Breaking Bad Habits
Good and bad. We all have them. Our good habits serve us well. Our bad habits hold us back. Consciously choosing to replace something we know we shouldn’t do with something good for us is a wonderful thing—especially if it advances our health.
In order to turn bad habits into good ones, identify them. On a sheet of paper, list your bad habits. This is important because it raises your awareness. Bad habits attack when self-esteem is low and often gives us temporary pleasure, but usually makes things worse. Being aware of a bad habit helps you to stop doing it. (If you can’t think of any bad habits, ask your spouse!)
To the right of your bad habit, think of an alternative behavior to each one and write it down. Next to your replacement habit, list some of the positive emotions or feelings that would result by substituting the good for the bad.
Exercise is a great tool to help you break bad habits. Exercise makes you feel better about yourself, which reinforces the benefits of exercising and make you more likely to exercise again. As you become healthier and fitter, you’ll also become more productive and less likely to take up those old, bad habits.
Be easy on yourself as you make small changes in your life a little at a time. Breaking bad habits takes time and discipline.
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