Always doing things you wish you didn’t?
If so, first things first…please don’t beat yourself up. Why? We all have bad days. We all have bad habits. And self-criticism hasn’t helped anyone.
Second, it’s great you’re thinking about your habits. Why? Because habits make up 45% of your days. And creating good ones in your 20s sets you up for success.
Third, it can be hard to stop bad habits, unless you have the right tools. Keep reading to learn what they are, including:
- 3 low energy and no-cost tools you need to break your bad habits.
- Why you don’t need more willpower or discipline.
- How to stop bad habits without going cold turkey.
- The one thing you need to do so you don’t have FOMO.
- What science says about doing less to achieve more.
If your bad habits are holding you back and making you unhappy, this post is for you. It’ll help you stop those bad habits. And set you up for success in your 20s and beyond.
Tool #1 — One At A Time
I know I know…we want to fix everything right now. But trust me when I say success comes from focusing on one thing at a time.
So, instead of trying to stop skipping the gym AND drinking less coffee AND eating fewer takeaways AND stopping procrastination AND spending less money AND stopping negative thinking… Why not focus on ONE bad habit at a time? I promise you’ll see the success you’re after.
When you work on one habit at a time it takes up a lot less energy—so you don’t need any additional motivation or discipline. Plus, research shows changing just one habit improves other habits automatically—no additional energy, willpower or discipline needed 🙌.
Tool #2 — Find A Replacement
When you decide the ONE habit you want to stop, please resist the urge to go cold turkey. Your mind won’t know what to do—so, it’ll convince you to go back to your bad habit.
Instead, replace your bad habit with something new and enjoyable.
If you’re trying to drink less coffee, replace it with tea. If you’re trying to eat fewer takeaways, stock up on frozen pizzas and ‘fakeaways’. If you’re trying to stop procrastinating, only allow yourself to do it after you’ve done 10 minutes of focused work.
Tool #3 — There’s A Time & Place
For some habits, a time or a place boundary works best. This is how I reduced my “too much coffee” habit! If you’re the same, try a 10.30 am cut-off like I have. If it’s procrastination, set a rule of no social media or the internet until midday. If it’s too many takeaways, stick to only having them at a friend’s house.
So, there you are, 3 simple tools to help you stop your bad habits. The most important thing to remember when trying to stop your bad habits is to experiment. If something doesn’t work for you, try a different approach until you find what does.
Importantly, don’t keep trying to quit the same bad habit in the same way you always have if it’s not working. Try a different replacement, time or place until you find what works for you. And, be patient with yourself. It takes time to change behaviours and find what works. Nothing happens overnight (no matter what social media tries to tell us) and it’s those who develop a long-term view who find success in their 20s and beyond.
Now, it’s time for you to take action. Pick one bad habit you want to focus on first. Decide which tool—#2 or #3—you’ll try. Then commit to it for a week and see what happens.
Want to learn more about creating habits for health, happiness and success? Be sure to grab your free habits guide below. Enter your name and email to get instant access and learn 5 new habits to change your life.
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You’ve got this.
With love,
Becky
P.S. I share 6 simple habits to make your 20s easier, in my School For Real Life Program. So, be sure to join the waiting list below.
(Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash)
