Breaking Bad Habits

by Michael Corthell

Habits run our daily life. Pretty much everything you do is based on a habit you’ve developed at some point in your life. Some habits are helpful, while others can also work against you. Even worse – there are a few 'bad habits' that can have a negative, long-term impact on your capacity to live a fulfilling life.

Everyone wants to be healthy, strong, full of energy and life, as well as happy. Then why do so many of us have habits that take us in the polar opposite direction? Because getting rid of a habit requires change. And of all the things we do in a day, changing is by far the hardest. The only proven and proper way to get ride of our bad habits is to replace them with good, health ones.

Smoking, gambling, eating junk food, drinking too much alcohol, spending too much time on the Internet, and even sex. Some seem benign, like gaming on the Internet, or binge watching our favorite shows. But, when these activities disrupt our productive lives and cause us to neglect our responsibilities then we do have a problem—a BAD habit.

The good news is, that it is possible to eliminate a negative habit or bad routine by following an action plan.

Admitting and Accepting that you do indeed have a habit that is bad for you has to be acknowledged by you. That is the first step.

Visualize yourself succeeding. See yourself ditching those cigarettes. Buying healthy food or getting up early. Whatever the bad habit is that you're trying to break, visualize yourself throwing it away. Picture yourself smiling, and enjoying your success. See yourself building a new health you.

'Buddy Up'. How many times have you tried to break a habit alone? Or maybe you “quit smoking” … but you kept it to yourself? That way no one can see you fail, hmmm? Instead, pair up with someone and change together. It's about being accountable to each other. And knowing that someone else expects you to be better is a powerful motivator.

Identify Triggers - Choose a substitutes. We all need a plan ahead of time for how we will respond when we face the stress and boredom that triggers your bad habit. What are you going to do when you get the craving to smoke? Plan for it.

Plan for slip ups. We all slip up every now and then. When we fail, skip our exercise routine, eat junk food, or sleep late, it doesn’t make us bad people. It just makes us human. Join the club.

So don't beat yourself up over a slip, plan for it(because it can happen) and get right back to the plan. Never give up! And remember: Don't Go Cold Turkey! You need a plan!

Breaking bad habits takes time and a whole lot of effort, but mostly it takes 'stick-to-it-tivness'. Most people who are successful breaking their bad habits try and fail multiple times before they make it work. (this writer tried seven times before he was finally able to quite smoking for good. Now he can enjoy watching his grandchildren grow up!) You might not have success immediately, but that doesn’t mean you won't have it. Have Faith and you can break any bad habit. (Follow this Link for FMI.)

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Simple Way to Break Bad Habits

Can we break bad habits by being more curious about them? Psychiatrist Judson Brewer studies the relationship between mindfulness and addiction — from smoking to overeating to all those other things we do even though we know they're bad for us. Learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to smoke, snack or check a text while driving. Watch...

For a full transcript of the complete lecture follow this link.