Every year we might have thought of stopping something we have as a habit which is wearied. But what we end up with is that we couldn't stop the one we thought of stopping and get patched with something new which thought to as an alternative hope that it is less harming.
Here below are a few tips in breaking a habit which we want to stop. But after all, what matters is, how much we take it serious....
1. Admit that you have a problem:
Acknowledging that you have a habit you'd like to break is vital. Consider the ways that the habit alters or affects your life, and accept that you'd like to change this. Ask yourself:
Research suggests that sometimes our environments can cue us to perform certain behaviors, even if we're actively trying to stop. Find a way to change your scenery and see if your bad habit becomes less tempting. For instance, if you like to smoke out on your patio, remove the chair you sit in and replace it with a plant. If you tend to overeat at the same location at the dining room table, move to a different seat or rearrange your furniture such that you're facing a different direction than usual when you eat. Subtle changes to the environment can make a habit less rote and force your mind to reassess what's happening.
If your reason for avoiding the habit is more pressing than your desire to engage in it, the behavior will become continually easier to avoid. Here are a few suggestions:
Try to replace your habit with something new and positive in your life. The key is not to focus on the "not doing", but to think instead about "doing." For instance, if you're trying to stop smoking, eat a sucker or walk around the block when you would usually light up. Filling the void left by your old habit with another activity will help you avoid backsliding.
5. Be patient:
Behavioral conditioning is a long process, and breaking a habit takes time - as much as you'd like to, you probably won't stop doing it overnight. Set realistic goals and plan to have the behavior wiped out in 30 days. If you get to the end of a month and find you need more time, take another 30 days. As long as you're still improving, don't pay too much attention to how long the process is taking. You'll get there eventually.
Here below are a few tips in breaking a habit which we want to stop. But after all, what matters is, how much we take it serious....
1. Admit that you have a problem:
Acknowledging that you have a habit you'd like to break is vital. Consider the ways that the habit alters or affects your life, and accept that you'd like to change this. Ask yourself:
- Why is this habit bad?
- What's holding me back from getting rid of it?
- What things or people stop me from breaking the habit?
Research suggests that sometimes our environments can cue us to perform certain behaviors, even if we're actively trying to stop. Find a way to change your scenery and see if your bad habit becomes less tempting. For instance, if you like to smoke out on your patio, remove the chair you sit in and replace it with a plant. If you tend to overeat at the same location at the dining room table, move to a different seat or rearrange your furniture such that you're facing a different direction than usual when you eat. Subtle changes to the environment can make a habit less rote and force your mind to reassess what's happening.
- Limit your interactions with people who encourage your bad habit. If your bad habit takes place in an environment that you can't alter, like your place of work, then try changing the social configuration of your habit. For instance, if you smoke on breaks with a group of coworkers, start timing your break differently so that you're not tempted to join the fray and light up. Your social life might suffer, but your health will improve.
If your reason for avoiding the habit is more pressing than your desire to engage in it, the behavior will become continually easier to avoid. Here are a few suggestions:
- Find someone you like who disapproves of your habit. Tell yourself you will not indulge in the act whenever you are around that person. Use the person as an anchor, and try to be around them whenever you feel like controlling the urge.
- Capitalize on other habits. Use another behavior or tendency to combat the habit. For instance, if you're lazy, be lazy about your habit. Think of it as too much effort. If you're a smoker, keep your pack locked up in your car down the street.
Try to replace your habit with something new and positive in your life. The key is not to focus on the "not doing", but to think instead about "doing." For instance, if you're trying to stop smoking, eat a sucker or walk around the block when you would usually light up. Filling the void left by your old habit with another activity will help you avoid backsliding.
5. Be patient:
Behavioral conditioning is a long process, and breaking a habit takes time - as much as you'd like to, you probably won't stop doing it overnight. Set realistic goals and plan to have the behavior wiped out in 30 days. If you get to the end of a month and find you need more time, take another 30 days. As long as you're still improving, don't pay too much attention to how long the process is taking. You'll get there eventually.
