7 Ways to Break Bad Habits
By Evan Page
(Second blog post in a series on habits)
We are the sum of the choices we make and the habits we create; so, it’s often worthwhile to take some time and think about the habits you would like to keep and those you would like to break. And there is no time better time than at the beginning of a new year to kick your bad habits to the curb. It won’t always be easy, but these tips and tricks below will help you break those bad habits for good.
1. Identify your triggers.
Almost every habit we have has a trigger—something that makes us want to perform a particular action. It could be tied to a person, an experience or our environment. If you can find the cues around you that are tied to you wanting to partake in a particular habit, the more likely you are to follow through on the tips below.
2. Make your triggers invisible.
The less exposure you have to your triggers, the more likely you are to eliminate a habit. Self-control is important, but it can’t be the only thing you rely on to get rid of a habit. The more you eliminate triggers, the more you aren’t reliant on self-control.
3. Make your current habit unattractive.
Most of us avoid negative feelings or associations, so the more we associate an unwanted habit with negative feelings or thoughts, the more likely we will avoid it. By this, I don’t mean having negative thoughts about yourself; I mean placing negativity on the habit itself. This step isn’t shaming yourself for the temptation of an unwanted habit. This step is telling yourself that the unwanted habit isn’t satisfying because (you fill in the blank.)
4. Make your current habit hard to do.
The more energy and effort it takes to fulfill a habit, the less likely we are to try and satisfy that want/need. If you want to decrease the number of sweets you are eating, don’t keep items with sugar in your house.
5. Get an accountability partner.
The more you vocalize a want for change and the more you have someone checking in on you, the more likely you are to think about the choices you are making.
6. Prepare for slip-ups.
If you have relapsed into an old habit, that doesn’t mean you have to give up. Allow yourself the opportunity to backslide, but remember you have to jump back on the horse. And if (or when) a slip-up happens again, let the time for getting back on the horse become smaller and smaller. For example, you’ve been going without soft drinks, but you decide to have one during lunch one day. That doesn’t mean the whole week is a wash. You can just start over the next day. The more you push off your wanted habit, the more likely you will continue with an unwanted habit.
7. Replace old habits with new ones.
Instead of watching TV at night, use that time to practice playing your guitar or involving yourself in other hobbies you enjoy. Simply replace an unwanted habit with one that aligns more with something you want to do.
Evan Page lives in Hilton Head Island with her husband, Stephen, and their three children, Merrick, Wake and Wells. She is currently a stay-at-home mom, and most of her days are filled with trying to capture adventures with her children on camera.