Four simple Ways to drop Bad Habits

Most of us have bad habits that we are not proud of. Hence, if you are struggling with bad habits, rest assured that you are not alone. Bad habits can be incredibly difficult to drop since most of our habits are buried deep within our sub consciousness; and most of the time, we do not even recognize when we engage in them. If you want to break your bad habits immediately, follow these four simple steps:

1. Label the Habit

What bad habit are you trying to eliminate? Whatever the habit may be, whether it is overeating, procrastination, smoking, cursing, or something else, it is essential that you specify the habit that you are trying to drop. You may think that identifying your habit is overly simplistic, but it is crucial if you want to end it. Habits are so powerful because they rarely enter into our consciousness. Putting a label to them is a way to direct your energy and attention toward that unwanted behavior.

2. Find the Reward

If you smoke, what is the reward that you get from smoking? Most smokers will say that the biggest benefit from smoking is the stress relief one gets. The problem with the reward of smoking is that it is not going to last. Going one step further, our rewards for bad habits tend to turn into regret; which in turn produces more stress: thus, reinforcing your bad habits.

3. Be Self-Aware

This step gets to the crux of your bad habit: the triggers. You need to be able to identify what triggers the bad habit so you can figure out how to cut that habitual impulse off before it can take hold. Looking again at the habit of smoking, the body is more likely to crave the relaxing effects of the nicotine when it experiences stress. When you can observe your inner state, you are less likely to engage in bad habits.

4. Be Mindful

When you develop a mindfulness attitude, ending a bad habit can be viewed as a journey. The reason is simple; we are our worst critics. Your attitude, and how you feel about yourself, will determine whether or not you can kick the habit. When you are trying to break a bad habit, it is essential that you remain calm and embrace the difficulty of the process.

Following these four tips, then you can stop a bad habit.