Bad habits! Everyone has them. I have lots of little ones. I crack my knuckles, I let my car’s gas tank get down to practically empty, and I constantly forget where I left the cordless phone.
But…I have two really big and bad habits, and they unfortunately impact everyone around me. And because I was asked to, I talk about them on this week’s Momversation.
(my hair looks adorable in this one)
if you can’t see the video above, click here.
Mike just watched the video and then said, “Why didn’t you talk about this habit, this habit, or this habit?” What the heck, Mike? I am not Mary Poppins! I am not practically perfect in every way!
He’s lucky I don’t write about HIS bad habits.
Any. Way.
What are some of yours? Do you swear a lot? Do you watch too much TV (I laughed typing that, because you can never watch too much TV)? Do you bite your nails? Drink from cartons? Twirl your hair? And most importantly, do you want to do anything about those habits?
{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }
My worst habit is drinking too many cokes. I can toss down at least a six pack a day. When I was at my worst, in my teenage years, I was drinking 2-2liters a day. Yeah, I knooow!
I can’t explain how relaxing it is to have an ice cold coke (or dr pepper, or sprite, dependng on the mood) Yes, THE MOOD. I have moods. Sometimes I want a little sweet (coke) sometimes I was lots of sweet (dr pepper) and other times I crave a CLEAR soda (in comes sprite)
How awful is this? Shh. Don’t tell me. LOL
I also share your two bad habits as well. Heh.
InDueTime´s last [type] ..Fireworks
I used to bite my nails ALL the time and only managed to stop last year around August.
My worst habit though is procrastination, like so many others (I’m so relieved I’m not the only one!)
I procrastinate badly. I’ll need to clean the house, but I put it off and everything gets more cluttered. I battle to start assignments and if I start them then I battle to finish. I can never finish a story I start. I am horrible about studying for exams.
For instance: My year-long course ends today with an exam, and all assignments are due. No assignments are done and I’m only starting to study now. I write in 3 hours. It takes me half an hour to get to the venue and half an hour to get ready to go. I have 2 hours to study and I’m using those hours to write a comment on your blog.
See what I mean?
Kirsten´s last [type] ..Itll have to do until Autumn
I’d have to say lately it’s been too much time on Twitter and checking my blogs analytics. I think my husband is ready to chuck put my iPhone because I use it more for social networking than talking. LOL
Oof, I have a lot of bad habits and I prefer not to think about how many of them there are. Interestingly, Jessica points out that wanting to spend time alone ALL THE TIME is a bad habit, maybe that is one of mine too? I never thought of it as a bad habit though! And I do like people. Really.
I procrastinate a lot. I waste an absurd number of hours per week online surfing blogs and playing dumb games on Facebook. I crack my knuckles, nag my boyfriend, micro-manage how he does his chores, eat way too much chocolate/cheese/carbs, create excuses for skipping exercise, swear like a sailor, apologize too much, and complain about everything that is bugging me even slightly.
I am actually making a solid effort to quit procrastinating, push my comfort zone in terms of socializing, and do better on the health front. But I have made peace with the other habits.
PROCRASTINATION.
I’m a writer, and currently a freelance one. You would think income would be a pretty good incentive to actually finish the scripts that would help me get work. On top of that, we’re expecting our first in oh… 7 weeks (!!!). Again, you would think a new baby and keeping up health insurance would be a good incentive…
My bad habit is that I’m on the internet too much! If I exercised as much as I played on the computer…well, I’d be a size 6 again, for sure!
Damn this computer age.
Katrina´s last [type] ..Tea Party
I swear over stupid things like calling my dog “shitpants” in a matter of fact way because he always poops in the floor. So of course my 2 year old has also used the word. I am addicted to Dr Pepper in the WORST way. Like every week I say I’m gonna stop and yes I still buy it or call people who are coming over to see if they will “grab me one” on their way over. Oh man…I have pages and pages of bad habits. Most of which I’m ashamed to say out loud! I’m an imperfect person.
My worst habit is my complete and utter addiction to my BlackBerry.
I think procrastination is my worst habit too… I’m never late though. We moved to Switzerland a few years, and they are really *a-n-a-l* about time. When I’m supposed to be meeting friends, they will call if they are going to be 1 minute late. Seriously. A Swiss friend puts her kids to bed at 7:13pm. not 7:15, not 7-ish, 7:13! After living in that type of environment, you adjust quickly and stop being late – it’s kind of a time-awareness bootcamp.
I swear too much, watch too much tv, and am addicted to sugar, mainly candy.
I don’t care about the swearing (which I do NOT do in front of children) or the tv, but I would love to get hypnosis or something to stop the candy fever.
