Topic 012: Breaking Old Habits

[Reiji]

We learned a lot of things as a child, say please and thank you, look both ways before crossing the street, don't chew with your mouth open, and so on.

Yet some of these habits are hard to discard, even as an adult.

Do you have any childhood habits (or other habits you've had for a long period of time) that you still have trouble getting rid of?

[Brody]

For the most part the majority of these habits go unnoticed unless pointed out by another.

I for one have been alerted of my anal policing of the lightswitches in my house. My roomies never turn off the lights and it seems that I make the rounds 3 to 4 times a day turning off lights. Especially the fucking stairway light that takes a damn ladder to change.

[Reiji]

One big thing I still struggle with is the maxim "Clean your plate" or "There's starving kids in [insert Third World country] who would kill to eat that".

For instance, I used to be tempted to eat as much as I could while dining out or at buffets because hey, I'm paying for everything. I had to get rid of that mentality and realize that I just needed to eat to the point of satiation and doggie bag the rest.

Another habit I still have (even though I've graduated from college) is raising my hand if I want to speak up. I still have trouble dealing with unregulated discussions where people speak out of turn, interrupt, or just dominate through volume or other means.
I think I still have trouble breaking that habit because it used to enforce a degree of order in discussion, rather than being forced to play the "talk show" game byinterrupting loudly .

[Dr.Jackal]

One big thing I still struggle with is the maxim "Clean your plate" or "There's starving kids in [insert Third World country] who would kill to eat that".

For instance, I used to be tempted to eat as much as I could while dining out or at buffets because hey, I'm paying for everything. I had to get rid of that mentality and realize that I just needed to eat to the point of satiation and doggie bag the rest.

I have the exact same problem, I've been eating everything they put on my plate and/or I put on my plate ( because you think you can eat more than you actually can ) and eating like that at any fast food joint just doesn't help me keep my weight down...

[Vibing_V]

Yeah, same here. Probably a part of it is that I have two big brothers (I'm the only girl, and the youngest) so like any mindless young tot emulating older siblings I probably ate as much as they did.

I was well trained as a kid with my 'please' and 'thank you'. I even remember in grade 7 going to this friend's house and she made fun of me for it. I find that over the years I've become a bit lax with it though. Most of the time I hang out with friends/family and with friends especially it drops off once you reach a certain level of closeness. Sometimes I don't think I say it enough anymore.

One habit I absolutely cannot break is procrastination. It's not something I was taught, obviously, but I'm pretty sure I picked it up from my mother. She started taking courses again when I was about 5 or so to get her teaching certificate, and has been taking various courses on and off ever since. She always ends up staying up til 2am and such to work on papers at the last minute. And even with marking and lesson plans sometimes she'll be up really late working on them and get only 4 hours sleep. Nobody's ever trained me to not procrastinate, and everything up to high school was so easy that I could easily get away with it anyway. Now that I'm in university I'm kinda screwed.

[Arashi]

I've always been taught to not accept presents/gifts/free crap from people (in a humbly gesture) because it's polite. Unfortunately, when I came to America and practiced that effect, people got insulted/hurt so I had to break away that habit quickly. But I still do it every once in a while because I dunno, I just feel weird.

Another bad habit of mine is that I have to circulate the air in the house everyday. Like opening windows, doors, etc. My mom has been doing this since I was young because she doesn't like sleeping with food/shower/whatever smell in the house. And I have not been able to break the habit ever since! Plus, I really hate stuffy places.

[Calbrena]

One big thing I still struggle with is the maxim "Clean your plate" or "There's starving kids in [insert Third World country] who would kill to eat that".

For instance, I used to be tempted to eat as much as I could while dining out or at buffets because hey, I'm paying for everything. I had to get rid of that mentality and realize that I just needed to eat to the point of satiation and doggie bag the rest.

Same problem
But at home I've found a solution, I just use smaller plates so I can't put as much food on them!
In restaurants I still have a problem though, because in my culture you've got to finish your plate and it would be insane/insulting to doggie bag the rest, people wouldn't even think about that

hmm, trying to think about something else, but I guess that's about it

Another habit I still have (even though I've graduated from college) is raising my hand if I want to speak up.

That's strange

[Mitsurugi CP]

I think a bad habit I have is not accepting help from other people. Not something stupid like asking for directions or something. I can do that. But if I'm working in a group, for example, I have a tendency to try and shoulder most of the tasks on my own and accept more responsibility than I should. And when I get bogged down by it, I still refuse to ask for help, and when others offer it, I still refuse.

[j0hn Ayanami]

Procrastiation. #1 hardest habit ever to break. I can't really break it at all, no matter how hard I try. This year I've gotten a little better at it, but I don't think it is doing much good since I have been a bit lax with things. Yet I'm trying.

[WaWard]

I still shit my pants daily. :frank

[nomaru]

i judege people rather quickly--thing is, i'm good at and usually right. the way its evolved since i was little thouhg, now i dont really vocalize my opinion until i'm totally confident

[Patchingko]

After losing one hand, you'd think that'd be enough to stop the constant, vigorous masturbation... you'd really think that...

[B0N3M4N]

I have to fight picking my nose in public. Really.

[Strana]

I find tons of faults in people, and with all that practice I'm really good at it too

[isildur]

I can't stop killing people.

[Son-kun]

One big thing I still struggle with is the maxim "Clean your plate" or "There's starving kids in [insert Third World country] who would kill to eat that".

For instance, I used to be tempted to eat as much as I could while dining out or at buffets because hey, I'm paying for everything. I had to get rid of that mentality and realize that I just needed to eat to the point of satiation and doggie bag the rest.

Same problem
But at home I've found a solution, I just use smaller plates so I can't put as much food on them!

That's pretty clever!

I'm always ripping off my finger nails in class whenver they are too long and I'm bored. No one ever says anything about it I hate long ass finger nails on males

I procrastinate on everything from school work to random chores (feeding pets, cleaning up poop, doing dishes) and even playing videogames. I don't think procrastination is really something I learned as a kid though

[Spazzz]

For the most part the majority of these habits go unnoticed unless pointed out by another.

I for one have been alerted of my anal policing of the lightswitches in my house. My roomies never turn off the lights and it seems that I make the rounds 3 to 4 times a day turning off lights. Especially the fucking stairway light that takes a damn ladder to change.

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I agree with u on the liightswitches. I also have a problem with locking my car door behind me no matter what. My wife makes fun of me because when i do that i have a habit of locking myself ou of my care.