Trapped by Habits: How Small Choices Shape Our Lives
We often think that success depends only on talent or luck, but in reality, our everyday choices shape who we are. The way we eat, sleep, study, spend money, and even speak to others can create patterns that either help us or hold us back. Unfortunately, many people develop harmful habits that harm their health, relationships, and future goals.
People often complain about stress, but much of it stems from a lack of self-control. Impulsiveness may lead to careless decisions, and when we lose our temper in difficult situations, we hurt those around us. Mental habits also play a role: we may overthink problems, overreact to small issues, or procrastinate instead of completing work. These behaviours are often followed by harsh self-criticism. Some people show nervous actions like biting fingernails, turning to emotional eating, or even picking nose in public, which is both unhealthy and socially embarrassing.
Sleep is another common problem. Irregular sleep, lack of sleep, or the tendency to oversleep all reduce concentration. Many students try to cram before exams, which usually makes things worse. In adult life, other habits appear: shopping addiction, social media addiction, video game addiction, and workaholism can take over free time and relationships. As a result, people get distracted easily, take on too much, and feel overwhelmed.
Unhealthy social behaviour also damages trust. Cooperation and friendships often break down at school or work when people are judgmental, passive-aggressive, bully others, gossip, interrupt, or swear too much.
Finally, money habits affect stability. To live beyond your means, overspend, or simply waste resources creates long-term problems. Even simple things like choosing to skip meals can harm both body and mind.
Harmful habits may seem unimportant when taken alone, but together they shape our lifestyle and future. The first step to change is awareness: once we notice these patterns, we can begin to replace them with healthier choices.
Key vocabulary:
General Words
habit — [ˈhæb.ɪt] — something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it; ieradums
harmful — [ˈhɑːm.fəl] — something that causes damage, injury, or problems; kaitīgs
Mental and Emotional Habits
complain — [kəmˈpleɪn] — to say you are not satisfied with something; sūdzēties, žēloties
impulsiveness — [ɪmˈpʌl.sɪv.nəs] — doing things suddenly without thinking; impulsivitāte jeb uzvedības netīšums, tieksme darboties ātri, reaktīvi, vadoties no pēkšņas ierosmes, impulsa, neapzināti, bez refleksijas
lose temper — [luːz ˈtem.pə] — suddenly get angry; zaudēt pašsavaldīšanos
overthink — [ˌəʊvəˈθɪŋk] — to think too much about something in a way that is not helpful; pārspīlēti prātot
overreact — [ˌəʊ.və.riˈækt] — to react in an extreme, especially an angry or frightened, way; pārāk asi reaģēt, pārspīlēti reaģēt
procrastinate — [prəˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən] — to delay doing something you must do; atlikt, novilcināt, kavēties ar kaut ko
self-criticism — [ˌselfˈkrɪt.ɪ.sɪ.zəm] — talking to yourself in a negative way, blaming yourself; paškritika jeb salīdzinoša sevis analīze, vērtējums (konstatējot pozitīvo un negatīvo)
Lifestyle and Health Habits
biting fingernails — [ˈbaɪ.tɪŋ ˈfɪŋ.ɡə.neɪlz] — a nervous habit where a person puts their fingers in their mouth and bites their nails. It is usually seen as unhealthy and impolite; nagu graušana
emotioonal eating — [ɪˈməʊ.ʃən.əl ˈiː.tɪŋ] — eating food not because you are hungry, but because you feel stressed, sad, bored, or sometimes even happy. People often choose unhealthy food (like sweets or fast food) when they eat this way; emocionālā ēšana
irregular sleep — [ɪˈreɡ.jʊ.lər sliːp] — sleeping at very different times each day; neregulārs miegs
lack of sleep — [læk əv sliːp] — not having enough sleep; miega trūkums
oversleep — [ˌəʊ.vəˈsliːp] — to sleep for longer than you intended to and so wake up late; nogulēt, aizgulēties
picking nose — [ˈpɪk.ɪŋ nəʊz] — putting your finger inside your nose to remove mucus (the wet or dry substance inside); urbināt degunu
shopping addiction — [ˈʃɒp.ɪŋ əˈdɪk.ʃən] — buying things you don’t need; atkarība no iepirkšanās
skip meals — [skɪp miːlz] — not eat at the usual time; izlaist ēdienreizes jeb ēst neregulāri
social media addiction ˈsəʊ.ʃəl ˈmiː.di.ə əˈdɪk.ʃən spending too much time on social media; atkarība no sociālo mediju lietošanas
video game addiction — [ˈvɪd.i.əʊ ˌɡeɪm əˈdɪk.ʃən] — playing games too much, losing control of time; atkarība no video spēlēm
workaholism — [ˈwɜː.kə.hɒl.ɪ.zəm] — working too much and not being able to stop; darbaholisms jeb pārmērīga aizraušanās ar darbu, tieksme pārmērīgi daudz strādāt
Work and Study Habits
