From playing with your hair, cracking your knuckles, all the way to smoking, everybody has bad habits. When something stressful happens in someone’s life, habits are sometimes created, and we use them as ways to cope with what’s unfolding around us. Although some are more harmless than others, it can be harder than it looks on paper to try to break the habit. Check out these tips on how you can kick the habit of a lifetime if you are trying to quit the habit and cold turkey hasn’t succeeded for you.
Know when you need professional help
While it’s completely possible to give up a bad habit, sometimes it can be difficult to conquer it alone, and there are professional services that can help you along your way. Your first port of call should always be your GP, as they have a range of tools and methods to help you kick a bad habit such as alcoholism or drug abuse. However, there are other options such as partial hospitalization and full rehab to help you quit your habit for the benefit of your health.
Distraction
Another effective way to break a habit is when you have the need to do it by distracting yourself. Distraction works for those with anxiety and other mental health issues as a highly successful coping strategy, and it may also work well for you. Switch on your TV, read a good book, pick up your phone and talk to someone, or whatever works for you.
It’s always a good idea to let those around you know when you’re trying to break a habit, as they can become your support system and become more understanding when you need a distraction or someone to talk to.
Find healthier alternatives
Some behaviours are more damaging than others, and when you’re fighting the habit, some habits often have better alternatives. For starters, smoking is a difficult habit to quit. By moving to vape mods, about 18 percent of people altogether quit smoking. A much better, less costly way for you to cope with your habit. Each time you feel overwhelmed, another example would be reaching for unhealthy food – make healthier alternatives!
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a tried and tested approach to many different health ailments, and that doesn’t mean you have to visit a psychiatrist to do so either. There are many hypnosis tapes that you can download to your phone and listen to in your own time that are free or very cheap. About 93% of individuals who use hypnotherapy have total success!
Set yourself goals
It’ll be easier to quit some habits than others, but none will be immediate. To complete this task, you will need patience and discipline. The whole process will be much simpler by breaking it down into smaller, more easily attainable goals. For example, reward yourself for each week or month that you’ve managed to break your habit for!
Ending a habit you’ve been doing for as long as you can remember is no easy thing, but you can do it with these tips, your family and friends’ support, and pure self belief!
