Do you have an addiction or bad habit that you want to leave behind? You aren’t alone. You already know the road will be long and the journey will be rough. These seven steps will help you walk away from your bad habits over time.
- Admit You Have A Problem
The first step is admitting you have a problem to begin with. Fortunately, you wouldn’t be reading this article if you weren’t aware of the fact that you have a problem. It’s more important than that, though. You actually need to write down your bad habit and your desire to make it go away. This makes your needs, wants, and goals more tangible – thus easier to respect and harder to ignore.
- Attend Regular Meetings
The next step is finding a local community of individuals who, like you, suffer from this bad habit. Speaking with these individuals at regular meetings will help you understand the struggles of other people who are experiencing the same problems as you. It will also give you a stronger respect for the strength it takes to quit. These groups and meetings will serve as barriers between you and your bad habit. You will be able to hold yourself accountable, speak with experienced individuals who will likely become lifelong friends, and learn about your bad habit along the way. Sober Nation shares information about the importance of going to regular meetings.
- Create Communities
Many bad habits form when individuals lack a community setting in which to express themselves. In addition to your regular weekly meetings, consider joining clubs and organizations within your community. This will help you develop social circles and a support system that will keep you going when you want to give in. It may also help to get a better job, spend more time with family, or reconnect with nature.
- Organize Your Life
It can be easy to fall into a state of depression and anxiety when your life is disorganized. This is much different than having a messy bedroom. A disorganized life involves deadlines, finances, job-related expectations, and government packages that aren’t coming together at the same time. When your bedroom is messy, several hours of cleaning will fix the problem. When your life is messy, it can take weeks or months to get everything organized again. Start this process as soon as possible. It will help you heal and keep you away from your bad habit.
- Set Reasonable Goals
As we mentioned earlier, no one can be expected to drop an addiction or bad habit in a single day. It all starts when you set reasonable goals for yourself. For example, cigarette users might cut back to one pack per week. Then, eventually, they might cut down to one cigarette per day. All the while, their health is slowly improving. Finally, the thought of cigarettes won’t seem so appealing. It’s all about moderation and refusing to break when things get hard. You can learn more about goal setting through Mind Tools.
- Learn To Say “No”
The real problem involved with a bad habit is our inability to say no to ourselves or others. This is especially true of those who gamble. For many of us, it might seem logical to walk away after winning several hundred dollars. Someone addicted to gambling, however, is almost completely unable to do so. Instead, they continue to bet. Learning to say no and walk away is the most difficult lesson to learn – but it also the most effective. Lifehack offers more information about the art of saying no.
- Learn To Say “Yes”
The other side of the coin applies to positive things in your life to which you’ve said no for a very long time. This could include support from other people, fun experiences, college, or getting into a serious relationship. Once you start saying no to unhealthy factors in your life, focus on saying yes to the healthy ones.
Follow these steps closely, and you’ll be in a better situation in no time.