In today’s culture, where video games and drive-thru’s can be accessed in a range of 2 minutes, it’s no surprise that we’ve developed some unsuccessful habits.

You’re not alone though. Most people, and especially those 18 and under, have grown up with many of these habits. They are unavoidable.

I’m guilty of doing these. I used to come home and stare at the TV for a few hours until bed. But the reason I stopped, was because it was keeping me from doing things that I wanted to accomplish. I even went to the extreme and got rid of all my streaming services. It not only saved me $30 a month, but it also let me devote my time towards the things that I was putting off.

You might be thinking about other unsuccessful habits you might be doing everyday. Here is a list of some of the biggest contenders putting off learning your successful mindset:

Watching TV, Playing video games

When you think about it, these are pretty useless past-times. They can be enjoyable (MARVEL anyone?), but they don’t give you any substance to be productive. Even if you spend your time watching documentaries, you still spend about half of your time potentially watching commercials or previews.

No matter what your interest is, when it comes to staring at a screen, you’re not actively participating in anything. You sit, you stare, you (probably) munch. There is very little participation from the TV screen in front of you.

You might be asking: What do video games have to do with being passive? I’m actively playing a game, usually with friends, and am engaging in what I am experiencing.

My answer: You’re not.

Playing video games give you no achievable, productive frame of mind. No matter how much money or how high an achievement you might obtain from playing these games, you are still not engaging your mind enough to create a successful mindset.

Eating fast and junk food

Besides blowing your budget on unfilling food, eating junk and fast food does not help you learn a successful mindset.

This food tends to be quick and easily accessible. That might seem like an easy fast fix compared to sitting down for a 30 minute meal, you tend to eat more, and spend more money, when you eat fast food.

You also don’t learn anything from passively asking for an order from a voice box.

When you cook a meal, whether it’s for yourself or for a table of 20, you learn how to actively pay-attention and prepare for various scenarios. Cooking isn’t an old or gender-specific tool. It’s great for anyone to learn so people are able to take care of themselves.

I’m not saying to not get the M&Ms or your favorite chips at all, but at least keep them sanctioned for your treat throughout the week, not a staple meal or snack. Better yet, make sure they are surrounded by nutritious and wholesome meals, including protein, veggies, fruit, and wholesome carbs.

Not exercising, being lazy

This is probably one of my biggest downfalls. When I’m done with work, I want to stay indoors, avoid the heat, and do my own thing to relax. But it’s not really helping me learn a successful mindset.

Exercising could be as simple as a walk around your neighborhood, or as extreme as a marathon.

Exercise allows you to do many things. While it helps you psychologically by handling stress, it also keeps you focused and able to problem solve. While I’m not the most active person, when I perform moves in a routine, I usually need to create alternatives for myself. Learning how to adapt while still following directions is a great skill to work on in a consistent and persistent routine.

Even if you are spending more time on your business or find an indoor activity to focus on (besides the TV), it’s good to get out of the house. This can mean you join a fitness class, take a walk with friends or family, or just practicing a yoga routine in the backyard. You don’t have to go far or do a lot to learn this successful mindset.

Gossiping in the workplace

Gossiping is probably one of the biggest unsuccessful habits on this list that keep you from creating a successful mindset.

Gossiping refrains from addressing and confronting others in a professional manner.

It can be an easy trap to fall into. You might be venting about a project that’s frustrating you, but not about anyone you’re working with on that project. It’s even dicier when you span over a department’s processes. If you find yourself having problems with someone, or another department, try asking your coworkers, or your boss, to help you develop a more successful relationship with said person or department.

Building positive relationships is not always possible for coworkers, however, building civil and constructive ones should be a priority. It’s important to find camaraderie among your coworkers to reach common and various goals that your position requires you to meet on a consistent basis.

Not budgeting your finances

Budgeting can be easy to do but sometimes they are hard to stick to during your everyday life.

It’s easy to determine a person’s success by their bank account. It shouldn’t be the only determining factor but it is a great way to measure success over a wide array of people.

The reason it’s easy to determine a person’s success with money is because it takes commitment and will-power to persevere with a budget.

To make a budget, you need a way to plan and review simultaneously. It’s important to look back at what you have made and what you are spending on, but also planning ahead for emergencies and being flexible when unexpected bills arise.

Essentially, budgeting shows that you are able to learn from past experiences to develop a prosperous future. It means you are able to analyze and learn as well as create plans of attack.

Not taking ownership, placing blame

Do you constantly find yourself putting the blame on others when you fail? You might be doing this unsuccessful habit.

Sometimes it truly isn’t your fault for something going wrong. Someone got the date wrong, an email wasn’t sent when it should have been. Maybe a form got lost in the mail.

No matter the mistake, it’s important to also know when to accept the blame for anything that’s gone wrong.

No one is infallible. Mistakes show that you are human. If you can’t accept that you are to blame, even partially, it shows that you are not willing to learn from said mistakes and improve yourself.

It might be something very small that has gone wrong. Don’t that deter you from taking ownership if the blame rested on your shoulders. Missing a payment by a day, even if it’s not late, is still something you can learn from and determine ways to make sure you are more punctual in the future.

All of these unsuccessful habits can be changed. Each one is currently stopping you from learning a successful mindset, but it can be improved.

Learn how you can change or adapt these unsuccessful habits in your life to achieve your version of success. Habits might take time to learn but they can change for the better when you become aware of bad ones.

Unsuccessful habits that are keeping you from learning a successful mindset