As human beings, we all have bad habits that we would like to break!

Even if we know exactly what to do to get rid of our bad habits and we work on it, we have not conquered them all. Most of us know what to do, but still have trouble stopping.

We hope the tips in this article remind you of what you already know and give you some new strategies to reinforce healthier, more productive habits!

7 ways to break a bad habit:

1. Make a list of the problems this habit causes you and those around you.

It's harder to ignore or deny the negative consequences your actions may have on you, your livelihood, and the people you care about by putting them down on paper.

2. Make a list of the benefits that quitting the habit would bring to you and your loved ones.

3. Determine the purpose of this habit and why you are doing it.

Does engaging in social media make you feel less alone and help you avoid your fear of addressing social anxiety? By discovering the underlying problem and addressing it, the need for the habit disappears.

4. Find something else to replace the habit.

5. Set goals and reward yourself for your achievements.

Start with something achievable, like changing your habits for a day, and do something good for you. Set the next goal for three days, then for a week. Every time you achieve your goal, you will feel a sense of pride and know that you can live without your habit.

6. Ask for help.

There's nothing wrong with seeking help from a therapist or friend, or even trying something like hypnotherapy. We don't always have to do everything ourselves, and it takes more strength to admit that we need help than to pretend otherwise.

7. Determine how much you want or need to quit smoking.

It's easy to be hard on yourself or feel guilty for not living up to false expectations of perfection. We often think we “should” be a certain way when we just need to be ourselves. By focusing on our “imperfections,” we feel bad and think we don’t deserve to be loved or cared for. The more we take care of ourselves, the less time we have to spend on potentially harmful or time-wasting behaviors.

Whatever destructive habits you are trying to change, it is important to be patient with yourself. For example, if you're 35 years old and you've been picking at your skin since high school, it will take some time to counteract 17 years of a certain behavior. If you used to scratch every morning and every evening and after a few months you only do it in the evening, rejoice at this improvement. You may feel frustrated or disappointed that you can't quit overnight. However, this kind of thinking will not serve you in the long run. If you stay consistent and continue to remind yourself why you want to change, we are sure you will succeed.