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Are you struggling to get rid of the destructive habits in your life? Whether it’s an obviously dangerous issue, like a daily smoking habit, or something a little more insidious, like applying too much heat to your non-stick cookware, bad habits can compound over time, leaving you with serious health concerns.
No matter how small a damaging habit may seem, it’s important to nip it in the bud as early as possible. The key to breaking a damaging daily ritual or routine is to replace it with a good one. Of course, this is easier said than done, which is why we’re about to break down the steps you need to take to finally free yourself from self-destructive behaviors.
Break Your First Bad Habit
Trying to break all of your bad habits at the same time will likely be far too complex. If you know a habit is no good for you but continue to engage in it, this means you’re getting some level of comfort and relief from it. So, giving it up will inevitably produce some stress.
For this reason, it’s best not to overwhelm yourself by trying to give up all your problematic habits at once. Instead, identify the one that’s harming you the most and work on eliminating this one first.
Take it one step at a time and you’ll have a better shot at success.
Work on a Pattern to Break the Habit
Sadly, you can’t just decide you want to change and then have everything fall into place. You need to establish a new, productive pattern that you can use to break the habit.
For instance, if you want to make healthier food choices, work on preparing healthier meals on two specific days of the week first. Stick to this pattern and then once you get accustomed to it, opt for a healthier meal plan thrice weekly, and so on.
Remove Temptations and Enablers
Let’s say your good habits are finally starting to gain some momentum and you’re well on your way to a healthier you. However, you face serious temptation every time you open your pantry to find delicious-looking chocolate bars and cookies.
The most effective action to take here would be to donate the unhealthy snacks to a local food bank or orphanage, thus getting rid of temptation while doing something good for your community.
Enablers are a little more complex since they often come in the form of your closest friends and family members. If someone keeps tempting you back into your bad habits, however, you will need to have a serious chat with them about how they can help rather than hinder your progress.
Eliminate, the Word “but” from Your Vocabulary
The excuses that flow after the word “but” can have no place in your new life. You won’t get very far if you always bring this conjunction into the situation. Be resolute in your commitment, and don’t even think about making concessions.
Leverage the Power of Positive Thinking
While some might scoff at the idea of visualization and the power of positive thinking, there is evidence for it. If you imagine yourself being successful in changing damaging habits, you are far more likely to succeed. So, get your imagination to work. Every time you picture the new healthy life you want, you’re giving yourself the fuel you need to get there.
Swapping bad habits for healthy ones is something of a modern-day hero’s quest. There will be many perils and challenges along the way, but with the right attitude, and the tips above, you’re sure to write yourself a happy ending.
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