It is easy to get addicted to bad habits. As a matter of fact, in most cases we are not even aware of our bad habits. On the other hand, it takes time and plenty of patience and perseverance to develop good habits. Do you find yourself biting your nails often or cracking your knuckles or piling up things which have to be done? Are you struggling to break bad habits?

Here are 5 simple steps to help you get rid of bad habits:

• Figure out your bad habits. Identifying the problem is half the solution, so sit down and think about what your bad habit are and how they affect those around you. You can ask your closest friends for their opinion, so that you know what others feel what your bad habits are. If necessary, write them down and try to figure out what circumstance prompts you to indulge in such bad habits. This way you will be able to understand why you are doing it in the first place.

• Identifying your bad habits is not enough. You need the desire to change. You need to think about the negative impact of this habit in your life. For instance, your habit of cracking your knuckles frequently may irritate those around you at the work place. Once you understand this, you should be convinced about how essential it is to break this habit. Remember, it is not easy to break a bad habit, but if you are convinced you will be able to stick to your efforts to break the habit.

• You need to be committed to your efforts at overcoming bad habits. No matter how tempting it may seem to resume your bad habits, you need to stick to your attempts at overcoming them. For instance, if you want to overcome your habit of eating too much junk food, there are sure to be several temptations along the way. Until and unless you are 100% committed to breaking the habit, you cannot overcome those temptations.

• Be consistent in your attempts at overcoming bad habits. You may have several, but focus on one at a time. Remember, your attempts at breaking bad habits should be part of your daily routine, not only that something that flares up once in a while. Keep you attempts consistent by rewarding yourself every time you manage to keep from indulging in a bad habit.

• It takes a lot of perseverance to be able to break a bad habit that has become deeply rooted in your psyche. Some people tend to give up after a while saying that it is just not possible, but that is a wrong attitude. Although it may seem easier to live with your bad habits than overcoming them, stick to your resolution.

Breaking bad habits takes time. Don’t expect to see results in a day or two. Put in all the effort you can and seek help from friends, family and others like you who have successfully broken their bad habits. A good support network goes a long way in helping one to overcome bad habits.

Jason Ladock

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