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If you have any bad habits, then
congratulations, it’s been confirmed you’re a human. You will also know first hand that they can
take over your life, and prohibit you from doing all the things that you want
to get done. Often we see that they are wrong for us, but they are hard to
eliminate from our lives.
congratulations, it’s been confirmed you’re a human. You will also know first hand that they can
take over your life, and prohibit you from doing all the things that you want
to get done. Often we see that they are wrong for us, but they are hard to
eliminate from our lives.
“Why don’t you stop?” These habits can ring
deeper than that. These habits can also range from smoking and drinking to
biting your nails and disrupting your sleeping pattern.
deeper than that. These habits can also range from smoking and drinking to
biting your nails and disrupting your sleeping pattern.
These kinds of habit are not right for us; for
our physical health or our mental health. They waste our time, money, and
energy, that could be better used elsewhere. So how can we make sure that a bad
habit gets out of our lives for good?
our physical health or our mental health. They waste our time, money, and
energy, that could be better used elsewhere. So how can we make sure that a bad
habit gets out of our lives for good?
Start with looking at what may be causing (or
leading to) your bad habit in the first place. More often than not this kind of
habit will come from one of two things, stress or boredom. It can be a way to
cope if you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed, or act as an escape when you’re feeling bored. Once
again, not just talking about the ‘taboo’ habits like smoking or binge drinking
every week. But things like overspending or overeating can quite quickly become
a bad habit that takes over.
leading to) your bad habit in the first place. More often than not this kind of
habit will come from one of two things, stress or boredom. It can be a way to
cope if you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed, or act as an escape when you’re feeling bored. Once
again, not just talking about the ‘taboo’ habits like smoking or binge drinking
every week. But things like overspending or overeating can quite quickly become
a bad habit that takes over.
a stressful or boring
situation. While some good habits can help your response, you do have to look
at yourself and see if there is an underlying issue to the habit. Of course,
stress or boredom may have been the trigger that gets you started. But do you
have a belief or any particular reason for the bad habit that keeps you doing
it? Is there some fear that keeps you doing something that you know is bad for
you? If this isn’t dealt with, along with some healthy habits, then it could
lead to the habit taking over your life, and even ending up somewhere like rehab. So taking control is one of the first steps to kicking
your bad habit for good. Knowing the causes or reasons behind a bad habit can
make a big difference in helping you to overcome them.
situation. While some good habits can help your response, you do have to look
at yourself and see if there is an underlying issue to the habit. Of course,
stress or boredom may have been the trigger that gets you started. But do you
have a belief or any particular reason for the bad habit that keeps you doing
it? Is there some fear that keeps you doing something that you know is bad for
you? If this isn’t dealt with, along with some healthy habits, then it could
lead to the habit taking over your life, and even ending up somewhere like rehab. So taking control is one of the first steps to kicking
your bad habit for good. Knowing the causes or reasons behind a bad habit can
make a big difference in helping you to overcome them.
If you have a habit that you want to see the
back of, then here are some of the ways that you can break the habit and
replace it with a good one if needed.
back of, then here are some of the ways that you can break the habit and
replace it with a good one if needed.
Remove Triggers
Several things will
be triggers for you and your bad habit. If you eat a whole pack of cookies
whenever they are in the house, try not buying them. My only exception is Girl
Scout season. Lemme tell ya, those cookies are a habit that is not going
anywhere anytime soon. Additionally, if you smoke when you go out for a drink,
then avoid going to a bar for a while or or reduce the amount that you drink, so
that the associated smoking doesn’t come along with it. You can make it much
easier on yourself when you remove whatever the trigger for your bad habit is.
The environment that you put yourself in will play a big part in your habits.
As things are, it is making the bad habits easier. So you want to turn it on
its head and make it a better environment for good practices to be established.
I like to think of it as feng shui-ing your life.
be triggers for you and your bad habit. If you eat a whole pack of cookies
whenever they are in the house, try not buying them. My only exception is Girl
Scout season. Lemme tell ya, those cookies are a habit that is not going
anywhere anytime soon. Additionally, if you smoke when you go out for a drink,
then avoid going to a bar for a while or or reduce the amount that you drink, so
that the associated smoking doesn’t come along with it. You can make it much
easier on yourself when you remove whatever the trigger for your bad habit is.
The environment that you put yourself in will play a big part in your habits.
As things are, it is making the bad habits easier. So you want to turn it on
its head and make it a better environment for good practices to be established.
I like to think of it as feng shui-ing your life.
Choose a Substitute
If you make a plan for how you will react to
things going forward, then it can help you to beat the habit. But for many,
having to stop doing something simply can be difficult. Which is where
replacing the habit with something better can be a good thing. You are still
likely to face stress or boredom in your life at some points. But when those
instances occur, you want to make sure that you can deal with them in a better
manner, and not revert to your old ways. What will work for you could be
different to someone else. But things like going for a run, instead of reaching
for a packet of cigarettes could help, or replace the sugary foods that you eat
with something with natural sugar, like fruit. Decide now so that when you feel
the urge, you can commit to your substitute.
things going forward, then it can help you to beat the habit. But for many,
having to stop doing something simply can be difficult. Which is where
replacing the habit with something better can be a good thing. You are still
likely to face stress or boredom in your life at some points. But when those
instances occur, you want to make sure that you can deal with them in a better
manner, and not revert to your old ways. What will work for you could be
different to someone else. But things like going for a run, instead of reaching
for a packet of cigarettes could help, or replace the sugary foods that you eat
with something with natural sugar, like fruit. Decide now so that when you feel
the urge, you can commit to your substitute.
Get an Accountability Buddy
If you have a friend
to report back to, then it can be a good way to keep you motivated to keep
going and beating your habit. It could be someone in a similar situation to you
or someone close to you that wants to help. Much like getting a gym buddy!
You can check up on
each other, ask how each other are doing, and keep each other motivated.
to report back to, then it can be a good way to keep you motivated to keep
going and beating your habit. It could be someone in a similar situation to you
or someone close to you that wants to help. Much like getting a gym buddy!
You can check up on
each other, ask how each other are doing, and keep each other motivated.
Surround Yourself with
Positivity
The people that you
surround yourself with are the people that will influence your life, for good
or for bad. So think about your family or friend circle at the moment, and
think about the impact that these people have on your life. Are they a negative
impact? If there are toxic
people that
are causing the stress and chaos in your life, then avoid being around them. It
will make your habit much harder to kick otherwise. Instead, surround yourself
with people that help you to be better and help you to be the best version of
yourself. Some new friends can be a very valuable asset.
surround yourself with are the people that will influence your life, for good
or for bad. So think about your family or friend circle at the moment, and
think about the impact that these people have on your life. Are they a negative
impact? If there are toxic
people that
are causing the stress and chaos in your life, then avoid being around them. It
will make your habit much harder to kick otherwise. Instead, surround yourself
with people that help you to be better and help you to be the best version of
yourself. Some new friends can be a very valuable asset.
Identify the steps
that you need to take to beat your habit. It might be avoiding certain places
or people, rather than using a substitute habit. You need to figure out what
works for you.
that you need to take to beat your habit. It might be avoiding certain places
or people, rather than using a substitute habit. You need to figure out what
works for you.