cram — [kræm] — to study a lot in a short time before an exam; iekalt, iemācīties īsā laikā
get distracted — [ɡet dɪˈstræk.tɪd] — to stop concentrating; būt izklaidīgam(ai)
take on too much — [teɪk ɒn tuː mʌtʃ] — accept more work than you can do; uzņemties par daudz
Social and Relationship Habits
be judgmental (also: judgemental) — [dʒʌdʒˈmen.təl] — quickly criticize others; būt kritiskam attiecībā pret citiem
be passive-aggressive — [ˌpæsɪv əˈɡresɪv] — show anger indirectly, not openly; būt pasīvi agresīvam jeb netieši paust negatīvas jūtas, piemēram, dusmas, aizkaitinājumu vai vilšanos
bullying — [ˈbʊl.i.ɪŋ] — a type of behavior that involves using violence or threats to scare or hurt smaller or less powerful people; iebaidīšana, iebiedēšana, terorizēšana
gossip — [ˈɡɒs.ɪp] — to talk about other people’s private lives; tenkot
interrupt — [ˌɪn.təˈrʌpt] — to stop someone while they are speaking; pārtraukt kādu citu, sevišķi sarunas laikā
swearing — [ˈsweə.rɪŋ] — rude or offensive language that someone uses, especially when they are angry; lamāšanās
Money and Consumption Habits
live beyond your means — [lɪv bɪˈjɒnd jɔː ˈmiːnz] — spend more money than you actually earn; tērēt vairāk finansiālo līdzekļu nekā tiek nopelnīts
overspend — [ˌəʊ.vəˈspend] — to spend more money than you can afford; tērēt vairāk nekā var atļauties
waste — [weɪst] — use too much of something without purpose; izšķiest (parasti bezmērķīgi)
harmful — [ˈhɑːm.fəl] — something that causes damage, injury, or problems; kaitīgs
Mental and Emotional Habits
complain — [kəmˈpleɪn] — to say you are not satisfied with something; sūdzēties, žēloties
impulsiveness — [ɪmˈpʌl.sɪv.nəs] — doing things suddenly without thinking; impulsivitāte jeb uzvedības netīšums, tieksme darboties ātri, reaktīvi, vadoties no pēkšņas ierosmes, impulsa, neapzināti, bez refleksijas
lose temper — [luːz ˈtem.pə] — suddenly get angry; zaudēt pašsavaldīšanos
overthink — [ˌəʊvəˈθɪŋk] — to think too much about something in a way that is not helpful; pārspīlēti prātot
overreact — [ˌəʊ.və.riˈækt] — to react in an extreme, especially an angry or frightened, way; pārāk asi reaģēt, pārspīlēti reaģēt
procrastinate — [prəˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən] — to delay doing something you must do; atlikt, novilcināt, kavēties ar kaut ko
self-criticism — [ˌselfˈkrɪt.ɪ.sɪ.zəm] — talking to yourself in a negative way, blaming yourself; paškritika jeb salīdzinoša sevis analīze, vērtējums (konstatējot pozitīvo un negatīvo)
Lifestyle and Health Habits
biting fingernails — [ˈbaɪ.tɪŋ ˈfɪŋ.ɡə.neɪlz] — a nervous habit where a person puts their fingers in their mouth and bites their nails. It is usually seen as unhealthy and impolite; nagu graušana
emotioonal eating — [ɪˈməʊ.ʃən.əl ˈiː.tɪŋ] — eating food not because you are hungry, but because you feel stressed, sad, bored, or sometimes even happy. People often choose unhealthy food (like sweets or fast food) when they eat this way; emocionālā ēšana
irregular sleep — [ɪˈreɡ.jʊ.lər sliːp] — sleeping at very different times each day; neregulārs miegs
lack of sleep — [læk əv sliːp] — not having enough sleep; miega trūkums
oversleep — [ˌəʊ.vəˈsliːp] — to sleep for longer than you intended to and so wake up late; nogulēt, aizgulēties
picking nose — [ˈpɪk.ɪŋ nəʊz] — putting your finger inside your nose to remove mucus (the wet or dry substance inside); urbināt degunu
shopping addiction — [ˈʃɒp.ɪŋ əˈdɪk.ʃən] — buying things you don’t need; atkarība no iepirkšanās
skip meals — [skɪp miːlz] — not eat at the usual time; izlaist ēdienreizes jeb ēst neregulāri
social media addiction ˈsəʊ.ʃəl ˈmiː.di.ə əˈdɪk.ʃən spending too much time on social media; atkarība no sociālo mediju lietošanas
video game addiction — [ˈvɪd.i.əʊ ˌɡeɪm əˈdɪk.ʃən] — playing games too much, losing control of time; atkarība no video spēlēm
workaholism — [ˈwɜː.kə.hɒl.ɪ.zəm] — working too much and not being able to stop; darbaholisms jeb pārmērīga aizraušanās ar darbu, tieksme pārmērīgi daudz strādāt
Work and Study Habits
cram — [kræm] — to study a lot in a short time before an exam; iekalt, iemācīties īsā laikā
get distracted — [ɡet dɪˈstræk.tɪd] — to stop concentrating; būt izklaidīgam(ai)
take on too much — [teɪk ɒn tuː mʌtʃ] — accept more work than you can do; uzņemties par daudz
Social and Relationship Habits
be judgmental (also: judgemental) — [dʒʌdʒˈmen.təl] — quickly criticize others; būt kritiskam attiecībā pret citiem
be passive-aggressive — [ˌpæsɪv əˈɡresɪv] — show anger indirectly, not openly; būt pasīvi agresīvam jeb netieši paust negatīvas jūtas, piemēram, dusmas, aizkaitinājumu vai vilšanos
bullying — [ˈbʊl.i.ɪŋ] — a type of behavior that involves using violence or threats to scare or hurt smaller or less powerful people; iebaidīšana, iebiedēšana, terorizēšana
gossip — [ˈɡɒs.ɪp] — to talk about other people’s private lives; tenkot
