Everyone out there has a bad habit or two. But for many of us, they’re not quite as obvious as sneaking the occasional cigarette or peppering your language with more curse words than polite company dictates.
In fact, with the exception of a precious few, virtually everyone has a laundry list of seemingly inconsequential—yet ultimately highly annoying—habits that are so deeply ingrained they forget they’re doing them.
Think this doesn’t apply to you? Think again. Here, you’ll find a definitive list of annoying things people do that few would be eager to admit.
Humblebragging
We all have days when we’re eager to share a personal victory, but don’t know how to bring it up without sounding like we’re patting ourselves on the back. Unfortunately, in many cases, what comes out is worse: the humblebrag, or “backdoor brag,” a way of boasting without outright saying what you’re proud of.
For instance: “I had to hire a housekeeper because my new house is just too big for me to take care of alone.”
Not standing to one side on an escalator
Despite what many people seem to think, there are rules for using an escalator. Unless you really want to annoy other people, move to the right when you’re standing still, and stick to the left side if you’re walking up or down.
Starting an order with, “Can I get a…?”
Just because you’re in a rush to get your morning coffee doesn’t mean that’s an excuse to be rude. However, despite our best intentions, many of us still place an order—in cafés, in bars, in restaurants—with, “Can I get a…?” instead of the more polite, “May I please have…?”
Not holding the door for the person behind you
If someone holds the door for you, it’s your job to grab it and hold it for the next person. Unfortunately, when we’re in a rush, many of us forget about this crucial etiquette rule, leaving the person who held the door for us initially to play de facto doorman for another 10 people before getting a break.
However, you also don’t want to hold the door open for someone who’s too far away, forcing that person to speed up to receive your kind gesture.
Refusing to walk single-file on a crowded sidewalk
Sometimes, you’re so in love with a new significant other or so wrapped up in a conversation with your friends, you don’t want to stop walking in step with them. But this presents a very annoying situation for practically any pedestrian near you: They either have to slow down to walk at your pace or try to get around you (often to no avail).
Singing along to a song like you’re trying to win a Grammy
We all sing along to songs sometimes, regardless of our actual proficiency. However, the one thing more annoying than listening to someone’s off-key rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’” is listening to them try to deliver an American Idol-worthy performance when the rest of you are just goofing off.
Not returning your shopping cart
Sure, we all have those times when bringing the cart back to the store seems like more trouble than it’s worth. That said, there’s virtually nothing more annoying than finding the perfect parking spot in front of a store only to realize it’s already occupied by someone’s runaway cart.
