10 Steps to get rid of bad Habits
"Bad Habits? More like Badaddictions!"
It takes time, effort and dedication to change bad habits and behaviours. When you’ve worked hard enough to make such changes, be mindful of and avoid those people, places, and things that would drag you back to your old behaviors!
To Get rid of bad habits that are holding you back: The first step is always the hardest:
1. Become more self-aware of your bad habits
Are you determined to let go off of your bad habits. First step is recognition. Find out what causes your bad habits, why they were formed and make a plan to stop them.
If only others can see your bad and toxic habits and you pretend not to see them then it makes it almost impossible to change.
Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of. – Anonymous
2. Decide today to Change
I belong to several groups Facebook habits transformation groups online e.g 7 habits of highly effective people, No Fap, Growth and mindset.
One of the most important thing people do from day one of joining these groups is to decide what they want to improve on or eliminate in their life.
Deciding to change involves your thoughts, visualization setting goals and the actions you take.
Give yourself easy objectives so that you don’t get discouraged and continue working towards breaking bad habits.
3. Change your bad habits by starting New, Better Habits.
Habits take time to build, don’t think it’s an overnight change. Several studies say it takes up to 14 days to change a habit.
When you take out bad habits you realize you need to replace them as the mind hardly exists on a void. Good habits will prohibit negative habits from infiltrating your life.
Replace bad habits with good habits. It’s critical that you develop healthy, consistent behaviors. You will never become stuck with negative habits that prevent you from achieving your goals if you have enough habits to keep you active throughout the day.
4. Focus on Discipline over motivation
I realized most of our bad habits are caused by two things: stress and boredom. These two factors make people resort to bad habits because they feel zero motivated to keep up with any good habits.
Learn how to say no through discipline. Want some ideas check out these visuals James Altutcher talks about saying no on his idea list.
5. Be Transparent
There’s zero need playing “firm” and “strong” when you know you’re having challenges. Show you true emotions, let others know what’s really going on instead of fronting tough.
When I was learning how to play drums – if someone said I was making noise – I would increase my pace and beat just to cover up the shame. Where do you think it left me on my drumming journey? I abandoned the skill.
Transparency doesn’t mean stupidity or zero self-awareness. You could still listen more, speak less, and take time to think through decisions while being transparent.
6. Keep the Right Company
Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones. – Benjamin Franklin
Never underestimate the power of association.
If you want to quit or limit alcohol but still hang around with people that only look forward to booze at weekends – then you’re not making any conscious effort to change.
Start hanging around more with the kind of people you want to be like and limit your company with those that drag you backwards.
7. Create a Support Network
Find people who will help hold you accountable and encourage you as you work on developing better habits.
Most people wait until their pain gets really deep and someone volunteers to be their accountability partner before accepting to have one. Drop your ego aside and talk to someone you know you can trust.
A Coach is an easy and effective alternative to close people around that can hold your hands and push you closer to your goals.
8. Seek Help
There are different options these days to seek help so you can get rid of bad habits.
Therapy, Rehabilitation centers and letting go to your Creator are forms of help.
The latter is why we pray. It could be your most important way to get help from the divine source.
9. Change your Level of Tolerance
Tony Robbins has a famous quote that says we get what we tolerate.
Does the pain of your bad habits outweigh what you could be benefiting if you had changed your habits?
How much of rock bottom would you permit? Shift your tolerance and give yourself permission to expect more from yourself and life. What’s one decision you can make today that will save you from making ten more decisions in the future?
10. Face your Fears
Would you rather remain broke and overspend to impress others or start living below your means to build real wealth? People resort to procrastination – so they can avoid making a decision.
You want to quit your job – but you’re afraid of all the so called “security” you were promised.
I realized why we do all sort of crap as a resort to feeling overwhelmed, afraid or angry is because we're afraid to face reality.
Sometimes we need to take baby steps or a gradual approach to eliminating bad habits. It doesn't remove the fact that we need to start facing our fears to fight our inner demons head-on.
