10 Unhealthy Habits To Quit Before New Year For A Happy 2025

Ready to ring in the new year? Here are 10 unhealthy habits you should quit beforehand to set yourself up for a happy and successful 2025.

Raise your hand if this sounds like you:

You dive into your new year with a high dose of enthusiasm, fully determined to be a morning person from day one.

But somewhere around the middle of February, you find yourself crawling out of bed in the afternoon while your New Year resolutions weep in the corner.

Okay, you can put that hand down now.

Why does that happen, anyway? Why are we not able to see our new year habits through to the end?

It’s not for lack of a strong start, that’s for sure. Because there’s no person on this planet who doesn’t kick off the new year feeling like their best self.

No, the fall of your new year resolutions happens because of a lack of preparation.

If you want the coming year to be good, you need to set yourself up for it by working on your habits in advance.

That’s why, my approach to the new year is a little different this time.

I’ve learned from the past and decided that resolutions are good and fine, but they won’t stick unless my bad habits are out of the way.

As I am working on detangling myself from some of my worst habits that made my 2024 not-so-pleasant, I thought this would be a perfect post to share with you peeps.

Before carrying on, pin this post for safekeeping!

If you’re ready to quit your bad habits before 2025 and transition smoothly into your new self, keep reading.

10 Habits To Let Go Of Before New Year

1. Drinking Too Much Coffee

Look, I know what it’s like to run on caffeine 24/7. You tell yourself it’s just the way you are and that it’s pretty cool to have a secret weapon that turns you into Wonder Woman.

But what about the jitters that come when you are not able to get your hands on caffeine, and what about all the ways your sleep is disturbed because you downed about 5 cups of coffee throughout the day?

No, your body doesn’t love caffeine, and you might argue that your mind does, but I can tell you that’s not the case either.

Excessive caffeine consumption is often associated with increased heart rate, palpitations, and heightened anxiety or nervousness.

It is also excessive caffeine can also cause digestive issues, including acid reflux and stomach ulcers (ouch).

My least favorite thing about coffee is that the more you drink it, the more caffeine your brain will need to achieve the same stimulating effects, which can lead to a cycle of dependence.

I’m not asking you to quit coffee altogether. Lord knows I won’t be able to do even a setup pull-up without my pre-workout caffeine.

Moderation is key when it comes to caffeine consumption to avoid these potential problems.

Reduce your reliance on coffee by finding healthier alternatives (herbal tea, chai tea, fruit-infused water, and fruit smoothies.)

Also, drink your coffee at fixed times during the day to avoid reaching for it mindlessly. Your body, mind, and soul will thank you for this, I promise.

2. Using Your Phone After Waking Up

You could be the least phone-savvy person on the planet but still have a habit of reaching straight for your phone the moment you wake up.

I don’t know why this happens.

Maybe it’s our overdependency on our phones for staying connected with friends or getting work updates, but all of that still doesn’t validate your screen being the first thing you look at in the morning.

It’s harmful, unnecessary, and a habit that absolutely needs to go before the new year strikes.

Instead of reaching for your phone, stretch in bed, open your curtains, grab a glass of warm water, and count your blessings.

Let this be your setup for all the morning resolutions you have planned for the new year.

If you can get yourself to resist the temptation of lunging at your phone in a groggy state of mind. you’ll be able to pull off even the most insanely beneficial morning habits in 2025.

Psss…keeping your phone on a faraway table instead of your bed, and using an alarm clock to wake up might help.

3. Nail Biting And Other Nervous Habits

Nervous habits can vary from person to person, but they often involve repetitive behaviors or actions that provide a sense of comfort or distraction during moments of stress or anxiety.

Quitting your nervous habits can be challenging, but you need to do it in order to make space for healthier stress management habits in 2025.

Here are some nervous habits to quit before new year:

Nail biting
Hair twirling
Pen clicking
Gum chewing
Finger tapping or drumming
Skin picking or scratching

Up until the first year of my college, I was a nervous nail-biter. My poor nails took the brunt of my stress and were even a source of pastime during my boredom.

I envied my friends who could flaunt their painted nails, and so I decided to quit. Wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s one of my top achievements. Me got pretty nails now!

Don’t miss: 11 Habits That Affect Your Mental Health Negatively

4. Staying Inactive All Day

I work from home, so I know how hard it can be to stay active when you have the option to stay burrowed in your bed all day long.

Even though I try to be regular with my workouts, it still doesn’t make up for the fact that I don’t move much for most part of the day.

I don’t want to enter 2025 with the same energy, so I’ve been making some smart changes to my routine, which have been working wonderfully in keeping my body active.

Here are some simple things you can do to quit your sedentary lifestyle before the new year:

Stretch for a few minutes after waking up.
Go out for a walk, even if it’s a short one.
Aim to walk at least 5k steps a day.
Pick up more chores.
Make plans with friends on the weekend.
Spend some time in nature.
Exercise 4-5 times a week.
Avoid your bed unless you have to unwind or sleep.
When doing desk work, take breaks to stretch and walk around.

Might help: 9 Healthy Things To Do Every Day – Ultimate Health Checklist

5. Eating At Odd Times

You probably have some healthy and mindful eating resolutions planned for the new year.

