Habits...

    Habits ...

7 Ways to Break a Habit...

We all have habits, some are good and some are not. We have learned to behave like that only and this behavior happens almost automatically and most of us want to break one of our bad habits or develop a good one.  For most people, it takes about four weeks to regularize or adapt to any new behavior. Using the following method, we can easily establish any new habit. 

1. The first step is to set your goal.

 

Especially when you are trying to stop or break a habit, you should try to state your goal as a positive statement. For example, instead of saying “I will stop eating snacks at night” say “I will try healthy eating habits”. You should also write down your goals. Committing it on paper helps you to be committed. It can also help if you tell your goal to someone you trust.

 

 

 

2. Decide to change behavior. (If your goal is to develop a new habit, then changing your behavior will be a goal in itself).

This step is very important when trying to break a new habit. If you want to stop a behavior, you need to do better than that in place or to change it. If you do not do this, the old behavior will return.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Learn and be aware of how the habit starts.

Habits never exist independently. Often, a habit is related to another part of your daily routine. For example, an example of snacking may be eating late at night while watching television or reading when you don't need to.

 

 

At that point you automatically grab the bag of chips while watching television late at night. Most people who smoke, smokes automatically after eating. Think about when and why you do the things you want to give up.

 

 

 

 

4. Send reminders to yourself.

You can do this yourself by placing notes in places where such behavior usually occurs, or you can text yourself in a mirror, refrigerator, computer monitor, or some other place where you will see it regularly. Your family members or colleagues can also help you to remember goals using specific phrases to remember your goals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Get someone's help and support.

It is clear in a way that any task is made easier with the help of it and if you have a person with the same goal for you, it helps to make the task easier. 

 

 

 

 

6. Write the daily affirmation.

 

Write your sentence about what is going on, (as if it is already happening) and write ten times a day for twenty-one days. This process helps make your goal a part of your subconscious mind, which not only reminds you to practice new behaviors but also keeps you focused and motivated.

 

 

7. Reward yourself for making progress at regular intervals.

Focus on your goal once a day, but give yourself a little treat in one, three and six months. The rewards don’t have to be big or expensive and you have to try to make it something that will be relevant to the goal. Doing so gives you encouragement and extra motivation.

 

 

 

 

Following these steps is certainly not a guarantee of success. It takes a lot of effort in the end to make this change according to habit but if you stick to it you can do it. 

 

Best of luck ...