Tips: Self help on how to break a habit or change an addictive routine
For those who are working on accent improvement, or struggling with Internet addiction, or trying to quit any other old habit that is affecting the quality of work and life…..:
A habit is a behavior that we regularly repeat, often without thinking much about it. Over time, our brain gets used to the routine, repeating it unconsciously. Smoking, playing video games, watching TV, net surfing – excessive use of any of these can become a habit or addiction. Once a habit is developed, it becomes a part of our daily life, it is hard to get away from it.
To break a habit or to minimize an addictive behavior is not easy. It is not something we can do overnight. While we can start the process of breaking a habit anytime we like, the harder part is to keep it that way for good - to break the routine permanently.
Here are the basic considerations to break a habit:
Willpower: The very first requirement is willpower, the desire to give-up something that is negatively affecting the quality of life or work. Without willpower and determination, one cannot break a habit permanently.
Be sincere- to yourself: Most of the problems get solved if we can put in a sincere effort to fix them. Be sincere and honest to yourself. After all, you are not trying to change other people’s perception about you; you are trying to change yourself, the behavior itself.
Plan for the change:Plan for a change of routine. Some people prefer to reduce the frequency of additive behavior at first; other like to go cold turkey – giving it up all together. If preference is to break the habit slowly, make sure to have a time-frame planned. Set a target date to finally stop and totally give-up the use.
New routine or replacement: Not having a replacement planned is a common mistake. Do not create a vacuum while trying to break a habit. Find an activity or some other hobby to replace it. If there is too much idle time, it is much harder to avoid something that we are addicted to.
Be active: Many bad habits start out of boredom or when we have nothing creating to occupy us. An idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Be active and be social. Find something satisfying to replace the old routine.
Out of sight: Make sure not to have cigarettes sitting around in the plain sight if trying to quit smoking; don’t have game controllers in the living room if trying to give up on video game addiction.
Partner or group support: In most cases, it is much easier to break a habit if there is someone to support the change. This could come from the spouse, a friend, the family members or some other support group based on the personal circumstances.
Know your weaknesses:Avoid the circumstances or company that may hinder the success towards breaking the habit. Hanging around with a bunch of chain smokers makes it much more challenging to quit smoking.
Live the new you: Don’t think much about the habit itself. Relish the new routines, enjoy the present. Less we think about something, faster it fades from the memory.
Make it a group activity: If possible, try the process of quitting as a group. For example, it is much easier for a married couple to quit smoking if both of them work together on it. The same applies to a group of friends or colleagues at work.
The last resort -seek professional help: If you are not succeeding in breaking the habit, and if it is affecting your personal and family life, seek professional help.
Habits die hard, and old habits die even harder. Longer we let a habit linger, harder it becomes to change. Lots of patience and perseverance is required to change a routine; A sincere desire to change is the pre-requisite. Breaking or giving up bad habits is always very rewarding and fulfilling in the end. Give yourself a reason to improve; don’t over-complicate it – keep it simple.
The most effective self improvement starts from within and cannot be forced by others.
