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It’s surprising how some of the bad habits we know aren’t great for us have turned into trends, often celebrated or even idealized. Think of endless scrolling on social media, where everything from ignoring red flags to dismissing communication issues in romantic relationships becomes romanticized through neatly curated photos and relatable captions. But when we glorify these unhealthy habits, we blur the line between charming quirks and genuinely harmful behavior, often overlooking the impact they can have on our mental health, relationships, and even personal growth. This post takes a closer look at how we romanticize certain habits and offers insight into how we can shift away from these cycles in favor of good habits that lead to healthier connections and better overall well-being.
What it Means to Romanticise Something:
To romanticize a habit or behavior is to view it through a lens that makes it seem ideal, charming, or even desirable, while downplaying the negative consequences. It’s a filter we often apply unconsciously, softening the rough edges of bad behaviors and making them look acceptable, or even aspirational.
The process taps into our internal beliefs and values, influenced by what we see from friends, family members, or popular culture. For instance, constantly joking about our “bad taste” in partners can seem endearing, but it can also set a foundation for unhealthy relationship patterns or unrealistic expectations in the first place.
Romanticizing isn’t always harmful, but when we glorify things like toxic relationships, substance abuse, or poor time management, it can lead us to overlook red flags and miss chances to grow and embrace healthier behaviors.
Bad Habits You Need To Stop Romanticising
1. Pulling an All-Nighter
School is one of those topics we love to romanticize. After all, studying seems much more enjoyable when we view it in a positive light. But being the type of student who regularly takes advantage of the library’s night hours isn’t romantic; it’s a bad habit that shows a lack of prioritization.
One of those priorities should be getting at least 7 hours of sleep. Numerous scientific studies explore the necessity of sleep and the impact poor sleep has on us (I highly recommend the book Why We Sleep if you want to dive deeper into the topic). Not only does inadequate sleep impair our ability to retain new information, but it also has serious effects on our health if maintained over the long term.
2. Working in Bed
On the topic of work and sleep: another bad habit we romanticize is working in bed. And I get it—being all cozy in bed while staying productive has a soft, appealing vibe, perfect for times we don’t feel like working at all. However, working in bed is not doing you any favors.
First, it’s challenging to stay focused, as your brain associates your bed with sleep. You’ll likely find yourself yawning far more while working in bed than at a desk. On the flip side, if you’ve managed to resist the sleepy vibes over time, you may have trained your brain to associate the bed with work, making it harder to fall asleep later. Working in bed creates a push-and-pull effect between two outcomes you don’t want. So, just avoid it.
3. Aspiring to Have a “Summer Body”
With summer approaching, you might suddenly feel motivated to eat healthier and work on your fitness level—both admirable goals that encourage good habits, right? Well, the issue with the concept of a “summer body” is that it typically isn’t maintained year-round.
Often, people let themselves go around Christmas, only to put “losing weight” back on their New Year’s resolutions. This yo-yo effect is unnecessary and certainly not romantic. Instead of aiming for a “summer body” for a few months, focus on achieving fitness and health levels you’re satisfied with all year long.
4. Binge-Watching Series
A new series is trending, or the latest season of a popular show has dropped, and naturally, we feel the need to binge it over the weekend. Fun, right? But, when you look back at all the series you’ve binged, do you actually remember much? Would you have still enjoyed it if you had stretched it out, watching one episode per day? Could you have made progress toward a personal goal instead?
The problem with binge-watching is that it rarely frees up time during the week. Instead, you often find yourself filling that time with yet another series, leading to hours of time that could have been used in more meaningful ways. Once or twice may not be harmful, but have you ever calculated the hours spent binge-watching over the years? It doesn’t paint a pretty picture. And few people ever look back and wish they had watched more series.
At the end of the day, it’s up to us to take a deep breath, reflect, and separate our real life from the illusions we create or see online. Choosing to reject romanticized bad habits doesn’t mean we’re settling for a dull life; instead, it opens us up to spending time on good habits that enhance our mental health, relationships, and self-worth. By focusing on healthy partnerships, open communication, and being the best version of ourselves, we can transform the way we think about what it means to live authentically, and maybe even inspire others to do the same. So next time you catch yourself romanticizing a bad habit, take a moment to ask, “Is this really the kind of person I want to be?”
