Every one of us has habits that we’re sick of having. It’s natural to pick up on a habit that later on turns into an addiction. While it’s understandable, it’s also essential to be able to break away from that particular habit. Especially, if it has a negative impact on your life.
To successfully eliminate a toxic habit from your life, the first thing you need is acceptance. Accept that you indeed have formed a habit that is becoming worse day by day. Being in denial is never the answer. Luckily, there are ways to help you break away from your bad habit.
1. Understand Your Bad Habit Triggers
Sometimes, our bad habits result from a situation we went through at a certain point in time. Bad habits are “triggers” that remind us of that particular situation. For you to let go of that certain habit, it’s important to know what triggers you to indulge in that habit. For example, running into your ex-partner may remind you of that heartbreak that made you take up smoking. So, fully understanding your triggers will help you stay away from them, eventually eliminating that habit from your life.
2. Ask for Help
Admitting that you need help is nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, it’s actually healthy as it leads you to be a better version of yourself – just with a little guidance. So, if you have the will to rid yourself of a particular habit that you deem negative – ask a friend, a family member, or even a colleague for some help. Sometimes, others tend to know better about what’s good for us in that current moment or phase. They help you come up with a plan and can also track or monitor your progress.
3. Be Self-Aware of Your Bad Habit
Being more self-aware allows you to comprehend your thoughts and actions fully. Self-awareness is key if you want to know yourself and your behaviors (and the reasons behind them). Practicing self-awareness may not be the easiest, but it isn’t impossible for sure. All you need to do is start being more mindful and observant. Think about what made you react a certain way. What were the reasons attached to it? Finding the answers to these questions always help when you’re trying to enhance your lifestyle by breaking away from all those habits that seem to be doing nothing for you.
4. Replace “Bad” with “Good”
The bad and good here refer to the nature of the habit. If you think you have a bad habit and are trying to get it out of your life – you need to look instead for a good one to replace it. For example, if you have this habit of constantly over-thinking and creating unreal scenarios in your head, replace it by spending that time reading or exercising. Fill up your day in such a way that it doesn’t give you the time to dwell on negative thoughts. Replacing negativity with positivity can always do wonders for you.