Totally the iPhone thing for me. I check it way too much. Also, whenever someone is talking to me, I have this AWFUL habit of replying with “interesting…” a LOT. Some people say Um, or Like and I just say “interesting…” over and over. So embarrassing.
Steph
Adventures In Babywearing´s last [type] ..crazy heart
Hmm, my bad habits include chugging Diet Coke all day long, which I’d like to stop but not really, procrastination, which I’m really working on and not saying anything to people who bug me until I’m so furious I explode. Definitely need to change that one.
Expat Mom´s last [type] ..You Might Be a Long Term Expat if You
I definitely spend WAY too much time on the computer and not enough time with friends. This is something that should change. Do I want it to change???? Eh.
I swear a lot too, but that one doesn’t bug me. I don’t have kids and when I teach, that button gets turned off.
jules´s last [type] ..You’re ALL Winners to Me-
I am a huge nail biter. I have tried to stop a few times, but I can’t stand long nails, so I start up again.
I am also a master procrastinator. I don’t know if I want to change this one. It has actually served me well in many cases.
The Suburban Housewife´s last [type] ..From Anxiety to Accomplishment
I too am a nail biter and when my parents were alive, they got after me all the time. But, I still bite them. I do watch too much TV, and since I don’t have cable, dish or direct TV, there really isn’t much out there to watch, but…..if my converter box can pick it up, I watch it. I am also a chocoholic! I am trying to lose 15 pounds about now, so some of these bad habits need to take a hike and I need to get my flabby butt moving!
1 – Biting my nails.
2 – Procrastination.
3 – Mountain Dew (or Nectar of the Gods, as I like to call it)
4 – Spending too much time on my computer.
My husband is also addicted to Mt. Dew. He calls it the sweet nectar of life.
I’m ALWAYS late. It drives my husband up the wall. Usually I tend to think I can get ready in x numbers of minutes, but it actually takes x + 15 or so instead, and then I’m rushing to be ready getting mad at myself for waiting (or oversleeping…)
I just remind the man of Brad Paisley’s “Waiting on a Woman” song when he gets annoyed at me.
Clutter…and on line shopping. There are so many great choices at my fingertips, and then….the excitement of a delivery, like Christmas!!
Nail biting
and worrying (is that a habit?)
diet pepsi… mmmmmm aspartame
Heather´s last [type] ..“This is not flavoury…” Deliah
1. worry all the time.
2. I like to buy shoes.
3. I cuss allot ( call my trash neighborsF#####!!
4. addicted to sugar
I cuss way too much in front of our 14 month old. I tried to replace fuck with foo fighter. It’s not working and saying fudge makes me feel like I’m 80. I have successfully replaced dumbass with doo-mahs and it makes me sound all Frenchy so yay to me.
Elle´s last [type] ..I Heart My Daughter
I say fudge too. The cool thing about saying fudge is that people know what you REALLY want to say but don’t. So you are still technically saying the word. Therefore you are young and awesome. LOL!
When you put it that way, I feel better about saying it and sounding like a granny. lol
Elle´s last [type] ..I Heart My Daughter
oops not sounding…
Elle´s last [type] ..I Heart My Daughter
Look up the Lil Fred videos on YouTube. Not only are they adorable (skits of a 5-year-old directed and filmed by his 14-year-old brother!), but Lil Fred says “fudgecrackers!” That’s totally gotten me to say fudgecrackers when I’m annoyed, anstead of other things.
I am a supreme procrastinator….oh yeah! Projects that were assigned at the beginning of the semester were done the night before they were due…I’ve gotten a little better, but not much.
I’m also that person that says “I’m leaving the house now!” when in reality I’m still in the bathroom straightening my hair.
Oh, and I can rationalize ANYTHING. I am not the person to take with you if you want to be restrained. “Have another drink! It’s Tuesday afternoon!” “Go ahead and buy that….you had a crappy day at work two months ago!”
Bad, bad, bad.
Rachel´s last [type] ..Progress
I really need to stop being such a control freak. Especially when it comes to my husband. If I see something isn’t being done my way (which is always the best way right?) I just take over. I need to let my husband learn how to do stuff! Especially before kids come into the picture.
Melissa (Mbonn)´s last [type] ..Sunday Snippets a day late-
Wah!? Letting the car get to empty and losing the phone are bad habits?! YIKES!
I have never included those before. I check my crackberry too often. Trying to remedy that though. I don’t want my kids to remember me with a phone in my hand all day long 
Heather@Triple Blessing´s last [type] ..Friday Funnies
Let’s see, there are so many.
