How to Reset Your Life: 5 Harmful Habits You Need to Let Go

My shoes are ripped inside the heels, and I put in adhesive heel liners to eke out more miles. Apparently I wear out the insides of my shoes long before the soles show wear. 

A brand-new pair of Adizeros rests on my shoe rack while I lace up old Altras, morning after morning. What are the chances my name would be drawn for free Adidas during a community 5k?

Here’s the problem with the new shoes: they aggravate my ankle.

Even though the toe box is roomier than I expected, and they’re gloriously lightweight, they’re lacking in support. Ligament damage from years back means I need a highly contoured shoe sole or my ankle swells. Even the gel heel cups I wear in the Altras don’t cut it for the Adizeros.

Today, as my walking pad whirs and my feet keep sync with a song, my thoughts turn from shoes to habits.

Like shoes, our habits can help or harm us. Sometimes it’s not obvious from the outside, but inside, we feel either weighed down or revived. That’s our clue. Pay attention. Some shiny new habits might not be right for you, and some familiar ones may be past their lifespan. 

Life’s too precious to hold onto habits that compromise our capacity to connect deeply with God and the people in front of us. So, as we slip into August, here’s a roundup of harmful habits I’m letting go. Maybe there are a few you need to nix too.

5 Harmful Habits to Let Go

1–Shortcutting sleep.

I’m stubbornly particular about rising before sunrise, but this summer I’ve prioritized seven hours of sleep over my wake-up time, and I feel more continuously rested than I have in a long time. For some, adaptability is harder work than sticking to a rigid schedule. Some of us need to focus more attention on our bedtime routine than our morning routine. But what’s true for all of us is that sleep deficiency impacts the rest of the day–and the people around us.

When we feel habitually drained, everything feels extra. A rested version of you is far more likely to linger in your front yard, chat with a neighbor in your driveway, and include neighbors in something you are already doing. Getting a healthy amount of sleep helps us stay attuned to where God is at work inside us–and around us.

2–Enabling All Sound Notifications.

Book writing season necessitated longer stretches of silence, so I adjusted my phone notification settings. Only high-priority emails make sound. Group texts are muted. Most apps must be opened to see notifications. During intense-focus writing sessions, I completely silence my phone. This does not mean I don’t touch my phone while I write, but I can pick it up when I’m at a natural pause. This subtle separation from my phone creates more peace–and margin for where my attention is most needed.

Perhaps you’re feeling depleted, easily irritated, or simply distracted. Here’s permission to silence some notifications. Be choosey about what automatically gets your attention. Protect peace. Embrace the quiet.

3–Sticking to Safe.

I like to be spontaneous, within a controlled environment. Stick to what won’t upend my schedule or add stress to even arbitrary deadlines. But playing it safe can be costly. 

If I stuck to safe, I would never have accepted a speaking engagement the weekend my manuscript was due, co-led a women’s small group in the middle of writing a book, offered prayer in moments I felt inadequate and small, or written tenderly honest this summer on topics we don’t talk about often enough.

But God slipped in a word–an anchor point. My word of the year, koinonia, kept me present to the people in front of me. Like a gentle invitation, it steered towards community and vulnerability even when margin felt thin.

Perhaps, like me, you have a propensity to prioritize tasks or stick to what feels predictable. This is a nudge to step into trust and follow wherever God leads you.

4–Skipping the Stretches.

I ignored a twinge in my hip from overworking a muscle and (mostly) ran a half-marathon. Little problems become bigger problems when you ignore them. I should know this, but I’d still skip a decent stretch in order to not miss a sunrise. A forced reset reinforced the importance of stretching before and after I run. 

Where might you need to give attention to a still-small issue? How might you take a pro-active, self-care approach in an area you’re tempted to rush?

5–Expending My Energy Too Early.

Earlier this year I shared with a gathering of women that running uphill builds endurance. And it does. But while this strength-building strategy works well for an occasional steep hill, I ditched it for the last half-marathon, which was non-stop hills. I was the rookie Googling running strategy for hills. Race day, I put it to the test: even effort over consistent pace. Instead of sprinting uphill, I shortened my stride to reserve energy. It kept me running until the final few, brutal hills.

Maybe you’re facing a killer storm, and the thing you need to do is press hard into the tension to get through it faster. Know that you’re not alone. God goes with you through the storm. But if you’re in a roller-coaster season, you might need to temper your grit and go for sustainability. Take baby steps when the hill feels daunting. Lean on His coaching to prepare you for the long game, and remember that direction beats pace every time.

A Letting-Go Prayer to Borrow

And finally, here is a short prayer to borrow as you let go of a harmful habit.

Lord, help me to see the impact on the inside of the habits that shape my life. May I see where they rub and where they make room. May I stay attuned to the ripple effect of my everyday rhythms. In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Just a friend over here in your corner,

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