BOOMER BAD HABITS

Will Millennials Learn From Boomer Bad Habits?

Inc.com ran a story about sniveling losers who all do the same things over and over.

They might be aimed for younger people, i.e. millennials, but it rings true for all.

Instead of the blogger habit of stealing content, I’m going to use the big points and add to them with full attribution.

1. Procrastinating.

Call it waiting for the right moment, or planning, preparation, or more research. At some point it’s go time.

If you need an excuse for not getting things done, try to do better than “I forgot.”

Look around for projects started and abandoned, materials gathered and ignored. Then set the clock. If you don’t finish what you’ve started, move on.

Sometimes procrastination tells you that you just don’t care enough to finish. That doesn’t make you a bad person, but leaving the mess all over the place might say otherwise.

2. Blaming.

Anyone good at blaming is someone who blames a lot. Whose fault is it when your life feels like a blind date set up by your mom with her friend’s daughter?

Neither of you want to be there, but you still need to do something.

If it doesn’t work out, blame them.

3. Minimizing.

If you know a superstar in life, celebrate them. Celebrate with them instead of comparing your lame self to them and explaining why you’re much better, a little better, or just a bit better.

If you were better, would others tell you you’re not better? Just lucky?

Here’s a secret, luck often comes to those most prepared. Minimize that with a handful of Cheetos.

4. Consuming.

The fifties stereotype had father walk in the door after work, his wife all fancied up and handing him a drink on the way to his easy chair.

The man’s been at his desk all day, sitting in his car, and now comes home to sit.

In the balance between producing and consuming, be a better producer with your time wherever you are.

Do you really want to join the binge watching television population. Think of your health.

5. Talking.

Remember your freshman year in college and meeting upperclassman, the people who could quote the classics, who’ve read everything you have on your reading list?

You don’t need to play dumb to get them talking. They want you to know they know things you’ll never know.

Does that sound familiar? Like the last time you bought a big ticket item? Sales people want you to know their product is worth the money. You want to pay them to shut up.

6. Assuming.

You could explain text book nuclear physics to someone with difficulties making a cup of tea and at some point they break out the , “I know. Yes, I know.”

Watch for people who lead a conversation just so they can say, “I know,” when you add your opinion.

Do they know? What do you think?

7. Naysaying.

Whether you think you can do something, or not, you’re right.

Instead of bringing up plans just to have them flattened with, “When will you finally grow up and realize you’re never going to…run a marathon, climb a mountain, get a promotion.”

Your job in life is to find a way to accomplish the things important to you, then help others.

Leave the gloom and doom for those who can’t seem to make it to the front door.

8. Malingering.

My favorite is the boomer who says they left college one class short of their degree.

Second are the single people who say they wish they’d married.

If you can go to class for years and years, but can’t quite get to the graduation ceremony, it’s not a badge of independence. You’ve spent the money and time. Your diploma is a receipt.

If people say they wish they’d married, don’t start quizzing them about their social habits. It won’t be pretty.

9. Loafing.

Nothing wrong with taking a break, taking a knee, or just catching your breath before continuing.

The loafers are the people sleeping on the couch, drooling on cushions, in the middle of the day.

Are they loafing, or loaded? Either way, wake them the hell up.

10. Equivocating.

If you’ve ever coached a team then you’ve heard every excuse why the players missed practice, were late, or forgot their gear.

The clock tells time for everyone, so be on time.

Your word is only as good as the last time you kept it.

Make a promise and keep it. That’s the habit you want.

11. Safeguarding.

Chronically unemployed fall into the trap of avoiding work so it won’t conflict with their weekly check.

It starts with money and moves toward the sort of mental illness that makes you lock the door six times, check for keys in your pocket every five minutes, and narrow your view to only you.

First off, you’re not important enough to victimize, so don’t self inflict things on yourself. And get treatment for your OCD.

12. Sour Graping.

You want something so you work toward a goal. If you fall short you cover up by saying, “It was no big deal.”

Then comes the private sobbing and self incrimination.

Your public face is sunshine and light, but you’re not fooling anyone. Failure brings a cloudy outlook.

Be honest with yourself for starters.

13. Quitting.

Have you ever had someone quit on you?

They agreed to help, but bailed. What’s important to you isn’t important to them, but they couldn’t tell you face to face.

Quitters aren’t bad people. You just can’t count on them.

Think of retired military personnel. All of them are retired from a branch of service but one.

Marines never retire. No such thing as a retired Marine. They are resting Marines.

It’s a tricky distinction, but hardly anyone asks for clarification.

Give people in your life room to quit, and embrace them when they don’t.

Now get out there and be somebody.