How to change your bad habits

Every single one of us has at least one bad habit, it could be something such as smoking, drinking or being habitually late for appointments. Some of us have more bad habits than others do and some of us are able to break our bad habits and leave them behind, however not everyone finds this easy to do and many need help if they are to change.

Habits can be classed as either good ones or bad ones, good ones could be helping someone or being kind and getting a kick out of it, good habits bring about a feeling of happiness and contentment. Bad habits are classed as anything which is annoying or harmful to your health and have a negative effect on your life.

We all have the power to change our bad habits, either just let them go and move forward or replace them with more positive good habits. This isn't always easy; sometimes you need help, so here are some tips to help you kick your old habits.

First of all you should analyze yourself and find out what it is that you enjoy or get out of your habit. Many times a habit is just that, habit and people don't necessarily get enjoyment as such from doing it. Note down all the feelings your habit brings you in two lists, good and bad. Next list what you could gain and how you feel by kicking this habit out of the door.

If your habit is something which you do get enjoyment from doing, then consider what you could swop your habit for that wouldn't be classed as bad. For instance if smoking is your bad habit then consider how much money you could save and use this as an incentive. In order to help you give it up take up a sport or activity that you enjoy doing and try to replace your bad habit with this new one.

Visualize the changes that would come to your life and how it would affect you and others around you if you gave up your bad habit. Sit down close your eyes and picture your future with the changes in it, note what differences there are for the better.

The most essential thing to remember when trying to break a bad habit is that habits take time to develop and you could have had this habit with you for many years. If you have had this habit for any length of time then it is going to be hard to break and let go of. Habits take around 6 weeks before they are classed as a habit, however you will find that it will take much longer to break than it did to set in, so you must have patience and persevere in ridding yourself of what has been around for a long time.

Keep busy, when trying to break a habit no matter what that habit is it is essential that you keep busy. Sitting around and brooding, having a lot of time on your hands leaves you wide open to going back into old habits.

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