Breaking a habit is not easy, and breaking a bad habit is even harder. Bad habits do not start at once. They evolve with time, starting as things we think of as harmless but they take root and start causing serious problems. We all have bad habits we would like to get rid of but we lack the knowledge and the willpower to do so.
Before we embark on a journey to break our bad habits, some questions will need answering. They may include;
● What habit do you want to break?
● When did you first start the habit?
● How has the habit evolved over time?
● At what specific time does the habit occur?
● Does this habit only occur in a specific location?
● Is there anything else that takes place in your life whenever the habit is in session?
● Do other people fall victim to your habit?
● How does the habit impact your life?
● Is the habit your source of happiness or sadness and does it reward you in any way?
Now, let us look at some methods of stopping these bad habits.
1. Replace the habit with a Better one
The worst advice you will ever receive when you want to quit a bad habit is to just stop doing it. The most effective way to end a habit is to replace it with another one that offers more or less the same outcome. Consider replacing bad habits with good ones that are more beneficial to you. Remember to monitor your new habits and evaluate if they are truly of help to you so you don’t fall victim of jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
2. Create a Plan
It comes with four simple steps;
● Choose a habit to replace and do it correctly- Identify a new one that will work perfectly for your well-being. Start with the most straightforward practices then, ease your way into it until it sticks.
● Take note of your plan- Create a routine to follow then document your daily activities. Review your progress from inception, and come up with a formula, then focus on results. Your outcome should be quantifiable.
● Let your goals be known and come up with a support team- Request assistance from friends, family and colleagues, whom you will be accountable to. Update them on your daily progress via social media or share a journal.
● Create a plan in case of a halt- Jot down the reason for your pause, give an honest review and come up with a better plan for better results next time.
3. Find the Best Reason to Quit
We may have an understanding of why we shouldn't be smoking or eating takeaway food daily. The knowledge alone is not enough to make us stop these habits. According to Elliot Berkman, University of Oregon's Social and Affective Neuroscience Lab speaks to Time “Even by replacing a bad habit by a better one, mostly, the initial bad habit becomes more powerful than its substitute.” For example, you may be thinking of quitting smoking because of its health risks. But, you encourage yourself to continue doing it since it gives you the stimulation you need to be more productive at work. If you are trying to quit something, do not find justification for it. View it as something you need to purge and convince yourself that you are better off without it.
Conclusion
Bad habits don't break overnight, but the three guidelines above will guide you and give you the discipline you require to change. The journey of freeing yourself from bad habits is similar to learning how to ride a bike. Initially, you will struggle to keep your balance and you will fall and hurt yourself. You will be tempted to give up but if you keep up the consistency, you will eventually do it with ease.
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