Examples of Bad Habits in Teens

Ahh, those habits we all try so hard to break. Chewing on all your pens and pencils? Procrastinating on a project till the day it’s due? Waiting until the last minute to refill your gas tank? Biting your nails? All of these are habits that are caused by something, whether good or bad.  As adults, we can learn to meander around these habits or continue to feed them as they become part of our lifestyle. For your children, though, recognizing practices that could become harmful or unproductive over time is probably not something that crosses their minds too frequently. As a result, you might have to have a heart-to-heart with your teenage son or daughter if you suspect they are making choices that don’t benefit them in the long run. But what are some of the top bad habits of teens, and what can you do to help? Today, we will discuss what a habit is and some examples of bad habits that teens can engage in. After that, we’ll look at a few ways you can help your teen get back on track with more positive habits! 

What is a Habit?

Before we dive in, let’s define what a habit actually is. According to Merriam-Webster, a habit is “a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior” or “an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.” While in terms of positive habits, this can look like brushing your teeth, setting your alarm for your usual morning run, or ensuring that your water bottle is full and ready before you begin your day (to name just a few). However, on the flip side, there are habits that we - and our teenagers - can get involved in that are far from positive.  Let’s take a look at some habits of teens nowadays that need to be addressed immediately:

• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Excessive video games
• Excessive social media usage + cell phone time
• Lying and stealing
• Sexual activity
• Lack of exercise
• Hanging out with the wrong crowd
• Lack of attention to nutrition (i.e., too much fast food, skipping meals, etc.)

While this is just a small list of behaviors your son or daughter may experience through their teen years, it’s inconclusive. There also has to be a realization within your family dynamic of what habits you consider acceptable, what needs to be dealt with in moderation, and what is unacceptable. Communicating as a family unit will have everyone on the same page regarding what you expect from your children and what they expect from you. 

Tips to Change Behavior

Let’s say you have tried to set a handle on just how much screen time your teenager gets; unfortunately, the more you try to enforce a boundary, the more it seems they want to rebel and push back. While it might seem like a lost cause, habits can be changed - it just requires consistency, dedication, and discipline. So what are you to do as a parent to help direct your teen away from possibly destructive behavior? Check in with your teen (and yourself) about habits you can change - together. For example, maybe you need to step into the gym three days a week and be more dedicated to improving your health. On the other hand, your son or daughter needs to cut back on their screen time once they get home from school during the week. Together, you can discuss areas of life that can use a bit of improvement (and bonus, your teen will see you working to break into a new habit as well!).  Figure out why these new habits haven’t been established already. Are you busy doing other things during the time you’d typically be at the gym? Are you dedicating your time to other areas of life that might not be as essential in helping you reach your fitness goals? The same mindset goes for your teen. Are they on their phone more after school out of boredom? Do they need an outlet for creativity? While you’re making your list of habits that you can both change, determine the “whys” about how these better habits aren’t already in place - and what you can do to change that. Start with minor changes. Don’t expect your teen to go from hours of afternoon screen time down to nothing - it’s unrealistic, and it won’t help the habit turn from a negative to a positive one. Instead, maybe start by reducing it to just a few minutes each day until you get to where you’d like them to be. Perhaps this looks like no more than an hour after school and an hour after dinner (or whatever works best for you and your family). Whatever the new habit may be, know that it will take time to reverse the previous routine and schedule that your teen already has!  These are just a few of the tips and tricks for improving habits that are unhealthy. Check out PsychCentral for more ideas! 

Bottom Line

If you feel you have exhausted all of your options regarding helping your teen get back on track with healthy habits, then it’s time to reach out to the professionals. The team at Liahona Academy is trained for just these types of situations - and is available to help you understand the root of habits, as well as what to do in order to modify their behavior. Reach out today for a consultation and to start moving those habits from bad to good!