We all know what a bad habit is and how hard it can be to break the habit. Change is hard. But not living well is much harder.

Smoking, gambling, eating junk food, drinking too much alcohol, spending too much time on the internet. Some seem benign, like binge-watching our favorite shows. But when these activities disrupt our productive lives and cause us to neglect our responsibilities, then we do have a problem – a bad habit.

The good news is, it’s possible to eliminate a negative habit or bad routine. How? With a plan of action, of course!

• Visualize yourself succeeding. See yourself ditching those cigarettes. Picture yourself smiling and enjoying your success. See yourself building a new, healthy you.

• Maybe you “quit smoking” but you kept it to yourself. That way no one can see you fail. Hmmm. Instead, pair up with someone and change together.

• Identify triggers and choose substitutes. What are you going to do when you get the craving to smoke? Plan for it!

• Plan for slip-ups. We all slip up every now and then. When we fail, skip our exercise routine, eat junk food or sleep late, it doesn’t make us bad people. It just makes us human.

• Don’t beat yourself up over a slip. Get right back to the plan. Never give up! And, for God’s sake, don’t go cold turkey!

Breaking bad habits takes time and effort, but mostly it takes “stick-to-itiveness.” Most of the people who succeed in breaking their bad habits fail multiple times before they make it work.

If you don’t succeed the first time, that doesn’t mean you won’t. Have faith and you can break any bad habit.

Mike Corthell

Bridgton

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