Maybe you want to get in shape, gain some muscle, or just eat well in order to feel good.

I won’t ask you to launch into those habits yet, as I’m sure many of you would want to enjoy the festive food.

But how about ensuring that you’re eating your meals at the right time?

Irregular eating patterns can disrupt digestion, blood sugar control, and nutrient absorption, potentially contributing to weight gain, sleep problems, and long-term health consequences.

To maintain overall health and well-being, it’s best to establish a regular meal schedule that aligns with your daily routine and circadian rhythms.

Eat your breakfast before 9 am, lunch by 2 pm, and your dinner by 8 pm.

Have your snacks at a fixed time during the day, and start avoiding midnight snacking altogether.

By fixing your eating routine beforehand, you’ll find it easier to slide into your healthy food habits once the new year chimes in.

You’ll love: 10 Unique Habits Of Healthy Women You’ll Be Tempted To Try

6. An Unregulated Bedtime

As a former member of the night owl club, I know it’s no fun going to bed at the same time every night.

But remember your New Year’s intentions to wake up earlier, be more productive, and start a healthy lifestyle?

Yeah, they all kind of depend on you hitting the bed at the same time and sleeping like a baby.

Inconsistent bedtimes are often the reason behind morning crankiness, low energy, and feeling tired all day long.

Ask someone who goes to bed at the same time, and they’ll tell you how easier their routine is because of this one simple habit.

You don’t have to snooze off at the correct dot; it’s okay to give yourself half an hour of buffer time.

But you shouldn’t be sleeping at 10 pm one night and then 2 am on the next one. That’s just cruel for both your mind and body.

Slowly adjust your bedtime, starting today, so that it starts aligning with your chosen time before the new year.

After this, you’ll be able to wake up at a fixed time every morning, and turn, also stay consistent with your daily routine for 2025.

7. Not Drinking Enough Water

Staying hydrated is one of the most popular new year’s resolutions, and for good reason.

Water is responsible for basically every function carried out in your body, and it can also give you gorgeous mental health.

For anyone looking to glow up in the new year, drinking 8-10 glasses a day is something you can’t skip.

If water hasn’t been a priority this year for you, it’s not too late to start now.

Aim for 8 glasses of water a day, starting tomorrow, and work yourself up to a state of loving hydration before 2025.

Your body, skin, and spirit will love you forever.

8. Excessive Screen Time

Excessive screen time, less mindfulness, and detachment from the real world. Need I say more?

I am grateful to be living in an era where I can watch shows, listen to music, and talk to my friends through tiny magical screens.

But I also know that screens can lose their goodness when used in excess.

Binging Netflix, mindlessly scrolling through your social media feeds, and chatting with friends for hours on end can lead to a mindless lifestyle.

These screen habits make it hard to prioritize self-care or make time for hobbies, and even reduce your interaction with humans in real life.

I lose my awareness of the world around me on days when I binge-watch a TV show. It feels good in the moment, but soon starts affecting my mental health.

On the contrary, curling up with a good book somehow makes me more grounded in the present. And that says a lot, doesn’t it?

Strike a good balance of your screen usage by setting a limit on your daily consumption, and reduce your screen time so that there is more space in your life for mindfulness before the new year arrives.

9. Not Dealing With Stress and Anxiety

It can be hard to avoid stress and anxiety altogether.

You could be doing everything right, but some things still won’t go your way, which can lead to negative thoughts and low moods.

But choosing not to do anything about stress is unfair to your mind.

If you have time for stressing and worrying even about things you can’t control, you sure can make some time to manage these emotions gently.

Firstly, identify and manage sources of stress in your life.

Maybe social media leaves you feeling drained or exhausted, or a certain type of people don’t suit your mental energies?

Try to distance yourself from these triggers and protect your inner peace.

Secondly, add some soothing self-care habits to your routine, like journaling, meditating, reading affirmations, and doing yoga for stress relief.

Small steps can lead to big changes in your mental health, which will eventually help you enter the new year with a stronger mind space.

Bookmark now: 21 End Of The Year Reflection Questions You Need To Ask Yourself

10. Being Disorganized

Don’t leave off your cleaning plans for the new year. You don’t want to open a new chapter in your life with a messy wardrobe and a cluttered desk.

Whether you’re a month away from 2025 or just a day, now is the time to stop being disorganized.

Start by decluttering a small space in your room like a drawer or a part of your cupboard, and then tackle the bigger areas at your own pace.

Don’t store anything that you don’t plan to use the next year. Donate the usable stuff to charity and throw away the clutter.

Organize your shelves, wardrobe, refrigerator folders, and paperwork, and spare an hour to manage your digital devices.

A cluttered and disorganized living or work space can contribute to stress and unproductivity, a state of being that you’re better off leaving behind in 2024.

Quit These Habits Before New Year

Remember that changing habits takes time and effort, so it’s okay to start with one or two habits and gradually work your way through the list.

Honestly, if you can get yourself to quit even half of these habits before the new year, you should be proud.

Let’s hope you and I both do our best and most importantly, feel amazing when we enter the new year.

Here’s to a happy and healthy new era!

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