Q: How I do change or end a bad habit?
A: Habits are an incredibly necessary part of life. They are the things that routines are made of and those routines can create huge success in our lives. Unless, of course, the habit is a bad one. Bad habits can create chaos in your life, interrupt success, and put us at mental and physical health at risk. In the best cases, bad habits are time and energy drainers and in the worst, they can totally steal your joy without you even realizing it’s happening. We can rid ourselves of bad habits and replace them with something that works instead.
It’s important to understand that negative habit loops are brought on by stress and boredom and possibly the need to escape from life for a bit. This is true whether it’s nail biting, eating at night, over shopping, excessive drinking, video gaming, gossiping, etc. In moderation, all of these things can work in our lives, but as a way of escape or using them in excess we are setting ourselves up for more stress, more boredom, and possibly failure. Luckily, we can teach ourselves to change or break a habit fairly quickly. You can learn to find more effective ways to deal with stress and boredom so mental escape isn’t necessary. Try these quick steps to make a change today.
- Have a conversation with yourself to let yourself know you are ready for change. Ask yourself how you want to feel and get clear on what will make you feel that way. Likely, it is not your bad habit.
- Take note of the emotional “why” behind your habit if you can and the “why” of wanting to change it. Get really specific.
- Check in when you want to check out. When you notice yourself wanting to participate in the negative habit check in with yourself for 30 seconds and notice how you are feeling. Take 3 deep, slow breaths and proceed with a better choice.
- Cut triggers in your life. Throw away the junk, don’t buy the cigarettes or go to the bar or go online.
- Find a buddy who will challenge you to keep your word to yourself.
- Visualize your success! This is key, get clear with what it will feel like to succeed.
- Practice self-compassion not self-deprecation. Self deprecating behavior tells our brain that we don’t deserve what we want and self compassion does just the opposite. Remind yourself daily why you deserve such super success and a wonderful, healthy life.
- CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES! Make each little success a cause for a healthy and mindful celebration. Let those successes add up to make a happy, mindful, joyful life!
Helene Verdile is a Life Coach at HeleneVerdileLifeCoaching.com; and can be reached at [email protected]; (518) 470-0048.
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