Things You'll Need:
- Journal
- Notebooks
- Pencils Or Pens
- Notebooks
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Step 1
Decide how serious you are about breaking the habit. In addition to a strong commitment, you'll need time and energy to pay attention to your behavior so that you can change it.
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Step 2
Keep track of when you do the behavior. Keep a notepad or journal handy.
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Step 3
Write down when it happens (what is the situation) and what you were thinking and feeling. Writing increases your awareness of when and why you have this habit.
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Step 4
Read and think about what you write down. What does this habit do for you? Is it a way to deal with feelings of boredom, anxiety, stress, anger?
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Step 5
Think of what you could do instead of the habit that would be a more positive way to deal with the feelings or situation. Write down some simple alternative behaviors that you could do instead. Pick one you want to practice.
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Step 6
Try to catch yourself when you find yourself doing the habit and stop yourself as soon as you can. Start the alternative behavior you decided you wanted to do instead.
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Step 7
Aim to do this once a week and increase the number of times per week over time. The more you practice a new behavior, the more it becomes the new habit.
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Step 8
Get support from others by letting them know you are working on the habit and telling them what they can do to help.
Comments
coaches247 said
on 11/17/2009 All of these are good ideas. Sometimes, breaking habit requires help from a trusted person you know is there for you. Good luck, and thanks for the article. Best,
Daniel http://www.coaches247.com - Habit breaking system.
korinanick said
on 4/11/2009 try to do something else opposite
jc22 said
on 8/20/2007 Great tips. I've put a link to this article from the Help section on Hidden Habits - http://www.hiddenhabits.com/ It's a site where you can admit to your habits and connect with others who do the same.
Apelila said
on 8/14/2007 Bad Habits are hard to change, cause they've been a part of us for quite sometimes. Stopping them is like giving up who you are (in your subconscious).
You will have a better chance of stopping any bad habit by having a personal coaching. You can get one of those self-help audio program for a few $$
However, you must have a "desire" to stop bad habits and work with the program consistently for a period of time, usually 3 weeks.
You can try checking out Lee Milteer's program that helped many to stop their bad habits. Check it out at www.Stop-Bad-Habits.com
reddevil said
on 2/14/2007 Hi.
I have a very bad habit. I sometimes pick my toenails and check them to see if they're ok. I know it sounds stupid but this is now happening constantly, not so much the picking anymore but the checking and re- checking.
I want to quit and keep saying I am going to but I can't. No matter what I'm doing, what I'm wearing, shoes socks slippers the urge just comesto me and then I give in after trying so patiently ot to.
It's enough now!!!