A Trick to Improving Your Mental Health
Letting Go of Micro Habits is as Important as Cultivating Major Ones
When we think about improving mental health, the focus often leans toward adopting healthy habits. But equally important is recognizing and releasing habits that no longer serve us. These can include micro habits — seemingly small routines or behaviors that, over time, weigh us down instead of uplifting us.
Letting go isn’t always easy. Often, we hold onto these habits because they helped us navigate challenges in the past. However, as soon as a habit starts to feel counterproductive, it’s time to make room for something new.
For years, I struggled with OCD, which initially helped me organize my thoughts, clear my mind, and impress others with my tidiness. However, it was merely a coping mechanism that became counterproductive.
The reason it’s important to let go of micro habits is that they can gradually harm your mental health. Over time, their cumulative effect becomes toxic, constraining you in a way you might not immediately recognize. Evaluating these micro habits and cutting them from the roots early on is crucial for your well-being.
My OCD prevented me from enjoying my space and the company of others because I was constantly anxious about the dirt they might leave behind or the slightest mess I could create. This led to frustration in my relationships, as I often refused to delegate tasks to those willing to help, ultimately weighing me down. The anxiety of not meeting my schedules because I was consumed with cleaning created a cycle of fear and stress, making everyday life feel overwhelming.
Why Micro Habits Matter
Micro habits play a significant role in our daily lives. We need to pay attention to what we focus on, discern what is beneficial, and find ways to eliminate what isn’t.
Identifying Harmful Micro Habits
This can be achieved through mindfulness — paying attention to how we feel when we engage in certain tasks. Reflect on questions like: How do we feel after repeatedly doing things that barely fulfill us? Are they preventing us from spending time on other valuable activities? Who are we trying to please? Do these tasks feel like chores all the time?
Finding answers to these questions can help us navigate away from empty routines.
Once we’ve gained insight, we need to trace these habits back to our past. We may need to ask ourselves if our current behavior is linked to unresolved trauma. Are we clinging to habits from before as a way to escape negative situations? Are we still repeating the same patterns despite moving on from those situations? These reflections can help us understand how psychological factors influence our daily habits.
Understanding the Roots of Your Habits
To heal, we must take full responsibility for our lives and commit to living healthier. Letting go of deeply ingrained traits or habits isn’t easy, but recognizing them as unhealthy is the first essential step. We need to consciously work against those traits, tasks, or patterns that hinder us every day.
Moving Forward
When I realized that my OCD was contributing to the stress of my roles as a mother and a wife, I knew I had to delegate responsibilities to those around me and be okay with it. I reminded myself of the consequences of not doing so, which motivated me to embrace the actions that would truly serve me.
Final thoughts
Making a conscious decision, practicing mindfulness, and being willing to heal are essential steps toward unlearning unhelpful patterns or micro habits. Healing means that we no longer have to rely on these patterns to cope but instead choose to live fully.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
