Everywhere I go, I see these signs of people doing things so often that inhibit their maximum potential. At work, with friends, social media, anywhere. They are so commonplace that they are approved in signs of being relatable, and because of that it may be incredibly hard to change our ways. Here’s my list:

1. Complaining about Mondays and getting excited for Fridays. I never had that mindset of dreading Mondays to come. I’ve been fortunate enough to be such a nerd to want to go back to school, even in grade school, even in all of my college classes. I’ve been able to appreciate all the jobs I’ve had (having said that, I avoided jobs in the food industry or retail at all costs). Every Monday is the beginning of a new week, a new chance to reinvent yourself, to learn something new whether or not you’re in school, to meet new people if you work in some kind of service industry. Likewise for starting a new day and wanting the day to be over.
2. Waiting for a new day, week, month, etc. to start. Despite what I just said about Monday being a new week, why wait until then? If it’s because you’ve already got a set schedule of things you plan to do until then, that’s more than fine. But if this is just because it’s an easy-to-mark block on a calendar, don’t wait for it! Just go for it!
3. Searching for approval. Never search for approval. The only thing that should be looking for approval is your work itself, not you. From things as simple as Facebook statuses saying “I finished my homework!” for the sake of approval, to working on something up to a point where your teacher, boss, etc. approves. Posting statuses for the purpose of sharing your happiness and accomplishments with others or to inspire them is more than acceptable, but definitely double-check your motives before so. Looking for approval is basically saying that because of an external influence, you’re at a good enough of a stopping point to improve. Extend your horizons and go as far as you can in anything and everything you do.
4. I need it. You don’t need a drink after a long day or week at work. You don’t need that dessert after every meal. You don’t need that dream car, that Friday night out, that Sunday just to unwind. It’s nice, and definitely important, to make room to unwind and take a break, but at the same time don’t forget to always be grateful for what you already have. The key word is always! It’s easy to be grateful during Thanksgiving, during the holidays, after something tragic appears on the news, but don’t forget even during the most humdrum moments you are able to do what you do, and you have both the potential and resources to be where you want to be. And with gratitude on your mind, these “necessities” won’t be distracting you from this potential as you keep doing you.
5. You’re so lucky! Almost everything one accomplishes is based on perspiration and aspiration. If you win the lottery or a raffle, then they’re definitely lucky! But if they aced an exam, got a new job, or even booked a vacation, all of that is from hard work. While we can feel lucky for avoiding a situation where we wouldn’t even have an option of reaching our dreams (read: we should be grateful), don’t give them any less credit by saying they’re lucky, as if they got what they wanted because God played dice. Don’t discredit the hours, days, months of hard work they put into what they’ve worked for.

Just keep grinding and be grateful no matter where you are.

Any other things people do all the time but shouldn’t? Agree or disagree? Let me know! I’m definitely interested in hearing what others think about this!