Reshaping Bad Habits

Knowing you need to change things can be overwhelming, but having some specific strategies can help you set and reach goals one step at a time.

How many are you guilty o.  The fact that a bad habit is common doesn’t mean it’s okay.

Before we get started let me share with you the 3 core principles to changing habits.

• First you must be honest with yourself and make a vow to yourself to change
• Second you must have a deep desire to get rid of the old undesirable habit
• Third you must be open to trying new strategies and be creative look at everything even if you don’t think it will work.

Use these guidelines to help you reach your goals.  Try one strategy each week, and don’t get frustrated.  You’ve taken a lifetime to create these habits so don’t expect them to change overnight.

• Practice the pause.  Know your habit, and when you are about to fall into your usual habitual behavior  learn to pause, just for a moment, and think   Ask yourself these questions:

Will this  this nourish my body?
Will this nourish my spirit?
Is this good for me?
Will I feel guilty about it later
Is it worth the momentary pleasure

• Don’t have habit triggers in your house.  If sugar sets you off on a binge, don’t keep sugary snacks around.  If you can’t resist shopping don’t keep your credit card in your wallet.  If nighttime television is your weakness, get the TV out of your bedroom.  Put it in the kitchen to make cleaning more interesting, ore even (gulp) pack it away.
• If you use your bad habit to soothe your stress, replace your habit with another kind of “treat” that is just as good or better.  For example, if you automatically turn on the television as soon as you get home form work, allow yourself twenty minutes of quiet time instead.  Don’t let anyone disturb you.  Put on relaxing music and breathe, meditate, have some tea, read a book, take a catnap.

According to the Readers Digest here are the top 10 habits that effect you overall health and well being

1. Snacking non-stop, even when not hungry.  – Eat when you are actually hungry begin to recognize humger and no more mindless eating.
2. Spending too much time on the couch watching TV. – Results in lack of exercise and inactivity.  No more then 2 hours of TV per day.
3. Overspending your way into debt. – Educate yourself on personal finance.  Stop or greatly curtail using credit cards.
4. Eating too much fast food. – Wean yourself.  Cut back a little every week.  Buy a little less each time you go.
5. Getting sunburned a few times every summer. – Stick to the shade and plan an annual skin check-up.
6. Behavior that leaves you angry, worried, or stressed all of the time. – Stop getting stressed so easily, stay cool, rediscover optimism.
7. Skipping breakfast. – No time? Make a portable breakfast sandwich: Bring along a piece of fruit, and maybe some milk in a coffee mug.  Eat foods you like.
8. Drinking too much alcohol. – Stick to healthy limits: That’s two or less drinks per day for men, one for women
9. Smoking cigarettes. – Treat it like an addiction, not a habit: Before you stop, prepare for the tough road ahead. Prepare a strategy,a support team
10. Overusing pain killers and sedatives. – Check out alternate pain-relief strategies: Weight loss, exercise, stress relief and avoiding triggers can help.

How many are you guilty of.  The fact that a bad habit is common doesn’t mean it’s okay.

Habits are about past programming.  Even though habits seem automatic, behind it is a choice, and a decision. Make small changes  Not because someone else wants you to change something, but because you want to.  the past is a locked door, your future is made up of the choices you make today.

What bad habits do you plan to change?