interrupt — [ˌɪn.təˈrʌpt] — to stop someone while they are speaking; pārtraukt kādu citu, sevišķi sarunas laikā
swearing — [ˈsweə.rɪŋ] — rude or offensive language that someone uses, especially when they are angry; lamāšanās
Money and Consumption Habits
live beyond your means — [lɪv bɪˈjɒnd jɔː ˈmiːnz] — spend more money than you actually earn; tērēt vairāk finansiālo līdzekļu nekā tiek nopelnīts
overspend — [ˌəʊ.vəˈspend] — to spend more money than you can afford; tērēt vairāk nekā var atļauties
waste — [weɪst] — use too much of something without purpose; izšķiest (parasti bezmērķīgi)
Practice: now that you have learned the key vocabulary, it is time to use it in practice. Think how you would answer the discussion-type questions, which will help you develop the ability to give longer answers and practise how to express your opinion — just as in an English exam or real conversation. For each question, an answer prompt is available to guide you.
Discussion-Type Questions
1.Why do people often procrastinate even if they know it causes problems?
"I believe people procrastinate because it feels easier in the short term to avoid unpleasant tasks. For example, a student might delay studying because they feel tired or anxious. However, this usually makes the situation worse later. On the other hand, some say procrastination can sometimes give people the pressure they need to finally act. In my opinion, it is better to manage time effectively, since leaving everything until the last minute only creates stress."
2.Do you think emotional eating is more dangerous than skipping meals?
"In my view, both habits can be harmful, but in different ways. Emotional eating often leads to weight gain and health problems, while skipping meals may cause low energy and poor concentration. For instance, a student who skips breakfast may struggle to focus in class. Still, eating because of stress rather than hunger can become a cycle that is hard to break. Overall, I think emotional eating is more damaging in the long run, because it connects food directly with negative emotions."
1.Why do people often procrastinate even if they know it causes problems?
"I believe people procrastinate because it feels easier in the short term to avoid unpleasant tasks. For example, a student might delay studying because they feel tired or anxious. However, this usually makes the situation worse later. On the other hand, some say procrastination can sometimes give people the pressure they need to finally act. In my opinion, it is better to manage time effectively, since leaving everything until the last minute only creates stress."
2.Do you think emotional eating is more dangerous than skipping meals?
"In my view, both habits can be harmful, but in different ways. Emotional eating often leads to weight gain and health problems, while skipping meals may cause low energy and poor concentration. For instance, a student who skips breakfast may struggle to focus in class. Still, eating because of stress rather than hunger can become a cycle that is hard to break. Overall, I think emotional eating is more damaging in the long run, because it connects food directly with negative emotions."
3.How do harmful social habits, such as gossip or swearing, affect friendships?
"I would argue that harmful social habits damage trust between people. Gossip can make friends feel unsafe to share personal information, and constant swearing may create a negative atmosphere. On the other hand, some people say swearing is just a way of expressing strong feelings, and light gossip can even be seen as entertainment. Still, in my opinion, these habits are risky because they can easily hurt others and weaken relationships."
4.Is workaholism really a harmful habit if it makes people successful?
"Some believe that workaholism shows dedication and helps people achieve their goals. For instance, many successful entrepreneurs are known to work long hours. However, I think it is harmful because it damages health, family life, and personal happiness. Success should not come at the cost of constant stress and exhaustion. Therefore, I would say workaholism is not a healthy path, even if it sometimes leads to professional achievement."
5. Why do people often overspend even when they know it will cause financial problems?
"I think overspending happens because people want immediate satisfaction. For example, buying new clothes or gadgets can make someone feel happy in the moment. However, this often leads to debt and stress later. Some people also overspend because of social pressure, trying to look as successful as their friends. In my opinion, learning to budget is more useful than giving in to short-term desires, since financial stability brings more peace of mind in the long run."