If you really want to become more disciplined and successful in 2025, say goodbye to these 7 habits

Success isn’t just about setting big goals — it’s about having the discipline to follow through on them.

And if we’re being honest, discipline is a lot easier to talk about than it is to practice. Most people don’t fail because they lack ambition — they fail because their habits quietly sabotage them along the way.

If you want 2025 to be the year you finally stick to your plans and see real results, it’s time to take a hard look at your daily habits. 

Some of the things we do out of “convenience” or “comfort” are the very things that block us from success.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to overhaul your entire life. Just start by letting go of the habits that are keeping you stuck.

Here are 7 key habits that could be holding you back. If you’re ready to be more disciplined, focused, and successful this year, these are the habits you’ll want to leave behind for good.

1) Procrastination 

Look, we’ve all been there – that moment when you have a growing to-do list, but instead, you find yourself binge-watching the latest Netflix series or scrolling through social media.

Procrastination is like a sneaky thief, quietly stealing your precious time and productivity. It’s one of those habits that we often justify, saying we work better under pressure or convincing ourselves that we’ll do it tomorrow.

But let’s face it – tomorrow often turns into never. And before we know it, our goals seem further away than ever.

Now, I’m not saying you can’t have downtime or enjoy a good show. That’s not the point. The point is to recognize when procrastination is ruling your life instead of you ruling it.

Getting rid of this habit requires an honest look at why you’re avoiding certain tasks and finding strategies to combat it. It may be tough, but it’s absolutely worth it.

The longer you let procrastination run the show, the harder it becomes to break free from it. But once you do, you’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish — and how much lighter you’ll feel mentally.

2) Overcommitting 

I’ll be the first to admit that I used to be a chronic over-committer.

There was this one time when I said yes to every project, every task, every favor that came my way. I thought it would make me more productive, more successful. But boy, was I wrong.

Instead of being productive, I found myself overwhelmed, constantly rushing from one task to another, barely keeping my head above water. I was so busy trying to do it all that I was actually accomplishing very little.

One day, I realized that by saying yes to everything, I was actually saying no to the things that truly mattered to me. My health, hobbies, relationships – they were all getting sidelined because of my inability to say no.

That’s the thing about overcommitting – it’s a trap. It gives you the illusion of productivity while silently sabotaging your success.

To become more disciplined and successful in 2025, we need to learn the art of saying no. It allows us to focus on what truly matters and enhances our productivity instead of diluting it. 

3) Neglecting self-care 

Audrey Hepburn once wisely said, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”

This quote struck a chord with me. It reminded me of a time when I was so consumed with work, projects and obligations, that I forgot about the most important person – myself.

I was constantly hustling, constantly pushing, constantly striving. But one day I hit a wall – I was burnt out. I had neglected my physical health, my mental health… Heck, I had neglected my very soul.

And that’s when Audrey Hepburn’s words echoed in my mind. I realized I had been so busy extending one hand to help others, to fulfill obligations, that I had completely forgotten to extend the other hand to help myself.

It’s a hard lesson to learn, but an essential one. As Tami Forman writes in Forbes Magazine, “Self-care is not an indulgence. It’s a discipline. 

Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Make sure your cup is not just full, but overflowing. That’s the secret to sustainable success.

4) Multitasking 

We live in a world where multitasking is often hailed as a desirable skill. But the reality is, it’s not as effective as we think.

Turns out, when we multitask, our brain actually switches back and forth between tasks, rather than doing them simultaneously. This constant switch not only slows us down, but it also increases the chances of mistakes.

In the end, you’ll spend more time correcting mistakes and less time actually getting things done — the very opposite of efficiency.

So, if we want to be more disciplined and successful in 2025, it’s time to say goodbye to the myth of multitasking. Let’s focus on one task at a time, giving it our full attention.

You’ll be surprised at how much more productive you’ll become.

5) Fear of failure 

Ever heard the saying, “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it?” Well, it’s true.

Fear of failure has a sneaky way of planting doubt in your mind, making you second-guess your every move.

Instead of taking action, you stay stuck in “what if” scenarios — What if I mess up? What if people judge me? What if I’m just not good enough? These thoughts feel protective, but in reality, they’re just keeping you from growing.

Here’s the thing: failure isn’t the enemy. It’s actually one of the best teachers you’ll ever have!

Every successful person you admire has failed — many times. The difference is, they didn’t let it stop them. They learned from it, adapted, and tried again.

But when you’re afraid of failure, you avoid taking risks altogether. You play it safe, stick to what’s familiar, and convince yourself that it’s “not the right time” to go after what you really want.

Spoiler alert: there’s never a “perfect” time.

So, how do you overcome this fear? You change the story you’re telling yourself. Instead of viewing failure as a sign of incompetence, see it as a sign of progress. 

If you’re failing, it means you’re doing something, taking action, and learning along the way.

And here’s the best part: failure isn’t permanent — but regret is. So take the risk, make the move, and remind yourself that even if it doesn’t work out, you’ll be further along than if you never tried at all.

6) Lack of planning 

You’ve probably heard the phrase “failing to plan is planning to fail,” right? I used to roll my eyes at it, thinking I thrived in spontaneity. But, boy, was I wrong!

It turns out that “winging it” only works in movies — in real life, it often leads to missed deadlines, forgotten tasks, and a whole lot of unnecessary stress.

Research shows that planning and goal-setting not only increases productivity but also improves performance.

Not only that, but it also reduces decision fatigue, according to experts.

When you have a plan, you don’t waste mental energy figuring out “what to do next.” Instead, you move with purpose.

Without a plan, every little task feels like a mountain because you’re constantly reacting instead of proactively moving forward. It’s a subtle but powerful difference that can make or break your success.

7) Living in the past 

We all have past experiences, memories, and situations that we hold onto. I used to be one of those people who would dwell on past mistakes, reliving them over and over again in my mind.

I realized that by dwelling on the past, I was not only wasting precious time but also preventing myself from moving forward. It was like trying to drive a car while constantly looking in the rearview mirror.

The truth is, the past can’t be changed. It’s done, it’s gone. But what we can change is our reaction to it. We can learn from it and use it as a stepping stone towards our future success.

Remember, the road to success is always ahead, not behind us. Let’s keep our eyes on the road and drive forward towards a more disciplined and successful future.

Wrapping up

Look, saying goodbye to habits that have become a part of us is no walk in the park. It’s challenging, it’s uncomfortable, and yes, it might even be a little scary.

But here’s what I want you to know – it’s absolutely worth it.

Choosing to let go of these habits isn’t just about becoming more disciplined or successful in 2025. It’s about embracing a journey towards becoming the best version of yourself.

Start by acknowledging these habits. Recognize when procrastination takes over or when fear of failure holds you back. Pay attention to when you’re neglecting self-care or living in the past.

The beauty of this process is that once you’re aware, you can start making changes. Small, consistent changes that over time, add up to big transformations.

And here’s a fact that might just make this journey a little easier: according to research, it takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. That’s just a little over two months to change a habit!

So be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself. And most importantly, believe in yourself. You’re capable of much more than you think!