Most humans are creatures of habit. Establishing healthy habits early in life eliminates the possibility of having bad habits as an adult, and greatly reduces the risk of bad habits turning into more serious issues. However, not all teenagers are aware when they are in the early stages of creating a bad habit, so a great way to help your teen is to become educated on the top seven poor habits of teens that can lead to serious problems in their future. By knowing what these habits are, you can start working with your teen now as a way to prevent worsening behavior as time goes on. These habits are:

1. Procrastination

Procrastination can quickly turn from an infrequent mistake to a hard-to-fix habit. Teenagers naturally have more free time than adults, so it can be easier to find time for what teens want to do instead of what they need to do, like schoolwork, chores, and self-care. These types of tasks are often put off for later. The problem is that the promised “later” never comes. 

There are a few steps you can take to help your teen avoid getting into the habit of procrastination. The first tactic is to show your teen positive reinforcement for prioritizing their tasks. For example, you can set the expectation that there will be rewards for finishing their homework before dinner or cleaning their room before leaving the house to hang out with friends. The next tactic is to lead by example and make a to-do list alongside your teen so you are both working together to finish your “to-do’s” before you have fun. You can post your lists on the refrigerator, so your teen can see you crossing off your list as the day goes on and thus become motivated to do the same. By exemplifying your own willingness to do the things you ask of your teen, your teen is more likely to see the value in what you ask of them. 

2. Oversleeping And Staying Up Too Late

Generally, staying up too late and oversleeping go hand-in-hand. As teens attempt to cram in more fun time, they end up sacrificing their sleep. However, research shows that lack of sleep is directly correlated to emotional and behavioral dysregulation.

The concept of staying up late to have more leisure time is oftentimes in direct correlation to two things: procrastination and/or a lack of free time. Whether your teen procrastinates on school, chores, and self-care, leading to late-night obligations, or crams them in and desires to stay up late for more personal time, they end up losing sleep. To mitigate these outcomes, it starts with educating your teen on the importance of prioritization. As mentioned above, a to-do list and positive reinforcement for getting things done efficiently is a great first step. 

Additionally, something that can help your teen get into a more regular bedtime routine is to set an electronics bedtime, where phones, TVs, and other devices are put away. Without the draw to keep scrolling on their smartphones or watch one more episode, many teens find it easier to go to sleep. With this rule in place, teens will naturally reap the reward because they will feel more refreshed each morning and have more energy to efficiently finish their tasks. If you don’t see results right away, give it time, because it often takes a few days to a week for teens to notice that they feel more awake and ready to go when they don’t use electronics before bed.

3. Refuse To Accept Responsibilities

While many teens are eager to act more like adults and do things like getting jobs and driving, some teenagers may try to cling to childhood and refuse further responsibilities. This habit can become particularly damaging to their future because it results in teenagers who grow into young adults who have little to no direction in life and who are afraid to move out of their parent’s homes and take responsibility for their lives.

For many of these teens, anxiety, not laziness, is often at the root of their refusal to accept new responsibilities. While there may be a touch of laziness in why teens prefer to have someone else take charge, it is important to understand when your kid needs emotional support to push through their anxieties to take on new responsibilities.

4. Lackluster Hygiene

Everybody has heard the saying, “look good, feel good.” But not every teen puts it into practice. Especially when new hormonal changes occur and surprising new body odors, acne, hair oils, etc, come with them. While younger kids can get away with lackluster hygiene, even teens who have excellent hygiene may struggle to stay fresh. With this in mind, excellent hygiene habits are a must if teens want to stay smelling and feeling good.

A great way to get your teen inspired to establish healthy hygiene is to get them involved with picking out their new products such as deodorant, shampoos, toothpaste, and soaps. Teens often are looking for more autonomy, and this is a great way to give them that. Plus, they’ll become intrigued with all the different options and awesome smells of these products, so they’ll be excited to pick out more once they run out!

5. Talking Back

Teenagers talking back to their parents often leads to discussions about getting more serious help for their teens, such as sending them to treatment centers or military schools. However, viewing your teen’s inclination to talk back as an opportunity for communication can turn it into a positive aspect, recognizing that at least your teen is still engaging in conversation with you.

There are many reasons your teen may talk back. For example, they may not know how to communicate their feelings, or they may know that if they talk back to you, they’ll get what they want. It’s important to recognize the patterns of your teen’s behavior, and what they are trying to accomplish with their acting out. If their talking back is not handled appropriately, it will become a bad habit for your teen that will continue to show up into adulthood. While it can take time and work to figure out how to best communicate with your teen, it’s important to always stay calm and civil when delivering your own responses. 

6. Poor Eating Habits

Another troubling habit your teen may be engaging in is poor eating habits. Either end of the eating spectrum—over- or under-eating—can have highly damaging consequences. It is best to intervene early on before the consequences result in serious health complications.

Stocking your fridge and pantry with healthy, easy-to-eat snacks and foods—i.e., fruit, 5h-up veggies, whole wheat bread, eggs, etc.—and reducing the amount of processed foods can make a significant difference. Also, teaching your teen about proper nutrition, rather than fad diets and pop nutrition, can help them make more informed food choices. 

7. Consistently Lying

While lying is a relatively common behavior among teens, most learn to manage it. However, if your teen consistently chooses to lie even in situations where it doesn’t seem warranted, it’s worth taking a closer look at your teen’s behaviors. 

Some parents may say that their teens won’t get in trouble if they are honest, yet still, get upset and punish their teens at the truth. This kind of behavior encourages lying, as there is no benefit to being honest with their parents in the teen’s mind. If you make statements about the importance of truth, be prepared to hear things you weren’t expecting or didn’t want to hear. While it’s still crucial to implement discipline for bad behavior, you must also remember to thank your teen for telling the truth. 

If you are concerned that you haven’t been able to curtail the bad habits your teen is engaging in and that they are becoming worse, you can always contact us, the parental advisors here at Help Your Teen Now. We can advise you whether or not a troubled teen program is a good fit for your teen, and provide you with resources to help your teen get back on the right track.