It’s pretty funny how many times a day I say the word ‘sorry’ or feel the need to break a period of awkward silence. You know, that moment where no one talks in the elevator and you (I) feel the need to say something so completely irrelevant. Yeah. I'm talking about those moments. There are so many things I do that aren’t necessary or are habits that aren’t adding anything positive to my life. I’m looking at you, nail biting. Ugh. 

Instead of grabbing an iced coffee to go, maybe it’s time to start making a cold brew myself. Instead of feeling the need to say ‘yes’ to every single activity with friends, maybe I should embrace the choice of saying ‘no’ (Netflix and QT with my couch is always a good answer). No matter how big or small they might seem, bad habits won’t be broken unless we take control. Control. That tiny thing that lets you take the reigns, rope, leash, whatever your choice of control may be, it’s something that’s yours alone. Don’t let something that’s not bettering your life control it. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Let’s just say I need to break some of these not-so-great habits:


I’m not sorry: Saying ‘sorry’ for absolutely nothing. Whether I’m in the coffee line and someone scoots by in front of me (totally not even sorry-worthy) and I drop the s-word. It’s ridiculous how many times a day I say it without even realizing the word. Pantene’s ‘Not Sorry’ campaign is the perfect example of ways ‘sorry’ is incorporated in situations that don’t deserve an apology. Ladies, we do it a lot. Count how many times you say it a day and realize the s-word might be just as bad as the f-word. Ok maybe not, but it still needs to stop.

 Caffeine Addict: I love coffee. Let me repeat that, I looooove coffee. Many coffee drinkers can vouch that grabbing a cup on-the-go is way easier, especially when you’re a little late to work and turning on your Keurig and refilling the water tank seems like it'll take as long as washing your kitchen floor (how sad is that?) It's just that much easier to stop by the nearest Sbucks and pull out your credit card - my bank account hates this lovely little habit of mine. I feel like at this point I may or may not deserve a parking spot at my local Starbucks with my name on a sign that reads, 'Kimberly Kufel. Grande iced coffee with non-fat milk and just a little bit of vanilla'. It’s that real, you guys. It's that real.

Skin Fail: Laziness is simple. Throwing on PJs and getting under the covers before I wash off my mascara is actually the easiest thing in the world (definitely up there with eating that second piece of chocolate too), but it’s a habit of mine that needs to end, especially as I get older. I vow to stay on top of my skin game, even if that means resisting my bed for just a few minutes. Last time I checked, my mattress was still there when I got back from the bathroom.

Money Game: As much as my dad would cringe at the thought, balancing my checkbook hasn’t happened since I was in high school. I used to be so good at making a purchase, getting a receipt and then adding that to my book. It sounds way too old school, but making sure each purchase is accounted for in your checkbook is super important. Example: I went 2 months without realizing I was paying for Netflix and not even taking advantage of endless amounts of scrolling. My bank account didn't dig it.

Worry Wart (EW to that word): I’m a worrier. I’ve been that way since I was a kid – at least that’s what my family tells me. I’m constantly worrying about the ‘vibe’ of the room and totally in-tune with others emotions. It’s all a little overwhelming. I’m constantly worrying about the way someone says something, if they’re angry, upset, sad, etc. I mean I analyze punctuation marks in text messages. Who am I? Overwhelming right? My boyfriend can definitely attest to my, ‘are you okay?’ question I ask every oh-I-don’t-know – 7 times a day. I kid. I need to stop letting my emotions get the best of me – sometimes it’s nice to stop worrying about others and say ‘who the hell cares’ and go with the flow. Am I right or am I right?