference when my skin is cleansed before bed and when it's not.
      I'm glad I'm not alone with the phone addiction! I'm sure we can improve!

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  2. I love this list. I started keeping face wipes in my nightstand for those nights when I have gotten comfy in bed and don't want to get up again.

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    1. Great idea Jess! Sometimes I really don't feel like getting up, but wipe would be a really good alternative.

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  3. Hey these are NOT bad habits, just normal behaviour! :))))) I went to bed with my skin PLASTERED in makeup quite a bit in my twenties, and possibly thirties and it didn't really do me any harm. Relish the fact you can fall asleep with abandon! And then try and set yourself a goal of not doing it when you are 40, ha! I totally relate to the Instagram one - I've only had my phone a few months and it is my best buddy. Instagram is so addictive I think because it is so much fun and it is quite a mood-booster - something silly like someone dog licking a glass door just made me chuckle at 7am yesterday. Ooops - talking about myself - never mind! :)

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    1. Haha, thanks Joanne! You make me smile!
      I'd really like to get into some good habits before I'm 40 =]

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  4. I want to stop checking my phone so often too, especially when other people are talking to me! I’m not horrible about it but I could be way better. Thanks for the reminder! xAllie
    www.theallthatglittersblog.com

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    1. Yesss! Exactly. I hate when I miss something they said while I was checking my phone. Super embarrassing! Thank you Allie!

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  5. I agree with all of this. Especially that first one. I've tried to be more aware of when I turn the conversation back to me (like right now? lol) but I usually catch myself AFTER I do it.
    I've found that my apple watch actually makes me glace at my phone less. I know that sounds backward, but my watch takes calls even without my phone around. And when I get a text or email I can glance at my wrist and decide if I need to answer it RIGHT THEN. Also, I glance at my phone less for the time now because I have a watch that I wear. I actually really like it.
    I AM SO BAD ABOUT WASHING MY FACE AT NIGHT. I just wanna go to bed... lol.
    I've been working on not biting my nails. I quit for a while, but when I'm bored or nervous (or reading, lol) I start messing with them.

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    1. I'm so glad you feel similarly Audrey!
      I do have a smart watch, I just don't wear it all the time. But, I agree, if I can just see the notification I don't feel the need to pull out my phone!
      Dude. I almost made this 4 things I want to quit doing and biting my nails was going to be number 4!! I just don't think I can tackle that quite yet. It's an anxious habit. But I do notice a difference if my nails are painted.

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  6. The phone habit is huge for me, too! I check Instagram/Insta Stories way too often and I want to cut back on it. These are great reminders to stay present in the moment!

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    1. The little pink circle around the Instastories is so tempting to click on! It makes me feel like I have to watch them all. I did learn to mute the ones I didn't care to see, because that notification was just killing me!

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  7. I feel the same way about "talking about myself" - I'm really happy to hear that I'm not alone. I have a few friends that are such good conversationalists, they always ask me questions about work, trips, etc. Then I find that I'm stuck talking about myself and I want to turn it back to them, but can't think of good questions to ask! I am definitely working on active listening too.

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    1. Yes, exactly! I love talking to those kinds of people! I want to do that! The questions they ask make you feel like they really care and want to know more.
      Maybe I can work up a post of really good follow up questions to ask people!

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  9. Per your usual, this was a really engaging post to read! Talk about relatable! I also dislike when someone immediately turns the conversation on themselves. So so so saddening because it makes you feel like you are not seen in what you're going through.

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    1. Thank you so much for saying that Erica! You're the best!

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  10. Love this post! I love when you do open dialect conversations on your blog, they're so easy to engage in. I agree about all three habits, definitely need to break them ASAP!

    Felicity | http://oliverandmoose.com

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    1. You are making me blush Felicity! I 100% love to be open and honest, and it makes me so happy when others relate! Thank you!

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  11. Love this list! I always feel like I spend too much time on my phone and I'd like to stop that as well.

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    1. Thank you for your support Erinn! I would love to hear your strategies!

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  12. Love this! The phone is a big one for me, too, and it really does take a conscious effort! Get some good, safe makeup remover wipes and make number 3 super simple! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you so much Elizabeth!
      You know, I used to use makeup removing wipes and I loved them. I was trying to cut down on my waste-but I really think I might need to go back to them!

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  13. I really make an effort to put my phone away when I am with other people — and am really trying to check it less when I am solo, too! It really serves as a distraction or negative piece of my life the majority of the time.

    ​xx katie // a touch of teal

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  14. Your question "is it harder to start or stop a habit" caught my eye. Man, that's a tough one. I struggle with bad habits and desperation to start healthy ones most of them involve my disorganization habits :/ I wish you lots of luck and courage!

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Hello!

Hi friends! I'm Kristen, and this is the Life and Style of an early 30's Floridian living the Best Life Ever, with her husband and three pugs. Runner | Avid Reader | Small Shop Owner