Habits make up your character and these characteristics rule your life. Good habits are essential for success in your life. Bad habits, on the other hand, enslave you and prevent you from moving forward in your life. You can change habits easily and improve your life by following some easy steps.
The first and foremost step in breaking bad habits is to bring them into your consciousness. Most often, you do them unconsciously or automatically.
It is then important to analyze the seriousness of your habit. For instance, watching TV is not necessarily a bad habit. However, if you watch TV and neglect your chores, then it can be a bad habit.
You need to examine the consequences of your habit. It is worth to analyze what you would gain by changing the habit. Getting motivated can really help you in breaking habits.
You can try to change the environment that feeds your habits. For instance, if you are addicted to smoking, you can create a plan to never buy cigarettes again. You need to remember that you cannot quit without replacing the needs they fulfill. Giving up smoking means that you need to find a new way to get relaxation. The substitute you select must satisfy your emotional needs and must keep you motivated to achieve your goal.
It is always advisable to think positively. Whenever you think about the habit again, you should discontinue the thought immediately and proceed to think of some positive things. A great habit changing therapist suggests a way to avoid bad thinking. Whenever you start thinking negatively, use the word "but" and list out the positive aspects of breaking that bad habit.
Taking steps to breaking more than one habit at a time may be reckless. You can try to change one habit at a time. This really helps you to concentrate on making it stick.
Writing your new commitments on paper can help you to get clarity about what you really want. It is very easy to dismiss a thought, but it is difficult to dismiss a promise written in paper.
Instead of pressuring yourself to quit a bad habit wholly, you can plan to break the habit for only thirty days. This can help you to reduce the fear of getting sucked into an everlasting commitment. Offering an escape clause lets you continue your new commitment. However, if you develop a new habit, then your daily routine would become habitual. Hence, you would like to continue your new habit after thirty days also.
You can let the people around you know that you are working on breaking a habit and get their support. Making a public commitment that you are going to stick to encourages you to follow through.
If you have completed thirty days without fail, offer yourself a reward. This keeps you energized and motivated. You can celebrate your success by enjoying weekend getaways or cruise vacations. Rewards, no matter whether they are big or small help to keep you motivated.
Having the right strategies and support networks in place will help you successfully break your habits.
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