If you’re sick of your bad habit, whatever it may be, but are finding it very difficult to stop – don’t worry, as hard as it may be right now, it’s not impossible. There are many different things you can do that will help you to stop doing what you’re doing, and all of them are small changes that won’t affect your entire lifestyle (like a lot of people assume).
Have a look at your options and then figure out what will work best for you.
Think of the food
Make a plan of all the most popular times you indulge in your habit. This could be before you go to bed, after you’ve eaten your dinner, or even once you’ve woken up in the morning. Once you figure out your routine, it will be easier to attack it with food instead. Every time you have a craving, pick up an apple, or a piece of cheese.
Think of the drink
Studies have shown that certain drinks like soda and coffee actually improve the overall experience, making it even more of a pleasurable one. So the next time you go to the supermarkets, buy some fresh juice instead. Not only is it better for your health, but it may just change your mind about doing something naughty.
Get active
Getting in some regular exercise is great for you in general, but it can also decrease the bad cravings because you’re keeping busy. The more exercise you do, the fitter you will get, and you may even notice the benefits a lot sooner than you may have imagined. You will have a lot more energy than you used to have, making life a lot more fun.
Avoid friends with the same habit
If all of your friends indulge in the habit you’re trying to quit, it’s going to be ten times harder to stop. This doesn’t mean you should ditch all of your friends and find new ones, but you may benefit from taking a break away from them while you’re trying to quit, as the temptation won’t help the process at all.
Keep your hands and mouth busy
If you’re a smoker, then you may enjoy having something in your hands, along with the actual act of smoking, consider swapping your real cigarettes from some e ones instead. The e juice that is used doesn’t carry any of the dangerous toxins as ordinary cigarettes do, and you can also control how much nicotine you’re taking in – if any that is! You can also try things like chewing gum to give your mouth something to do instead of puffing all day.
Think positive
What better place to start than with the mind? Positive thinking is a very strong tool to use, not only when it comes to trying to quit a bad habit, but even in your daily life. Think about all the times you have been strong and overcome something difficult in your life – then use that to power you through. You can do it; you know you can.
Now you see the endless amount of options, try them out and see what works best for you. You might find that only one or two does, or maybe you decide to put all of them to use.
Feature image via The Blue Diamond Gallery, Nick Youngson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Great post …. I’m working on a multitude of bad habits … I seem to have so many. Good advice! I shall work harder, after all, it’s just self control and discipline really isn’t it?
Helpful post☺
Another good one, Christy. I’ll be linking shortly, as I turn my attention back to my Habits, Decisions & Attention Series, so watch for a ping.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
I’m honored by the inclusions as I consider your site top-notch, Madelyn!
Thanks, Christy. I don’t post nearly as often as you do, however – only Mondays and Fridays, for the most part. I need time to research, etc. – which includes jumpting ’round the ‘net to read great blogs like yours!
xx,
mgh
Your posts are often longer than mine so I think it evens out ;) I know too that we have different schedules, etc. I am so glad to know you!
Best part about blogging is the virtual community – so glad you are in mine (or is that vice versa?) :)
xx,
mgh
Excellent post and advice Christy.
Thank you for the feedback!
You’re welcome.
Exercising and slightly changing the friend circle works amazingly. Always surround yourself with positive people and it makes so much difference. Great post
Perhaps instead of not hanging out with friends with the same bad habits, couldn’t we first all try to curb those bad habits together? I’d miss my naughty friends too much :) I enjoy your articles, because they don’t regurgitate the same ol’ stale info — you really introduce innovative ideas, Christy. xo
<3 Your words are beautiful and inspiring, Rose! I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead :)
I guess “Keep your hands & mouth busy” would play wonders !
Great your recent health related posts,dearest Christy,I think we must change all those harmful habits before we have to … :(
Hi Christy! Great advice, food is always my go to! I can never say no to food. When I feel the urge to go shopping or online shop, I go eat instead 😂 which sounds odd but it helps me break my spending habits! Keeping your hands and mouth busy is a great advice, especially when it comes to smoking!
I like that 😊
Very important facts. I shall keep this in mind. :)
Christy, I miss ya and I’m back! If you want to know why I haven’t been around…stop by my blog I wrote about it. :) And my return to blogging as well. :)
All good advice, and for some reason I thought of those I know who bite and chew their nails. The results are not just ugly, and a possible upcoming infection. Options are increasing the risk of colds and other infections by spreading germs from your fingers to your mouth or harming your teeth. “Keep your hands and mouth busy” is the closest advice, but is there something more needed here?
Good points and advice :)
Great advices, Christy :-)
Good tips to follow and tackle bad habits. Where there is will there is a way
nothing is impossible and i read once that we can replace a bad habit with a good one and soon we will used to what is good and forget the other!
Thanks for your sharing posts,
Wishing you all the best,
Nahla
I always told myself that all I needed was to get through TODAY without a cigarette. I didn’t need to think about tomorrow or next month or next year. All I had to think about was today.
Great points Christy.