Changing your habits is a hard task, and there’s an old adage that says it takes 21 days to form new ones. The problem is that too many times we try to build good habits without first trying to break our bad ones.
It doesn’t matter what your bad habit may be—smoking, biting your nails, overeating—you can start overcoming today and find freedom in the future. The key is to first admit you need to change. You must recognize the damage your bad habit is causing and you must want to change—you must desire it.
Be intentional about breaking your bad habit. Write it down and set a goal for yourself. Post that goal where you’ll see it often. Find an accountability partner and give them permission to nag you when you get off track.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character.
And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”~Lao Tzu
Start slow and change your life in small steps. Can you make a 5% change per week? Be patient and realize that slow change is better than no change.
Finally, face the fact that you may need to change your environment or your friends. Don’t place yourself in positions that tempt you to take part in your bad habit, or hang around people who drag you down.
Start getting your bad habits under control today by building new, better habits. Download your free copy of my Habit Tracking and Habit Stacking Worksheets that are designed to help you see how your bad habits are affecting you, and help you determine how to best replace them.
I’m Jeff M. Miller, and I help ordinary people who are stuck in a rut change their behaviors so they can be extraordinary. I’m an entrepreneur who retired from my full-time job in my early 40s to work from home. I’m a financial counselor, life coach, graphic designer, and passionate believer in helping others improve their lives a little more each day.
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