12 Habits Sabotaging Your Success and Happiness

It’s that time of year again. Everyone’s starting to buzz about goals and resolutions and like everyone else, you’re probably thinking, “This year will be different.” 

Spoiler alert, but it won’t. Not unless you ditch the habits quietly wrecking your life.

We all have them. Those sneaky little behaviors that feel harmless but pull you off track. 

The extra snooze button hit. The endless scrolling. The “I’ll start tomorrow” mantra. They seem small, but they add up. And they’re the reason you’re stuck in the same place, year after year.

Success and happiness aren’t about adding more to your plate. Sometimes it’s about cutting the stuff that’s not working. So, before you make another big plan you won’t stick to, let’s talk about the habits you need to break. Because let’s be real—2025 isn’t going to fix itself. 

1. Procrastination: The Art of Doing Nothing While Stressing About Everything

Procrastination isn’t laziness. It’s fear dressed up as fake productivity. 

Believe me, I can relate. I was the queen of procrastination, and it’s not doing you any favors.

You tell yourself, “I’ll get to it later,” while scrolling Instagram or reorganizing your sock drawer. Deep down, you’re scared—of failure, of not being good enough, of starting something and realizing it’s harder than you thought. 

The irony? The longer you wait, the worse it gets. Deadlines loom—anxiety spikes. And now you’re not just avoiding the task, you’re avoiding yourself. So, stop waiting for the “perfect time.” The only way out is through. Do it messy. Do it scared. But for the love of all things, just start.

2. Overthinking: When Your Brain Becomes a Broken Record

You replay every decision like it’s the highlight reel of your failure. “What if I made the wrong choice?” “Should I have said something else?” You analyze every interaction until you’re convinced people hate you, or that one email ruined your career. 

First, let me tell you, nobody’s thinking about you as much as you think they are. Overthinking isn’t problem-solving…it’s self-sabotage in disguise. It keeps you stuck, spinning your wheels while life moves on without you. 

You need to let it go. Make a decision, live with it, and remind yourself that done is better than perfect. Clarity comes from action, not rumination.

3. People-Pleasing: The Endless Quest for Approval

You say “yes” to everything. Why? Because you don’t want to upset anyone. But here’s the thing: every time you agree to something you don’t want to do, you say no to yourself. 

People-pleasing isn’t noble…it’s exhausting. You’re bending over backward for people who don’t even notice—or worse, don’t care. 

Stop worrying about being liked and start focusing on being respected. Boundaries are your best friend. Saying no isn’t selfish–it’s survival. The right people won’t walk away just because you stood up for yourself. And if they do? Good riddance.

4. Perfectionism: The Enemy of Progress

I used to thrive on perfection. It sounds impressive, but it’s really just dumb procrastination in a tuxedo. You tell yourself, “It’s not ready yet,” when what you really mean is, “I’m scared it won’t be good enough.”

It’ll never be perfect. Not your work, not your relationships, not your life. Waiting for perfection is a one-way ticket to mediocrity. Progress beats perfect every single time. Make mistakes. Be imperfect. Embrace the mess. Because the sooner you realize perfection is a myth, the sooner you can actually get stuff done. You just have to do the thing.

5. Comparing Yourself to Others: The Fastest Way to Feel Like Crap

Comparison used to happen at family reunions and high school reunions. Now, it’s in your pocket, 24/7. 

Social media is a highlight reel, and you’re comparing it to your behind-the-scenes chaos. Of course, you feel like you’re losing. You’re measuring your worst moments against someone else’s filtered reality. Stop it. 

Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad. Focus on your own lane. You can’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty. Success isn’t a competition. It’s personal. Stay in your own story, and you’ll reach your goals before you know it.

6. Overcommitting: Turning Busy Into a Badge of Honor

You think being busy means you’re important. So, you pile on commitments until you’re drowning in your own schedule. It’s the worst.

Being busy isn’t the same as being productive. It’s just being overwhelmed with style. When you’re too busy, you can’t focus on what really matters. Your energy is scattered. Your priorities are out the window. 

Learn to say no more often. Pick quality over quantity. Because the more you overcommit, the less you show up for the stuff that actually counts.

7. Negative Self-Talk: The Voice That’s Always Bringing You Down

You’d never talk to a friend the way you talk to yourself. However, that voice in your head isn’t generally speaking truth. It’s holding you back. 

Negative self-talk can be harmful. It’s a habit that slowly erodes your confidence. 

Catch yourself in the act. Challenge those thoughts. Replace them with something better, even if it feels cheesy at first. Your brain believes what you tell it. So start telling it something good.

8. Chasing Instant Gratification: The Quick Fix That Fixes Nothing

We live in a world of one-click purchases and dopamine hits. Why wait for results when you can binge Netflix, order takeout, and scroll TikTok all at once? 

Instant gratification feels good in the moment, but it’s a trap. It trades long-term success for short-term comfort. 

The hard stuff—saving money, eating healthy, working out, building a career—takes time. But it’s worth it. Stop looking for shortcuts. Play the long game. Your future self will thank you.

9. Avoiding Responsibility: Blaming Everything but Yourself

It’s easy to point fingers. The economy. Your parents. The weather. But blaming the world doesn’t fix your problems. It just makes you a victim in your own story. 

Taking responsibility is powerful. Own your choices. Fix what you can. Change what’s in your control. The moment you stop avoiding responsibility, you start reclaiming your life and getting stuff done..

10. Staying in Your Comfort Zone: The Place Where Dreams Go to Die

Comfort zones feel safe. They’re warm and familiar, like a cozy blanket you never want to leave. But staying comfortable means staying stuck. 

Growth happens when you’re uncomfortable, when you’re scared, when you’re doing things you’re not sure you can handle. Stop settling for what’s easy. Take risks. Say yes to challenges that terrify you. Because nothing amazing ever came from playing it safe.

11. Multitasking: The Myth of Doing It All

I’m tired of multitasking. It was never as productive as I would have liked. 

Splitting your attention means you’re doing everything poorly instead of doing one thing well. You’re answering emails while half-listening to a podcast while also burning dinner. Stop the madness. Focus on one thing at a time. Be fully present. You’ll get more done and feel less like your brain is on fire. 

12. Not Prioritizing Yourself: Putting Everyone Else First

You’ve convinced yourself that taking care of others means putting yourself last. But the truth is, if you’re running on empty, you’re no good to anyone. 

Prioritizing yourself is smart. Sleep…exercise…they matter in life.

Say no to things that drain you. Say yes to things that fill you up. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself helps you show up better for everything and everyone around you.