Perhaps you’ve concluded that bad habits such as smoking, knuckle cracking, nail biting and late night foods are difficult to break. Well, there’s good news for you! Experts provide some simple but effective solutions to breaking bad habits. Whether we admit it or not, each of us has one or more bad habits that seem like a hard nut to crack when it comes to quitting the bad habit. Some of these odd habits such as nail biting can be quite irritating, while the grave ones like smoking pose big threat to the health of those concerned.
You’re probably saying, “I’ve been in this odd habit for a long time, how is it possible that I can break it overnight and be free?”
The answer?
There’s certainly a way where there’s a will. It doesn’t matter what manner of undesirable habit you’re battling and trying had to quit, you can get some clues and inspiration through this post.
Come along as we learn from experts on how to break long-standing and stubborn bad habits. It’s interesting to know that some of the solutions proffered here can even be customized for your own unique situation – – – according to experts.
According to a clinical psychologist’s report on WebMD.com, “It tends to be more difficult to quit if you keep on doing it. But, there is no bad habit that can’t be quitted.”
Here are the step-by-step solutions and tips outlined by the N.J. clinical psychologist and other experts on how to break bad habits.
#1: Make Conscious Efforts
You cannot leave anything to fate or chances. You must make conscious efforts to break free from bad habits. Start by figuring out how it all started and what triggers it. This way, it will be easier to come up with tricks and techniques on how to quit the habit.
#2: Pen It Down
New York City clinical psychologist, Janet Wolfe, PHD, says, “Keep a log. This way, you can establish a baseline. Write down what precedes the action, including the emotions attached to the odd habit, as well as the thoughts that fill your head when you bite your finger nails, crack knuckle or smoke. This is a good way to kick-start action towards quitting the unwanted habit(s).”
She further advices that individuals should keep the log for not less than seven days. Then, you should sit back and analyze the content of your log to better grasp what the actual triggers of your odd habits are. For instance, do you resort to overeating when you’re angry and need to drown yourself in food so that you can sleep and get your mind off what is making you angry?
According to the report gathered by WebMD from another well-known psychologist in South Portland, Maine, “It is also helpful to pen down the cons and pros (if any) of this odd action, as well as keep a log of those odd behaviors when they are taking place. When you measure actions, it will help you to change them and ultimately make you increasingly aware of them.”
#3: Find a Replacement as soon as the Habit Starts
Now that you know what the trigger for your bad habits is, you should think of a better replacement (even if it is just for the meantime) for the action as soon as it starts. Another expert suggests, “For instance, if you have the habit of biting your nail, try throwing sugar-less gum into your mouth as soon as the urge comes.
And, for those in the habit of clearing throats, try an instant counter action such as exhaling slowly since you cannot be clearing your throat and at the same time exhaling slowly.
When you keep up with the trend consistently, you are most likely to experience some changes in no time. You will cut back on the odd habit sooner than you can imagine.”
#4: Try Positive Meditation
Use positive meditation to convince yourself of the consequences of your odd habit. It will help work on your mind quicker and help you quit the bad habit sooner. Christians should pick relevant bible verses to meditate on instead of yielding to the odd habits.
Indeed, every bad habit can be quitted if you’re willing.
