Coaching Tip: Habits that Prevent Progress

Originally Submitted on 5/1/2000.

Introduction

Some habits may get in the way of our fully focusing on what is important to us. Clients may be encouraged to perceive these behaviors as potentially presenting serious problems that prevent serious success.

The Coaching Tip

Clients sometimes report that computer games take up time that they had intended to spend on moving their careers or business forward. This is just one example of a habit that can begin to show some of the attributes of addiction. Others may be almost any hobby or interest to which one turns knowing full well that it is taking up more time than is needed for personal recreation, yet doing it anyway, sometimes almost against one's own will.

While harmless per se, if these habits prevent us from moving toward our potential, and from becoming successful at whatever life path we have chosen, then they may have harmful results. Indeed, when we turn to a behavior knowing full well that it is not what we really intend to be doing, we need to wonder whether this is coming very close to a form of psychological addiction.

Clients can be encouraged to keep a time log that shows them how much time they are actually spending in non-productive (and non-self-nurturing) activities. They may also consider what useful results they might have been obtaining during that time. This is not to make the client wrong, but simply to encourage a re-routing of time and energy toward more beneficial activities.

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