1. I am always late,
2. I procrastinate especial when it comes to folding the laundry.
3. I watch to much TV.
4. I stay up to late.
5.I sleep to much.
And looking at my list, if I didn’t stay up late watching TV, I wouldn’t be so tired and I would be able to get up on time and not always be late. HA
I have no friends, so my “friends” are blogs…Guilty.
My husband calls me “Pearl” because I forget to take the tags of purchased items…
I tend to be like Rachel Ray when it comes to her “trash bowl” but mine is the sink and sometimes forget to clean it…
I leave clean laundry in baskets, unfolded.
I swear like crazy and I know it offends my kids, but I do it anyway.
I would rather talk about pet peeves!!
heather, you’re freaking ADORABLE!!!!!
in fact (bad joke alert)….some might say you’re….
a-spohr-able?
I swear waaaaaaaaaaaay too much. It’s awful. I try to stop, and sometimes it works, but whenever I am hungry/tired/cranky, the f-bombs just fly. Blargh.
Looks like I’m not alone…
I’m a nail biter. It is a nervous/bored habit that started at 12 after my grandparents died. Now when I’m upset/nervous/bored, I pick at my nails. I’ve successfully stopped for months at a time, but then, of course, something terrible will happen and I’m back at it.
I’m also pretty short fused. However, “woo sah”ing myself to calm down and not get mad over something little is kinda like washing your car in the rain; pointless. Oh well… I’m workin’ on it!
i loved the video. i am 47 and frankly, i am allowing myself to have bad habits and not care! (is that a bad habit-the not caring?!)
i am a little like the woman on the video, i love love love my alone time. i work all day with behavior disordered kids and i give my 200%. i LOVE my job, i am very social and have lots and lots of friends, but when i get home, i just got to have some time for myself. my friends and family hate it when i always cancel plans, but to be able to sit on the couch with a great book or magazine, glass of wine, tv on, and relax is heaven! but my friends think it is wrong to want to have alone time. ( i am div. i was a very active and devoted mom but now my son is in college. ) i do have a significant other, but he is just as independent as i am.
sometimes i think my friends are right, maybe i need to hang out more—-but, will and grace is on, my bourbon and coke is getting warm and i have a new food network magazine i want to read!
There is NOT a damn thing wrong with that! That sounds perfect!
I procrastinate too much, for sure. Laundry, making phone calls, getting ready so I can be ON TIME… you name it. Also, I drink Dr. Pepper way too much. Like, to the tune of a few kidney infections a year. And yet here I sit, surfing my favorite blogs while sipping a nice, cold Dr. Pepper. Oh yeah, and spending too much time on the internets.
I have more bad habits than I could possibly list here. For the purposes of this exercise, I will only count the irritating ones, and leave off the actual self-destructive ones (like eating an entire box of cookies in one evening … I digress).
-I chew my nails, even though I have expensive veneers on my teeth and nail-chewing damages them
-I crack my knuckles AND my toes
-I fart and don’t own up to it (whoa, I’m really being honest here!)
-I jiggle my foot and/or leg ALL THE TIME – no, it’s not restless leg syndrome, I just have a lot of nervous energy and that’s a way to cope with it – super irritating if you’re on the couch watching a movie with me though!
I’m sure there are LOTS more but that’s enough honesty for now! Love you Heather!
My reaction to commands or instruction requiring ANYTHING physical/athletic/moving an eighth of an inch are my awful habit. I go into such a fit of panic that I honestly wonder what is wrong with me.
Like one time, in karate class (as I attempted to conquer my lack of athletic ability), I was told to punch a mat twice and kick it once. I slammed FACE FIRST into the mat. FOUR TIMES…and I bit my tongue twice (because it apparently sticks out when I’m trying something like this).
Another time, I was playing lacrosse in junior high for gym class. I was the goalie, and I was supposed to throw the ball out to my awaiting classmates. The game was tied. I…untied? it by tilting my lacrosse stick too far back, causing the ball to roll backwards out of my stick’s net and into MY goal and score a point for the other team.
I didn’t linger in that quiet locker room that day.
I thought about some more bad habits of mine:
1) I stay up way too late
2) I nibble on food while I’m saying up way too late
3) I don’t put things away.
4) I put off the things I’m supposed to do.
5) I use too many substitue cuss words. My kids aren’t fooled.
Katrina´s last [type] ..Boats -amp Horses
I have a lot of bad habits. I’m always late, I procrastinate, I’m messy, I drink to much diet coke.
Karla´s last [type] ..shower
I stay up way too late and drink too much coffee.
I’m trying to not swear (as much).
