7 Habits That Are Undermining Your Power and Success

They say successful people possess a successful mindset, and in my experience, this is true. None of the accomplished individuals I know engage in habits that drain their time, mental energy, or career prospects. For many, simply eliminating these habits can completely transform their lives. I also arrived at this way of thinking and discovered numerous factors hindering my success. Join me as we explore this list and pave the way to the path of success you dream of!

You compare yourself not to your past self but to idealized images from social media

When social media first emerged, it revolutionized the world. It provided marketers with new tools for promotion and sales, enabling everyone to transcend geographical, cultural, and linguistic barriers between nations. However, despite its positive aspects and phenomena, social media also has a darker side that has plunged millions of people into depression and stress.

This phenomenon is unique to our century. Numerous researchers, including scientists from the United States, have repeatedly demonstrated a direct link between the use of social media and increased anxiety and dissatisfaction with oneself and one’s life. This is why personal crises, which once occurred around 30-40, now impact teenagers aged 12-15 and young adults aged 20-23. The illusory transparency afforded by social media is primarily to blame. You have probably felt envious whilst viewing the polished stories and likes on the posts of young entrepreneurs and “successful” individuals. This encourages us to compare ourselves to people who may be very different from the images they portray. Even Instagram filters are designed to enhance and beautify, fostering competition and a desire to showcase only the most favorable aspects of our lives.

As a result, we impose demands on ourselves that we cannot fulfill, like hitting an oven with a stick and wondering why it doesn’t bake bread. Yes, you must compare yourself to grow, but not against someone online. Instead, compare yourself to who you were a week, a month, or a year ago. Find your old photos and recall your achievements, personality, and thoughts from that time. Indeed, you are very different from your former self now, and I am 98% certain it’s for the better. Make it a habit to sit down every 3-4 months with these photos and reflect on what you have achieved and how you have changed since March, July, or December. This is a valuable habit rather than a destructive one.

Your work doesn’t provide any real value

According to research by the University of North Carolina, 75% of respondents feel unhappy if they do not perceive value in their work. One might assume that for a million dollars an hour, one would be inclined to fold candy wrappers in half, but “assume” is the key term here. After merely a month, or even a year, of such work, one would begin to feel as if they are losing their sanity. Work is a fundamental aspect of modern life, even if it occupies only 4-5 hours a day. Lacking an understanding of the purpose, who requires it, and why one is present leads to emotional burnout and psychological issues. Without this insight, one will struggle to find motivation to progress in their profession and to achieve more significant outcomes, as one cannot rely solely on the pursuit of money for sustenance. It is akin to lighting a match in a closed jar—it will burn for a while, but once it depletes the oxygen, it will extinguish.

Of course, I don’t mean that you should only undertake work that saves lives or holds sacred significance. The impact can be minimal—the key point is that you acknowledge it. Discover meaning in your work that makes it valuable not only to you but also to your company, projects, industry, or society. Document this evidence, such as positive online reviews or statistics indicating that your company has contributed to reducing hazardous situations. This inspires and enables you to maintain a clear direction and, if needed, adjust your career and actions should the benefit diminish.

You often think, “I’ll do it tomorrow”…

…Or “I’m not ready for it.” Or perhaps even the opposite, “I can do it whenever I want! I just don’t want to do it yet,” reminiscent of that internet meme. Deep down, you recognize these as excuses and justifications. There are no perfect moments when someone is 100% confident and devoid of doubts or worries. Ignoring these thoughts (which can be pretty persuasive, as they are often bolstered by other destructive habits like procrastination and fears) is the only way to make progress genuinely.

You can approach it like this:

• Identify that goal or task you haven’t completed because “you feel unprepared or short on time.”
• Break it into smaller tasks, baby steps, and sequence. The simpler the actions, the more likely you are to complete them. You may not be ready to enroll in Japanese language courses just now. However, you can easily read a dictionary on your way to the subway and explore websites offering these courses, can’t you?
• Completing a mini-task with something familiar and enjoyable will help your brain adapt to the change. For example, tackle dreaded reports or payments while enjoying a cup of your favorite coffee or learn new words in a foreign language while brushing your teeth.

You don’t seek new contacts and remain stagnant in the same environment

Even if your current environment is adequate, productive, and pleasant, rejecting new connections and acquaintances restricts your opportunities. No one is suggesting that you sever ties with old friends—this isn’t about hypocrisy or the saying, “the king is made by his retinue” (though that does hold some truth). New individuals bring fresh opportunities, resources, solutions, and avenues. Successful people consistently seek to engage with even more successful individuals. Why? Because we unconsciously mirror those we spend time with. More accomplished, experienced, influential, and wealthy individuals can share their knowledge and contacts and may even become mentors or role models.

