Everyone has a bad habit or two. Getting rid of habits is a very hard thing to do. Even if you have a great deal of self discipline bad habits can be very hard to get rid of. Habits take about three weeks to really cement themselves into your mind. The same is true of breaking a bad habit; it takes about three weeks away from the habit to really get past it.
• Tell a friend about your endeavors. This will make you more accountable because it is easy to make excuses to yourself, but not as easy to make excuses when your friend asks how it is going. The more people you tell the more accountability there is. This also means that you can get more support. The same people that are there to keep you accountable should also be there when you need some support. You should tell people who you can call when your resolve is faltering.
• Replace your bad habit with a good habit. If you take smoke breaks at work, then take walk breaks instead. When you want to grab some potato chips, try some carrot sticks or celery with all natural peanut butter.
• End negative self talk. Do not tell yourself that you cannot do it. Even if you believe that you are going to fail, keep telling yourself that you can. Take it one minute at a time. If you are trying to lose weight or trying to quit smoking then just wait a half hour. Your mind can only hold on to a craving for about a half hour. When you make it just 30 minutes you will find that you have out waited the craving. Every time you can wait out a craving you will gain strength in your battle.