Zakary´s last [type] ..How To Drive Your Mother To The Edge In Ten Easy Steps
My worst habit is picking my nose and disposing of it orally. See… its such a taboo and gross thing to do, I can’t even bring myself to say what it is right out!
My procrastination and tardiness is, I firmly believe, my way of saying “F*** you, world. This is MY time and I will do with it what I want”.
My cursing was actually reduced from before I moved Stateside. In fact, its only the last few years that its really crept back in. I avoid it as much as possible around the kids, either leaving blanks or using substitutes, but sometimes it just slips out when they’ve done something that makes me so damn mad…
Other than those, I’m perfect… honest…!
Mark (Dudge OH)´s last [type] ..dudgeoh- -Zsandra I hate how lazy and inconsiderate people can be with their carts
My worst habit is I split my split ends, might not sound too bad, but I used to pull out my hair. I have trichotellomania and overcame it 4 years ago but now it’s creeping back up
(
Antonia´s last [type] ..Chicken Fricassee
My worst habit is cracking my neck, which… I know is disgusting. I’ve been doing it so long now (I started doing it when I sat by cute Adam Requena in 7th grade, and he thought it was awesome when I did it once accidentally) that it’s SO HARD for me not to. I know I need to stop, though. It actually gives me headaches now.
Also, knuckle cracking. Because I’m awesome.
Alicia @bethsix´s last [type] ..So- What You’re Saying Is…
I bite my nails ALL the time, and I pop my neck far, far too much. And of course, too much time on the computer. I work in front of one all day at work, then come home and play around even more!
Deborah´s last [type] ..Day One
Bad habits? Moi? Not a single one, nah ah, *shakes head* not me. Ahem
I am just too lazy. I go through spurts of being really clean in my home and dilligent in housework, but mostly I am online too much, not homeschooling and just a mess.
This is why I don’t think I can homeschool, I’m inherently too lazy when I’m at home. =)
Savannah´s last [type] ..Hello world-
1. LAZY
2. Too much TV
3. Bite my Nails
4. LAZY.
5. Play with my hair way too much
5. Eat directly from cooking pot
6. LAZY
7. Did I meantion LAZY?
Gemini-Girl´s last [type] ..Just Sit Right Back -amp You’ll Hear a Tale
WAIT!
I also hardly ever check experation dates when i buy dairl products. i just cant do it man. too much effort.
Gemini-Girl´s last [type] ..Just Sit Right Back -amp You’ll Hear a Tale
no way i am ready to discuss my bad habits *publicly*.. but i will say i envy all of yours.
it’s funny that you mentioned twirling your hair, becasue i never thought of it as a bad habit although it drives people around me crazy. i have done it since i was a kid (at least i stopped the thumb sucking that went with it. . .) i do it when i’m reading, when i’m driving, when i’m bored, when i’m trying to go to sleep, pretty much whenever i have something to rest my arm on. and i used my right hand and my left hand. if i’m reading, i may have 2 strands hanging down each side of my head for when my arm gets tired of holding the book one way. my friend one time said she was going to cut that strand off. i looked her in the eye, combed that strand back into my hair and picked another one. it’s not one strand i twirl all the time, it can be anywhere on my head. my sister almost cried when my neice started doing it (no one else in my family does it. . .)
but there are worse habits i could have, right?
Eating chips, cokes and not exercizing enough!! I go places and go things just need to go to the gym and not mexican restaurants! haha!! I love to meet up with my sis and her beau and drink a couple of ‘rita’s and snack on some chips and salsa! Love it!!
You’re right Heather, your hair does look adorable in this! How did you do it? I need an alternative to the pigtails I’ve been sporting for the better part of the summer because..well..because I’m 35 and my 2 year old and I currently have the same hairstyle.
LOVE your hair.
My bad habits? I cuss. A LOT. I LOVE the “F” word. I used to never use it, I’d use every usual cuss word except for that one, (never use the derogatory “C” word, and never will), but honestly, my husband LOVES it that I cuss. Something about looking so..feminine… and then having the mouth of a sailor…. I don’t know. But he likes it and I’m not changing it!
I bite my nails like crazy and I hate that I bite my nails, I do it and have no idea whatsoever that I’m biting, there will sometimes even be a drop of blood and I’m all nibbling away not noticing a thing until I see my finger and go WOW That Looks Terrible!
Rebecca´s last [type] ..Strawberry Pie II
I swear too much, and I am a clean freak. I also have some MAJOR germ OCD. Like during the winter? I lysol everything. My toddler will be going to daycare for the FIRST TIME EVER and it is killing me that I can’t protect him. I think the OCD germ thing is more because 1) when Sean (husband) is deployed, there IS no one to watch a sick baby for me t run to the store for soup (or worse, what if I get sick?! How do I care for a toddler while I am sick?!) and 2) my son was a preemie. Not by much (he was only a month early) but enough to be stressed out because I worry. I’ll let you know if I roll over and die from having to put him in daycare!!!