If you want to reach your full potential, I recommend attempting the following:

• Surround yourself with individuals who excel and possess strengths that surpass your own, even if this initially evokes envy or self-doubt.
• Make it a habit to attend professional and other events, be receptive to new acquaintances, and engage in conversations as frequently as possible.
• Foster friendships and engage with your managers. This presents an excellent opportunity to learn from their experience and demonstrate initiative at work (which you should certainly do!)

You work around the clock and are always available

When observing successful individuals and the above points, you might mistakenly believe that only relentless workaholics attain success. However, this is not the case. Success is achieved by those who understand how to judiciously allocate their resources, including internal ones, and replenish them promptly. This is why a person may work nonstop—they simultaneously allow themselves to rest and avoid prolonged breaks in stagnation, as their resources remain intact due to their ability to care for themselves.

I suggest ways to eliminate this habit and workaholism:

• Unfollow anyone whose productivity makes you anxious while you’re trying to relax. Yes, this relates to the first point. Because of individuals like Elon Musk, who tweeted about “coming home from the factory at 3 a.m.” or “celebrating his birthday at work,” we blame ourselves for every minute we don’t spend working. Minimizing the information noise that contributes to this is a crucial step.
• Refrain from responding to all incoming messages immediately. Disable notifications on your phone, keeping only the essentials like Telegram or email for work. However, avoid responding to work messages straight away. First, complete your current task, then take a 5–10-minute break before replying to anyone. Continuous communication and excessive activity can lead to burnout.
• Stop multitasking. We feel productive when we can manage numerous tasks simultaneously, but constantly shifting our attention is detrimental to our brains, much like focusing too long on a single task. Change to a new task at least once every 40 minutes, but avoid doing so more frequently.
• Consider the future. Today, you might work until eleven at night, but how will you cope tomorrow without proper rest before the new day begins? Make it a rule to “Rest today so you can work better tomorrow.” For example, if you have a project defense at the end of the month, it’s unlikely to go well if you deplete all your energy on routine tasks.

You ignore your biorhythm and personal traits

It’s absurd to postpone crucial and complex tasks until the end of the day if you feel more productive in the morning, just after waking up, or vice versa. If you can barely think straight in the mornings, why sit down to write a report involving thousands of operations? Consider when your brain is most active and when you feel your best, and schedule important tasks during that period. Psychologists advise concluding the day with simple tasks—this way, your brain perceives the central part of the day as less daunting, as its end was not challenging.

It’s equally important to consider your other traits, such as your comfortable work pace, developed qualities, and skills. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive to close gaps and compensate for shortcomings; you should always focus on your strengths to enhance efficiency. For instance, I’ve always been a fast learner, and if I had to “trudge” through a class on a single subject for an entire lesson instead of covering three or four topics at once, I’d start to feel bored, my attention would wander, and my grades would suffer. The solution was straightforward! I completed my schooling as an external student and promptly entered a dual-degree program at university. I didn’t confine myself to an uncomfortable framework; instead, I planned my educational path more effectively. I continue approaching my career similarly, and I recommend you do the same.

“Don’t mow the lawn”

In other words, avoid tasks that can be delegated. For instance, if you reside in a private house and spend 3-4 hours every two weeks mowing the lawn, consider hiring someone to do it for you if it fits your budget. You could spend those four hours on activities that enhance your career or well-being, such as relaxing before work, reading professional literature, or attending a business event. The worst-case scenario is when these tasks prevent you from taking advantage of opportunities like a trip somewhere.

The same principle applies to work. If someone in your office can manage tasks such as purchasing printer paper, consider delegating it. Free up your day as much as possible from activities that:

• Don’t contribute to your career advancement.
• Don’t permit you to master new skills or expand existing ones.
• Don’t restore your energy or improve your physical or mental well-being.

Naturally, a list of these “bad habits” would be endless. There are certainly a hundred additional things I could mention here. However, compiling them would necessitate an entire series of articles (which I may write since I offer all this advice solely based on my own experiences and mistakes). The crucial aspect is to monitor what detracts from your well-being and productivity. To facilitate this, consider maintaining a diary or a daily journal. Just don’t become overly fixated on success at work—success in your personal life is equally important!