We all have a bad habit or two that’d we love to break.
Perhaps yours is that you’re addicted to work, checking your email at all hours of the day to make sure nothing important needs to be done. Or maybe you have trouble getting off the couch, so you don’t get out much and have anxiety or depression as a result.
Regardless of what your bad habits are, with a bit of hard work and some determination, you can replace them with good habits. And turning those negatives in your life into positives all starts when you decide to sit down and make a plan.
So what are the steps that you need to follow to break your bad habits? And what are some mistakes that you need to try to avoid along the way? We’ve got the answers to those questions and more in this article!
Now then, let’s get started!
1. Be Honest with Yourself
If you want to overcome your bad habits and have long-term success, you first have to be brutally honest with yourself about a few different things. First, it’s important to admit that you have a bad habit that needs to be broken.
Once you’ve done that, you can sit down and start to create a plan on what you can do to overcome that habit. And as you go through that process, staying honest with yourself (and others) is key to getting the results that you’re looking for.
2. Figure Out the “Why”
Again, breaking your bad habits is a process that begins when you can admit that you have a bad habit that needs to be changed. The next step is figuring out “the why” to that bad habit in the first place.
For instance, if you’re addicted to junk food, it’s obviously because you’re eating way too much of it during the day. But perhaps you’re eating too much junk food because you’re too busy (or too lazy) to stop and eat real food that’s good for you.
By figuring out what is causing your bad habits, you can then address the problems at their core and be one step closer to replacing them with good habits.
3. Set Goals and Create a Plan
In order to replace a bad habit with a good habit, you need to create a plan and then set goals that will help you execute that plan. It really can’t be overstated how important the planning and goal-setting process is to anyone who is trying to break bad habits.
So set attainable goals, both short-term and long-term, and then track your success accordingly. And be honest with yourself throughout the process, too, so you don’t cheat yourself along the way.
4. Write Those Goals Down
One of the best ways to make sure that you not only set goals but abide by them is to actually write them down. Having something to look at can go a long way in helping you get the results you’re looking for.
Also, be sure to put your goals somewhere where you can see them often. So, if you’re trying to break that junk food addiction, having your goals on your desk reminding you to avoid vending machines is a good idea.
5. Tell a Friend About Your Goals
Have you ever noticed that boxers never come to the ring alone? They always have someone in their corner throughout the fight, cheering them on and providing direction.
This same technique can be used for life! So, if you’re trying to end bad behaviors, tell a friend about your goals and get them involved in the process. Having someone besides yourself holding you accountable can be a huge help. And that extra motivation of doing it for someone else can boost your progress, too.
The best part? When you meet a goal or win a fight, you’ll have someone in your corner to celebrate with!
6. Give Yourself Some Time
It’s important to remember that nothing good ever happens quickly. You can’t expect yourself to beat your bad habit in a short amount of time, so don’t go into the fight with that kind of mindset.
Give yourself some time and be realistic with your expectations. Also, it feels good to meet a goal, so don’t forget to create small, short-term goals and celebrate them, so you can keep your passion and energy levels high.
Just make sure your reward system doesn’t work against all of the efforts you’ve put into trying to break your bad habits.
7. Don’t Give Up on Yourself
We’ll be honest. Breaking bad habits is hard work. There are going to be moments when you slip or fail to meet your goals, and you’re going to want to give up as a result.
But no matter what you do, you can’t give up on yourself. Keep pushing, and start over completely if you have to, but never stop pushing yourself to be better.
Well, there you have it! Those are 7 simple steps that you can follow to break all of your bad habits!
Once you’ve acknowledged that you have a bad habit that needs to be broken, it’s time to set a plan and some goals. Write down that plan, and those goals, so you can have something to motivate you along the way.
Consider getting someone else involved, like a friend or family member, to hold you accountable. Then, give yourself some time to break that habit, and don’t give up, even when things get tough.
Some bad habits are more serious and threatening than others and may require professional help to overcome. Things like substance abuse and eating disorders, in particular, should never be tackled alone.
If you’re interested in reaching out to someone, please contact us today. We’ll be more than happy to be in your corner.
