How to Replace Bad Habits with Better Ones

We spend 40% of our time on autopilot

What are habits? Habits, by definition, are behaviors that are repeated consistently and tends to occur subconsciously.

We don’t think about every little thing we do during the day because of our habits.

Research shows about 40% of people’s daily activities are performed each day in almost the same situations. Our daily lives are taken up by habits that we’ve formed over our lifetime.

Habits are hard to change because we are on autopilot and sometimes we don’t realize what we are doing because we have done it over and over again. Habits are important to our success. They are also hard to control. With some dedication, you can replace your bad habits with new, better habits.

Here’s how.

1. Become More Self Aware

You have to bring your subconscious habits to the top of your mind. Do it by self-observation. Or you can ask your friends and family to point out your habits so you become self aware of what you are doing when you don’t realize it.

Ask yourself:

• Why I’m checking my email when I get up the morning?
• Why I’m eating this unhealthy food?
• Why am I on Instagram instead of writing?

Become consciously aware of your habits. You are probably on autopilot when it comes to certain things you do everyday.

It’s important to recognize these behaviors and really think about them.

To break a habit, you have to realize you are doing the habit. If the habit is bad, you have to be aware that it’s bad.

2. Change Your Preferences

Now that you know you have bad habits, you need to get rid of the triggers that causes your habits to happen.

What habit do you want to really change?

You have to give yourself a timeline or deadline for how long it will take you to change your preferences for new habits.

When you remove the cues for habits, it’s easier to form new habits. Let’s say you run out of coffee at home and you can’t have coffee unless you leave the house to get more coffee at the grocery store or you go to Starbucks.

If you are forced to make a change, you can quickly realize something has become a habit. You can make a conscious effort to change the habit. You are forced to accept it. Get rid of the situations or items that trigger your bad habits. For example, if you are on your smartphone too much, set up screen time limits.

3. Tell Others About It

There is a reason that Alcoholics Anonymous is successful because it meets in a group setting. With mutual aid and fellowship, alcoholics help each other “stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.”

They tell others about your bad habits.

Fixing a bad habit starts with being accountable to others. It’s a powerful way to keep the pressure on yourself to change. By giving and receiving support from others, you better cope and change your bad habits.

You’ll be able to find positive and healthy habits. Others can help you stay on track if you resort back to your bad habits.

Research shows that it takes from anywhere from 18 to 254 days to form a new habit. Other people can help you stay responsible for a longer time than you can yourself. Take advantage of the love from your family and friends.

4. Write Your Habits Down and Visualize the New Ones

Write down what bad habit you are doing. Why do you want to change that habit? Then, write down your new habit. Compare them and then cross out your old habit. It’s therapeutic to cross something out.

Write down your new habit on a Post-it Note. Post it on your desk, in your bathroom, or on your refrigerator. Post it somewhere in your house where you’ll see the note every day. It will remind you.

Research shows you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals when you write them down. When you write down your goals and visual yourself succeeding, you’ll be able to accomplish your new habit.

5. Think Positively

If you are negative with your self talk, it could set you back. Research shows that our subconscious mind can’t understand negatives. We can’t process negative words such as don’t because our subconscious skips over the negative and hears the positive part.

That makes positive thinking even more powerful. Before you act on your habits, you need to think positively.

You got this. You can do this. You can make the new habit happen.

To help you think positively, reward yourself for taking a small action toward changing a bad habit. Also, spend time with family, friends, and colleagues who think positively. They will support and encourage you.

Here are some quotes to inspire you to think more positively:

Bringing It All Together

Habits are so simple that you don’t even think of them as habits. It’s starts by realizing you have them. Once you establish your new habits, be patience and forgive yourself. It takes a while for new habits to form. Everyone slips up. That’s human. Stay positive.

We spend 40% of our time on autopilot. To improve your life and career, take the time to understand your bad habits and take a more active role in replacing them with new, better habits.

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