Proven Ways To Kick Those Bad Habits To The Curb

Prepare An Alternative

Replacing a bad habit with something healthier is a great way to not only break the bad habit but also speed up the process itself. This works best with a specific habit, such as overindulging on fast food or other unhealthy choices. For example, if you tend to reach for buttery popcorn every time you watch a movie, try curbing the habit by telling yourself instead of popcorn, you will reach for a handful of peanuts or a sliced apple. This way you can still have a snack while watching the movie, so if you are hungry you remain satisfied, and thus do not feel completely deprived when avoiding the popcorn.

Keep the alternative as close to the bad habit as you can, without replacing it with another, for the best chance of success. As time progresses, you can shift the alternative even more.

Don’t Go Cold Turkey

Sometimes when individuals want to break a bad habit (often when it is a New Year’s resolution), they quit entirely and suddenly - also known as going cold turkey. However, particularly with things like smoking, this can have a significant negative effect and potentially increase the chances of failing to break the habit long term. Instead, consider a schedule to wean yourself off the practice in question. For instance, if your issue is drinking alcohol every night, try reducing it to only five nights a week for a few weeks, then to three nights, and so on, until you reach your desired goal. This gives the body time to adjust to the new routine, and as such will reduce the frequency and severity of cravings or urges.