Renew You!

How to break a bad habit

Habits are patterns we develop, and while it can be tough to break a bad habit, it can be done with a little focus, determination and persistence. And there’s no better time than now to start!  The sooner you start, the sooner you can kick that bad habit!

First, focus on one habit at a time. Create a list of all of the benefits to breaking that habit. You’ll want to look at the list often to keep the benefits fresh in your mind. If you don’t clearly understand or remember the reasons to stop your habit, you will keep doing what you have been doing.

Make a plan and include all of the steps you will need to take to break your habit. For example, if you want to quit smoking, seeing a doctor and researching nicotine patches may be included in the plan. Break down each of these steps into goals. This will help you complete your plan.

Bad habits are hard to break, everyone knows that. But good habits are easy to create, too! Try healthy alternatives to replace what you are already doing. For example, if you know that every day at 3 p.m. you need to have a snack, choose healthy snacks. Habits fulfill a need, and by choosing healthy alternatives, you can turn that bad habit into a good one.

Kudos to you if you can break your habit the first time around! Chances are, though, you will need to try different ways to break the habit. If something doesn’t work, focus on new things to try. Think of this as an experiment! Not all things are going to work for everybody, so experiment to see what works for you. It’s okay if you make a mistake – don’t give up. 

Avoid situations that can bring your bad habit back to life. Get rid of the junk food in your house or avoid going into stores to casually shop and spend money. Be conscious of the things that trigger your bad habit and avoid them.

Create a personal support group. Tell your close friends and family members about your goal. Maybe they will join you in breaking a bad habit they have! An accountability partner will help keep you on track, and because he or she is a close friend or family member you trust, they will be there to help you, not criticize you.

Keep telling yourself you can do it! Tell yourself you are what you want to be as if you are already that person. Write it down, too! The more you think about it, the more likely you will reach your goal. And, when you reach your goal, reward yourself – you deserve it!

What bad habit have you broken and how did you do it?