14 Bad Life Choices to Absolutely Avoid at All Costs

Life’s not fair, nor is it easy. 

However, humans have a habit of making it worse for themselves with bad life choices. These horrible decisions make life so much harder than it needs to be. 

14 Bad Life Choices to Avoid at All Costs

Discover the worst life decisions many people make. If you can avoid these, you’ll have a better chance at a happy, healthy life. 

Staying in a Bad Situation

Far too many people stay in bad relationships, horrible jobs, and awful cities because it seems easier than leaving. 

I’m one of them. I stayed in an abusive relationship for five long years because I couldn’t figure out how to leave. My life improved so much when I had the courage to kick him out for good. 

Change is scary, but you’ll be so glad you did it. 

Indecision

Every action has a consequence. We often freeze, refusing to make a decision, because we don’t know what the consequences will be. 

However, indecision is also a decision, and often, the results of not deciding are worse than the consequences of any decision you would have made. When you decide, you take control of your life, which is essential for happiness. 

Substance Abuse

Far too many people fall into unending cycles of abuse. It’s even worse when the substance is legal, like alcohol, because people don’t realize how dangerous it is until it’s too late. 

Get help for your addiction. You will be so much happier in the long run. 

Credit Card Debt

Credit seems like free money, but it’s not. Credit cards are great for emergencies and to build credit, but far too many people use them to fund vacations, televisions, and other wants and then find themselves in a hole they can’t dig out of. 

If you can’t afford something, don’t buy it. It’s better to go without than to find yourself trapped in a never-ending cycle of debt. 

Staying Up Late

Going to bed means the morning will come and, with it, another awful day at work. People try to avoid the inevitable by staying up too late, but it only worsens things, as lack of sleep can negatively affect health and wellness. 

Avoid this bad life choice by setting an evening routine and sticking with it. Go to bed at the same time each night, even on the weekends. You’ll be shocked at how much more energy you have. 

Neglecting Relationships

Neglecting family for work or something else is often cited as the top deathbed regret for hospice patients, highlighting that neglecting the people you love is one of the worst life choices you can make. 

Humans are social creatures. We need the community to thrive. Don’t ignore your loved ones, you’ll regret it. 

Excess

Overindulging is a bad life choice that leads to a plethora of health problems. 

And it’s not just food – too much of anything is a bad thing. We don’t need to sleep 15 hours per day, eat 4000 calories in one meal, or spend 18 hours playing video games. Get off the hedonistic treadmill and stop chasing pleasure. 

Having a Baby

Parenthood is beautiful when done for the right reasons, but many people do it for the wrong reasons, like boredom or wanting to fix a failing relationship. 

A baby won’t solve any of your problems, and having one for the wrong reasons is one of the worst life choices you can make, not only for you, but also for your future child. 

Not Investing in Yourself

Investing in yourself is one of the most important investments you can make. It’s not about money, either. Learn new skills, invest in your wellness, and do what you enjoy. 

Neglecting yourself will lead to unhappiness. 

Putting Off Retirement Savings

Far too many people hurt their future prospects by putting off retirement savings. The sooner you start saving, the less money you have to put in overall due to the magic of compounding interest. 

But far too many people would rather spend all their money when they’re young, only to find that they cannot retire later in life. 

I get that finding the money to save is a challenge. Life is expensive. However, most people can find a few extra bucks in their budget. Prioritize it, and you’re future self will thank you for making such a great life decision. 

Putting it Off For Later

Procrastination destroys success. People who constantly put things off for later wake up one day and realize they never did anything. 

There’s no time like the present. It may be cliche, but it’s true. Stop putting things off and start getting things done. 

Drama

Getting sucked into other people’s drama is a bad life decision we all fall into sometimes. But the more we learn to ignore it, the happier we will be. 

It’s difficult, especially when a close friend or family member constantly tries to pull you in. Remember that you get to decide whether you’ll engage or not. You don’t need to entertain their drama, and you’ll be happier if you stop. 

Neglecting Your Body

A little exercise and healthy food go a long way, but far too many people would rather sit on the couch eating junk food. Then they’re surprised that they don’t have the energy to do anything by the time they hit 40. 

Taking care of your body is hard, but it’s worth the effort. I lost 20 lbs in the last four months, and I have more energy, feel better, and can fit into my favorite clothes again. I don’t even miss the junk food (most of the time). 

Neglecting myself for too long was a bad life choice, but I shifted my mindset, and you can too. 

Refusing to Learn

Humanity’s greatest gift is the ability to learn. However, some of us let our egos get in the way of learning new things. We fear failure and think others will look down on us if we don’t know something, so we refuse to engage. 

Let go of the fear and open yourself to learning. Accept that nobody knows everything, and let yourself grow with new knowledge. 

Improve Your Life

Photo Credit: Mix and Match Studio via Shutterstock.com.

Avoiding these bad life choices will greatly improve your life, but there are a lot of other things you can do as well. 

Find out more: How to Improve Your Life Right Now