As the world prepares to start over in 2025, promises to eat better, exercise and read more books often take center stage.
However, I would like to encourage my fellow Christians to honestly examine behaviors and actions that not only harm ourselves, but others as well.
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From digital discipline to prayer, what should be on your list? Listed below are 5 habits that we should all abandon in 2025with compelling reasons to do so:
1. Spending too much time on the phone
A recent study revealed that adults typically spend more than 4.5 hours a day on their phones.
Why is it destructive? Because it takes away time from our family, decreases productivity (possibly stealing wages), affects relationships, and is a bad testimony for our children.
Additionally, using your phone while driving can cause accidents, property damage, or death. To do? There are many applications and strategies to combat excessive phone use. Use them for accountability or commit to putting away your phone during certain hours. Your life will be better without him.
2. Always arrive late
I understand. I am a mother of four children and I have made many excuses to be late.
Why is it destructive? There are legitimate reasons for being late from time to time, but chronic lateness can be a sin against charity, because it disrespects the schedules of others, costs the company time, is disruptive (such as during Mass), and , in some cases, causes other people to be late as well.
Always going late can even be an occasion for sin due to speeding or reckless driving. To do? Admit that it takes you longer than expected to get from one place to another and add buffer time to your schedule. For me, I know I need at least an extra 15 minutes to get out the door with four kids. Strive to arrive early and you won’t arrive exhausted!
3. “Default” frequently
The habit of canceling plans at the last minute.
Why is it destructive? When we repeatedly cancel plans, we demonstrate a lack of consideration for others. People lose trust in our reliability and are less likely to contact us in the future.
To do? Don’t commit unless you are sure you can keep and honor your word. If you recognize that you have unstable tendencies, do some inner work to get to the root cause: Am I too busy or overcommitted? Did I agree to attend out of guilt? Am I canceling because something “better” came along? Face this habit with honesty and humility, and decide to change.
4. Not having a budget, schedule and meal plan
Money is already a sore point for couples, with up to 34% of adults in relationships citing it as a trigger for fights. Studies have shown that humans, especially children, thrive on routines. And meal plans are the result of a good budget and good programming. However, someone who is not in the habit of doing any of the three things might not see the immediate problem.
Why is it destructive? Let me be clear: not having this triad of organization is not a sin! However, lack of planning perpetuates bad habits and poor results, such as lateness, missing commitments, impulsive spending, wasting food, etc. It can cause arguments between spouses and deprive children of stability.
To do? There is no need to overcomplicate things. Reddit users have mixed opinions on whether AI is useful or not, but our family uses a synced Google calendar for work schedules and activities and a good old-fashioned pen and paper method for managing daily tasks like school, errands, meals and daily Mass, and we also include the prayer intention for the day. Find a system that works for you and stick with it.
5. Neglecting prayer and time due to God
God created us to know him, love him, and serve him in this world so that we can be happy with him forever in heaven. When our days are packed with work, school, extracurricular activities, and other pursuits, how much time is left for God?
Why is it destructive? A properly ordered day has a balance between work, rest, recreation and prayer. When we are “too busy,” our prayer life usually suffers. As a result, we deliberately rob God of the time and attention He deserves. We also rob ourselves and our families of the graces that come from praying together and receiving the sacraments frequently.
To do? May this be the year you turn your heart and mind toward God! No matter how busy you are, it is possible to reorient your life toward God.
My husband and I show you how in The Prayer Book for Tired Parents: Practical Ways to Grow in Love of God and Get Your Family to Heaven (The Prayer Book for Weary Parents: Practical Ways to Grow in Love for God and Get Your Family to Heaven), published by EWTN. Discover realistic ways to put God first, develop concrete prayer habits, and cultivate the peace of God in your home. It’s a resolution worth making in 2025!
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in National Catholic Register.
Debbie Cowden
Debbie Cowden is a Senior Digital Media Specialist at EWTN and co-author, with her husband David, of The Prayer Book for Tired Parents (EWTN Publishing).