- [Narrator] Hey Psych2Goers.
Welcome back to a brand new video.
Do you always fall back on bad habits
because they have worked for you in the past?
As the old saying goes,
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Unfortunately, some of these cultivated habits
may be more sinister than you may have first imagined.
They may be so problematic to the point
that it adds or worsens existing mental health problems
if left unevaluated.
So to help you become more aware of these habits
so you can make the right changes for your life,
here are five supposedly good habits
that are actually bad for you.
Number one.
Always being positive.
Are you the type who tries to put on a smile,
even when things get tough?
Do you conceal your true emotions
and hope that all the bad feelings will go away?
A Harvard study shows that suppressing your emotions,
whether it's anger or sadness, grief or frustration
can lead to physical stress on your body.
It could even affect your memory, anxiety, and self-esteem.
When you're always putting on a positive face
for other people,
you start to neglect and suppress your own emotions.
In the end, it's always healthy to have an outlet
to express your problems,
whether it's with your friends, significant other,
or therapist, or even a journal.
Articulating your emotions is a therapeutic activity
and is leagues better than bottling it up inside.
Number two.
Working too hard.
Did you know that workaholics
exhibit similar characteristics
to people addicted to drugs and alcohol?
According to author Diane Fassel,
"The only difference between being a work addict
"and a vice addict
"is that people are awarded and praised
"to work excessively."
While overworking may be seen as productive
and as a means to achieve success quicker,
there are always real dangerous to working too much.
Constantly straining yourself
could lead to problems like substance abuse,
sleep disorders, and anxiety.
Instead, if you use the right strategies,
you can become just as productive working normal hours
as you are when you overwork yourself.
For instance, time-blocking and priority setting
can help recalibrate your work-life balance.
Number three.
Aiming for perfection.
Do you stop yourself from chasing after your goals or dreams
because you're worried you'll make a mistake?
Being a perfectionist is not always a good trait to have.
Research professor Brene Brown says
"Perfectionism is not the same thing
"as striving to be your best."
Instead of building you up for success,
perfectionism is like a suit of armor
that only protects you from the pain of guilt,
shame, and judgment.
Ultimately, you'll never be able to take the first step
towards reaching your goals
if you're always stuck in fear that you'll mess up.
Number four.
Avoiding conflict.
have you ever kept your mouth shut,
even when someone really got on your nerves?
How did it feel?
Avoiding conflict might seem tempting at a first glance,
but by being conflict-averse,
you may actually surprise your valid emotions
and even manifest them in nonverbal ways later.
Research shows that concealing or faking your emotions
can lead to loneliness or depression.
So while you might be avoiding conflict
in fear of disagreeing or upsetting others,
fostering honesty and authenticity,
even with the possibility of conflict
is more often than not going to lead
to a more sincere and fulfilling relationship in the end.
Number five.
Being a yes person.
Do you say yes to everything,
even when you feel uncomfortable?
While it can be good to help out your friends,
agreeing to everything in order to get people to like you
may not be the best attitude to have.
Usually, being a people pleaser
stems from a lack of assertiveness and a low self-esteem.
Not only does this lead to a dysfunctional
and unhealthy relationship,
but it can also perpetuate bad habits that people may abuse.
So, instead of saying yes to everything,
you can try to reframe your mindset
and find peace with the idea
that it's impossible to get everybody to like you.
By loving and respecting yourself,
you can have the energy to set up boundaries
and leave toxic relationships behind.
Were you surprised about any of the habits we've mentioned?
Let us know in the comments below.
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As always, the references and studies used in this video
are added in the description box below.
Thanks so much for watching
and we'll see you in the next video.