Kate´s last [type] ..4th of july Success My husband had 6 Jim Beam-Cokes and is
Oooh too many to mention most, but one bad one I have is “point-keeping” with my husband.. you know “How many diapers did you change today? I changed six”, “How many hours have you spent with them? I’ve had them ALL day”. It’s petty and childless I know.
childish, not childless lol
I cuss ALOT! I work for a catering company and am constantly in the kitchen where swearing is the norm. I now have a 7th month old daughter so I am trying to curb this bad habit so the first word she says is not a four letter one!
Hi Heather, your hair totally looks cute in the video! How did you do it??
I too am a procrastinator, but I’ve gotten better at it now that I know that procrastination isn’t laziness– it’s actually an anxious response. People put off doing tasks because it stresses them out to do them, or (as it is in my case), they hate being done with something and then waiting.
I hate the waiting. It makes me nervous to wait and have nothing to do, so I put off getting ready/packing so I’m busy up until the last minute.
It’s true! One of the reasons it bugs us so much when people are late is because it makes us wait, and waiting is nerve inducing. I know, it doesn’t make sense– what’s there to be nervous about? I’m still working on that one though!
Savannah´s last [type] ..Hello world-
You’re right about how you can NEVER watch TOO much t.v. LOL! =P
My worst habit is biting my nails. I’ve never had long nails in my life, because I ALWAYS BITE THEM! BUT, I can still stratch the heck out of myself (don’t ask me how, o.O). If I did have long nails; I can’t imagine the damage I’d do!
I loved your hair!! I wish mine could do that. Mine frizzes all over the place… blegh.
My worst habit is definitely procrastination. It’s been with me since high school. We’re good friends, because it helped me crank out some darn good papers in that rare zone you get into where the BS is just plain awesome. But sometimes our friendship is a little rocky, because it makes me start getting ready too late, and I always underestimate the time it’ll take me to truly be ready to walk out the door, which always makes me late and makes husband upset. Yeah… me and my friend Procrastination need a little work.
I thought you might like this. I hope it gives you a laugh. http://collegecandy.com/2010/07/02/diet-coke-my-one-true-love/
i swear a lot, drink from cartons, white lies, i create a mess in every room i walk into, i speak wtihout thinking (and thus inadvertently insult people). i’m a real catch.
Hmmmm….Diet Coke, Procrastination, peeling my nails, love deep fried food, cake, eating in general, don’t pay attention, late for EVERYTHING, get sidetracked WAY too much, play on these fabulous blogs while at work and should be you know, working, cursing a lot, not exercising, extremely sarcastic at inappropriate times, talk too much…
Wow. My list is not pretty!
Joie´s last [type] ..Thar be ink in these here parts
I would have to say my worst habit is procrastination. I’m a journalist, so I work well under pressure, but lately that has translated to works ONLY under pressure.
I also eat when I’m not hungry or when I’m full.
Love love love your hair! Can you please do a tutorial of how to do it like yours? It’s super sleek and sophisticated!
I have none. Zip. Zilch. No bad habits at all.
Perfect. That’s me.
Issa´s last [type] ..Picture postcard memories 6
Oh in less you count that I spit my gum out the window when driving on the highway a bad habit. Or the fact that I go to Starbucks each and every day. Or that I am so addicted to Angry Birds on my iPad that I may have cried three times since I updated it that it still doesn’t work. I procrastinate. I put my dirty clothes on the floor right next to the hamper. I clean and fold clothes and leave them in stacks all over my house.
Yeah, I *may* have a few.
Issa´s last [type] ..Picture postcard memories 6
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying being alone! I’m very introverted too, like that other mom. And what’s wrong with it? Nothing! I still love being with my friends when I’m with them, but other times I’d rather sit at home and read. I don’t see how that’s a bad habit at all!
I’m like you though, Heather. Like if I have to get ready and go somewhere, the actual getting ready somehow takes low priority and I have all these other things that I’m SURE I have to do first, and then I start my 40 minute “getting ready” routine with 20 minutes until I have to leave, bargaining in my head “Well, if traffic’s good I can still make it…”
Blah.
Amanda M.´s last [type] ..Sims 3- Whale Nuking- Blood Drinking- Ultra-Violence- and Some Blasphemy for Good Measure
Swearing, definitely. I also pick my nose.
Don’t tell.
Adelas´s last [type] ..Only a month late-