The information in this blog post is summarized from a Healthline article called How to Break a Habit (and Make It Stick)
Link:https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-break-a-habit
The article starts off by explaining how a habit starts using the idea of the 3 Rs
- Reminder- this is a trigger or cue that causes you to “do” the habit
- Routine – This is an actual behavior that is connected to the trigger. You continuously do something in a set pattern and it becomes a habit.
- Reward – The reward that you receive, mentally or physically, from doing the habit is what makes you keep doing it.
The article then goes into the steps of overcoming the habit.
- Identify your Triggers
- Focus on why you want to change
- Enlist a friends support
- Practice mindfulness
- Replace the habit with a different one
- Leave yourself reminders
- Prepare for slipups
- Do not have an all or nothing mindset
- Start small
- Change your environment
- Visualize yourself breaking the habit
- Practice Self Care
- Motive yourself with rewards
- Give it Time
- Know you don’t have to do it alone
You can refer to the article above for a more elaborate explanation of all of the steps!!