How To Break A Bad Habit – 5 Simple Steps
Want to know how to break a bad habit? Here are 5 simple steps to help you break any bad habit with ease (do these today!)
Let’s chat about bad habits.
We all have vices and things that we wish we didn’t do so often. We know in our gut that our life would be SO MUCH EASIER if we simply let these bad habits go but once we pick them up, they seem almost impossible to break.
But that is not to say that just because it may be difficult, that it’s impossible. The truth is if you have the determination and willpower to cut something out of your life, you can eliminate a bad habit.
And there’s no better feeling than knowing you were strong and resilient enough to let go of something that wasn’t serving you. The sense of pride and achievement you can feel simply by sticking to your own rules is wonderful.
Consider these simple ideas for conquering bad habits and taking control of your life. You already know that it will all be worth it when you look back and realize that you eliminated something that was holding you back in life.
Here’s my simple yet effective process for conquering bad habits:
How To Break A Bad Habit
1-Identify your problem.
First things first, acceptance is key when it comes to breaking bad habits.
- Start by identifying what your habit is, why you indulge in it, and the benefits of giving up. Write down all your thoughts, considering why you want to conquer your bad habit, and how you will feel when you do. Also, write down what you are worried about (if you hold onto it AND if you let it go).
- Writing these things down onto paper or in a journal will help clear your head, make your concerns more manageable, give your more clarity and as such, you’ll likely be less overwhelmed.
How To Break A Bad Habit
2-Identify the triggers behind your habit.
- Whether you realize it or not, something is triggering your habit. Do you know what it is? Depending on what your habit is, you may start to see a pattern – that you might tend to do it at certain times, sometimes without realizing it.
- One example is if you were to bite your nails. Some do it out of boredom, others in nervous situations. Identifying your ‘triggers’ will allow you to become aware of the habit. When you think about it, you’ll want to stop.
- Another example may be relevant to smokers. Some people associate walking to work or waiting for a bus to be a trigger for their habit. By identifying the triggers, you can work towards conquering them altogether.
How To Break A Bad Habit
3-Keep a journal
- I can’t imagine doing life without a journal. This is the best way to mark your progress as you work to conquer your habit. Write down when you first decided to beat it and how long you hope it will take you. By having clear goals written down, you can see a sense of progress.
- Within this journal, write down how you feel at set times of the week, or just whenever you feel like sharing. Discuss your thoughts and feelings openly. If you find yourself struggling to break a habit, be honest and share that in your journal. Keeping your thoughts internalized will not help you make progress.
How To Break A Bad Habit
4-Replace habits
- Not all habits are bad ones, and some can be used to replace the ones you want to get rid of. One example is exercise.
- The brain releases chemicals that make you feel great after a workout. So, if you replace bad habits with a quick run, a ten-minute workout in front of the television, or something to keep your mind active, you’ll feel much better.
- Or instead of more strenuous exercise you might want to sit down and have an herbal tea instead. Or call a friend for a quick support call. Or go for a leisurely walk. Or read a few pages of a book. The options are endless.
- The goal is to replace the bad habit with a new one that will both support you and help you stay healthy.
How To Break A Bad Habit
5-Reward yourself
- It’s super important that you celebrate yourself every step of the way. It’s a big thing to break a habit that has “entrapped” you for so long (you aren’t really in a trap but that’s definitely the way you feel).
- So, every time you are tempted to break your habit, do something to reward yourself for not giving in.
- One idea is to have a jar of money. Every time you break a bad habit, ‘pay’ the jar as though it’s a reward and watch your money grow. Make sure to spend that money once it’s accumulated on something you enjoy.
- You might want to treat yourself to your favorite meal or reward yourself in some way for every week you keep your bad habit at bay.
How To Break A Bad Habit
In a nutshell, you need to Identify and accept the habit and its triggers. Reward yourself when you don’t give in and don’t be afraid to reach out to others, or even your journal, for support.
Bad habits can be broken, and when you see progress, you’ll feel like you accomplished something. But don’t ever forget how important your mindset is during this progress.
You need to believe in yourself.
Believe that it is possible to break the habit.
Believe that you are strong enough to allow the temptation and still not give in.
Believe that you can do it.
Always keep your mindset in check because that is the key to breaking any bad habit. I wish you the best of luck!
Much love,
Frances Vidakovic
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With a degree in psychology, Frances Vidakovic is a certified life coach, course creator and host of the Inspiring Life Podcast. Her superpower is transforming dreamers into doers with simple, kick-up-the-butt strategies.
