Breaking bad habits (unhealthy eating, smoking, biting your nails) and starting good habits is a matter of breaking out of your routine. These eight tips will help you achieve your goals and get what you want out of life!

Before the tips, a quip:

“Each time you do something new you become something new,” says psychologist Kenneth Herman, author of Secrets From the Sofa.

Some of these tips for breaking bad habits are directly from Dr Herman, and others are from my own experiences with quitting smoking and breaking my “binging on the worst foods you could eat” unhealthy eating habit! Click Secrets From the Sofa for more advice from this psychologist, and read on for tips on achieving your goals…

8 Ways to Break Bad Habits and Start Good Habits

1. Determine what you want to change. To achieve your goals, you need to know where you’re going. “Start fresh by getting clear about what you want,” says Dr Herman. “What is your heart’s desire? What do you want to accomplish or attain? If nothing was holding you back from realizing your dreams, what would make you happy?”

2. Examine your current approach. What are you presently doing, and is it taking you closer to or away from your goals? “Don’t stay with what is safe and comfortable,” says Dr Herman. Be ruthless when you look at your current approach, and work on overcoming the obstacles to achieving your goals.

3. Make a specific plan. To break bad habits, be clear and specific. If you want to quit smoking, for instance, figure out the exact steps that will get you there – whether that’s seeing a doctor, researching the nicotine patch, or taking up jogging (I took up jogging, and after a year my cravings passed).

4. Seek practical solutions. “If you’re afraid of swimming or lack the skill to play tennis, take lessons,” says Dr Herman. “Don’t find fault with yourself. Find out what you have to do to achieve your goal and do it.” To start good habits, find practical ways to deal with your behaviors and cravings.

5. Implement healthy substitutions. My bad habit is binging on unhealthy foods. I’ve learned not to force myself to stop what I’m compelled to do. Instead, ride the horse in the direction it’s going! For me, this means I give in to my nervous eating habit – but instead of munching on potato chips and cookies, I delve into apples, raisons, grapes, and canned peas (don’t ask; it works for me, and that’s what counts!). My substitutions satisfy my emotional needs, which helps me stick with my good habits.

6. Try different ways to get what you want. “If we continue doing the same things, we will get the same results,” says Dr Herman. When you’re working to achieve your goals, you need to try different ways to break your bad habits. He says, “If what you try does not work out – then try again! There is no such thing as a failure. Failed attempts are simply practicing to get things right.”

7. Find your tribe. Here’s a tip from a life coach: “Get supportive folks in your camp,” says life coach Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Take Yourself to the Top. “Join a group of like-minded folks, team up with a good friend, hire a coach or otherwise include people who want the best for you and will keep you on track.” If you know someone who wants to break their bad habits, invite him or her to be an accountability buddy. Check in with each other regularly to make sure you’re on track. For more tips on goals, read How to Achieve Your Personal Goals in 7 Steps.

8. Reward yourself. This is the most pleasant tip for breaking bad habits: celebrate your successes! Rewarding yourself regularly keeps you energized and motivated. My favorite rewards are weekend getaways or overseas vacations…but I also love full-body massages and sushi dinners. To stay motivated, reward yourself in big and little ways   

If you have any tips for breaking bad habits and achieving your goals, please comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

For more info about Dr. Kenneth Herman and his award winning personal growth book, visit his Secrets from the Sofa website.

~ Resources for Achieving Your Goals ~

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