4 Tricks to Break Bad Habits

There are plenty of bad habits people have. Some of the most common ones include:

• Biting nails
• Cracking knuckles
• Smoking
• Eating late night snacks
• Going on shopping sprees 

Numerous others exist, and while some are just kind of annoying, others are incredibly harmful for your health. Here are a few tips for breaking these detrimental habits. 

1. Identify the Habit
Any time you want to correct an aspect of your life, you first need to identify the problem. Any time you are going to bite your nails or something, stop yourself. Try to figure out why you felt the urge to perform the habit at that moment. 

2. Write It Down
Keeping a journal can be incredibly helpful for breaking these actions. Write down the time you wanted to perform the habit and what you believe made you want to do it. Contributing factors can include boredom or stress. 

3. Replace the Habit With Something Positive
If you have a tendency to overeat because you are bored, then find something else to do to fill the space. You probably eat because it is something to do and makes you feel good. However, calling up an old friend, going for a jog and various other actions can provide you with the same sense of euphoria. This same principle applies to all bad habits. 
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4. Give It Time
The reason why many people continue performing negative habits is that they think these changes will happen overnight. That is not the case at all. It can take a long time to break a habit that is so engrained in your mind. Tell your friends what you are doing, so they can offer emotional support. In the event you slip up, do not beat yourself up over it. You are only human after all. 

Eating right and exercising more should be part of an overall plan to get healthy. This should also include going to the doctor regularly with the assistance of your insurance provider. If your benefits come from Sackett & Associates, give us a call at 707-823-3689 to review them.