When it comes to bad habits we all have things we wish we could stop. But it's not easy. If it was, wouldn't life be so much better? Bad habits can stop us from being the best version of ourselves. Below are a few productive and manageable options for you to try.
1. Acknowledge that there is an issue. Once you acknowledge you can address. We all have things that we should or could work on. And most times they are hard to admit. It’s really challenging to look at the man or woman in the mirror and say “insert your habit here” did you do it? Alright then… you’ve acknowledged that there is room for improvement. Before you can quit… you must admit. 😉
2.You HAVE to want to do it for the right reasons. Look, a therapist, life coach, friend, spouse, can talk to you, help you realize that there is an issue but if you don’t want to stop procrastinating, stop drinking, chewing your nails etc… it’s not going to work. You have to sincerely want to change. You have to see the benefits of you quitting. What is your habit holding you back from doing? How has it stopped your progress in life? You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink.
3.Reward your good behavior. No matter how big or small the accomplishment is you have to celebrate your wins. What’s the point of doing all this self improvement and you're not getting anything out of it? Pat yourself on the back for making it two days, a week, two weeks, three weeks, a year etc… even if it’s just acknowledging the behavior before you do it. Many bad behaviors come from guilt or shame which just makes you want to continue the bad behavior. According to a 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it can take up to a couple months to form a new habit. That is on average, each individual is different.
The study also concluded that, on average, it takes 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. It takes time, so celebrate those small wins. They are important to your success.
These are just a few things I work with my clients on. I help hold them accountable to the things they say they want and want to stop doing. Then once they demolish whatever it was that was holding them back, my clients step out with a new found confidence. Imagine kicking "insert habit here" it's butt! How would you feel? If you’re trying to break bad habits and you’re ready to live the life you want, then sign up for a session and let’s go from there. You can absolutely accomplish anything that you want to… you just have to want to do it. The only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves.
