SELF-IMPROVEMENT
You Should Start Changing One Bad Habit Into a Good One
Or at least be aware of your habit loop!
“Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes a necessity.” — Saint Augustine
Bad habits are tough to break, but they can be replaced with good habits. The first step is awareness — you can start making changes once you know your bad habit.
Many people find it difficult to break a bad habit because they don’t know how to replace it with a good one. When you replace the bad habit with a good one, it becomes easier to change that behavior.
What is a Habit?
A habit is a routine of behavior that a person engages in, often without thinking. It is an acquired behavior pattern repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.
Habits are formed by repeating a particular activity or behavior, which can be physical or mental. The more frequently an action or behavior is repeated, the more likely it is to become a habit.
There are good habits and bad habits. Good habits help us in some way — they make us healthier, happier, or more productive. Bad habits are those that hurt our lives.
The Importance of Habits and How They Affect Our Lives
Habits are the things that we do automatically, without thinking. They are not necessarily good or bad, but they can significantly impact our lives.
Many factors contribute to habits and why we develop them. It is crucial to understand how patterns work to control them better and change them if necessary.
The Habit Loop
One of the most critical points in understanding habits is understanding these three-step processes where a cue triggers automatic behavior by providing a reward.
Understanding this loop will help us break bad habits and form new ones when necessary.
The Three Steps of the Habit Loop:
- The first step is the cue, a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and which habit to use. Cues can be external (like seeing a friend) or internal (like feeling stressed).
- The second step is the routine, which is the actual behavior you perform — this could be something like smoking a cigarette or biting your nails.
- The third step is the reward, which reinforces the behavior to become a habit. Rewards can be things like satisfaction, relief, or pleasure.
Why is it so Hard to Change a Habit?
It is hard to change a habit because habits are learned behavior. They are formed by repetition and can be reinforced by environmental cues or triggers.
Habits are often created as a response to some stimulus, whether it is physical or emotional.
For example, you might have developed the habit of eating chocolate at the end of a long day because this is what your mom always did when she was tired.
Or, you might have developed the habit of smoking cigarettes because your friends all smoke, making you feel relaxed.
The behavior has become a habit in both cases because it responds to a particular trigger.
The good news is that once you know the trigger, you can begin to change the behavior.
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” — Warren Buffett
Breaking Bad Habits and Forming New Ones
Now that we understand how habits work, we can start to break bad ones and form new ones.
The first step is to become aware of the behavior you want to change. This means being mindful of when and why you engage in the behavior.
For example, if you want to break the habit of biting your nails, you need to be aware of when you do it — is it when you are anxious or stressed?
Or, if you want to stop smoking cigarettes, you need to be aware of when and where you smoke.
Once you have identified the trigger for the bad habit, you can begin to change the behavior.
One way to do this is by replacing the bad habit with a good one.
For example, if you bite your nails when you are anxious or stressed, try keeping a stress ball or fidget toy nearby to help you cope with these feelings.
Or, if you smoke cigarettes while socializing with friends, try going for a walk instead.
Finding a healthy coping mechanism that works for you can replace bad habits.
Changing a habit takes time and practice, but it is possible. Remember to be patient with yourself and take things one day at a time.
The most important thing to do when trying to change a habit is to be mindful of the habit. This means being aware of what triggers the pattern, how it feels when you do it, and what you get from it. The more mindful you are of your habits, the easier it becomes to change them.
How to Make the Change Stick
Once you have replaced your bad habit with a good one, it is essential to make the change stick. You can do this by creating a new routine or setting up reminders for yourself.
For example, if you want to make exercise a part of your daily routine. Set the alarm on your phone or put your workout clothes next to your bed so you will see them when you wake up.
Or, if you are trying to cut down on drinking soda, leave yourself a note reminding you to drink water instead.
The more reminders you have, the easier it will be to stick with your new habit.
Setting up a system of consequences also helps. For example, if you want to stop biting your nails, put an unpleasant-tasting polish on your nails so that you will not want to bite them.
Or, if you want to stop procrastinating, set a rule that you cannot watch TV until you have finished your work.
The more consequences you have, the less likely you are to slip up and return to your old habits.
What are the Benefits of Changing Habits?
The benefits of changing habits are many. It helps reduce stress and anxiety by removing some things we must consider. It also helps us live healthier lives by making better choices daily. Lastly, changing habits can help us become more productive and successful in our lives.
Changing habits is a positive experience that can lead to many benefits. So if you have been thinking about making a change, now is the time to do it!
“Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.” — Jules Renard
Committing to changing one bad habit into a good one is not easy, but it is worth it. The benefits of having healthier habits include feeling better physically and mentally, being more productive, and having more energy.
So start today by becoming aware of your bad habits and changing them into good ones! You won’t regret it.
What are some of the bad habits you would like to change? Share in the comments below!
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This article was published first on Substack’s Beyond Two Cents.
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