There are many things people know they should give up because it’s just plain bad for them. Putting too much salt in food. Smoking cigarettes. Texting and driving. Drinking alcoholic beverages in excess. Getting sunburned often. Then there are a number of things people do that they think are perfectly fine but it turns out they aren’t. Chewing ice (which is bad for teeth). Protecting clothes using mothballs (which are stuffed with pesticides that are toxic and are ingested when smelled). Drinking skim milk instead of full-fat milk (which is fortified with powdered milk that oxidizes cholesterol and causes plaque buildup in arteries and increases the chance of a heart attack). Using a computer for more than three continuous hours a day (because it causes carpel tunnel syndrome, impacts posture, strains eyes, and – because of being increasingly sedentary – increases the propensity for heart disease).
Then there are things that people do professionally that they suspect are not good, but they do them anyway. In fact, deep down, most people know these behaviors negatively impact success. Yet, they do them anyway because they don’t truly realize just how harmful these behaviors can be. These are thought processes and actions that sink careers. There is much to be said about doing these things less in order to thrive more. Last week we looked at four such behaviors and thought processes to stop. Here are four more to give up. Continue reading