Creating and maintaining good habits is foundational to achieving our new year goals. We also need to consider those bad habits that may slow us down and the negative feelings they create that can distract us from our progress.
Dealing with bad habits can be challenging, and the act of trying to change them can be daunting. By approaching bad habits in a different way, you can improve your Spiritual, Emotional, and Intellectual wellbeing. Here are a few ways to look at bad habits differently.
See bad habits as good opportunities.
You may find there is a bad habit that is standing in the way of you achieving your goals. Don’t get discouraged. Instead, take a different perspective. Is there a way you can change how you perceive or perform that habit to make it a more positive influence on your life? Can you break that habit down into manageable steps and make it into a good habit with little effort? Find a new angle to approach your bad habits and make them into opportunities.
Be kinder to yourself.
Habits are hard to establish and even harder to break. Don’t let your bad habits keep you from acknowledging the accomplishments you make toward your goals. Think positively. Compliment yourself often. Don’t just treat others as you want to be treated; treat yourself the way you treat others, too. When you find you’ve given into a bad habit, accept it however you can. Brush it off. Have a good cry. And tell yourself you’ll do better next time, even if you don’t. You’re only human.
Talk to your inner-critic.
Quitting a bad habit can sometimes feel like you’re fighting yourself. And recent research suggests that’s exactly what we’re doing – fighting with the voices in your head who think they know what’s best for you. It may sound strange, but sometimes you just have to sit those know-it-alls down and have a conversation. What do they want for you? Why do they put you down when you don’t do things their way? And how can you come together to achieve what you really want? Try to compromise with that part of yourself, so you can spend more time accomplishing your goals and less time fighting yourself.
References:
This Is How to Quit Bad Habits Without Willpower: 3 Secrets From Neuroscience
The Only Resolution You Need – Be Nice to Yourself
Can’t Keep Your New Year Resolutions? Try Being Kind to Yourself
Resources:
Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Health Benefits of Being Kind to Yourself