We can see ourselves as part of a social structure it’s very hard to change a behavior if it is still accepted socially,” says Dr. “We get a sense of belonging that is important to us. In some cases, they actually offer a sense of community. That means these bad habits don’t necessarily bring along a stigma or sense of isolation that you’d think they would. 91% of employees admit to feeling somewhat burned out. 30% of people worldwide are obese or overweight. There are an estimated one billion smokers on earth. Yet, so many people still stick with those routines-and much of that is because those behaviors (while negative) are still largely socially accepted. Increased stress levels from constantly overworking are wreaking havoc on your emotional, mental, and even physical health. Lighting up those cigarettes isn’t doing your organs any favors. Bad Habits Are Still Socially AcceptedĮverybody knows a diet filled with grease and sugar is bad for you. So, putting an end to a habit requires a lot of conscious thought, a high degree of alertness, and self-imposed interruptions into your seemingly automatic thought processes. We’re just falling back on habitual behaviors. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 40% of the time, we aren’t even thinking about what we’re doing. Sometimes rote learning just takes over and you default to that behavior-before you even realize what’s happening. That makes it that much harder to cut it out. And, when you’ve repeated a behavior for a while, it becomes a part of your routine. They’re sort of like our brain’s version of autopilot. Bad Habits Are ComfortableĮven if we know they’re detrimental, there’s a comfort level associated with bad habits. But, what is it about bad habits that makes them so enticing-even when we know they’re, well, bad for us? There are a few things at play here. If bad habits were easy to break, nobody would have any, right? We’d all eat healthy, make it to the gym at least three times per week, and maintain an adequate work-life balance. Why Is Breaking Bad Habits So Darn Tough? In this article, we’re digging into everything you need to know about your bad habits-including why they’re so enticing and some of the best ways you can bid them adieu once and for all. While habits are brutal to break, they aren’t impossible. No matter what you have in mind, experience has taught you this: kicking a bad habit to the curb is an uphill battle, and it’s going to take a lot of effort, commitment, and even some frustration to pull this change off.ĭon’t panic yet. Or, perhaps you’ve set your sights on a habit that’s more work-focused, like stopping procrastinating or overworking. Maybe you have a lifestyle change in mind, like finally quitting smoking or saying goodbye to those weekly fast food indulgences. You’re eager to let go of some baggage and bad habits that drag you down. But, instead of implementing something new in your routine, you’re hoping to do the opposite. Everybody’s talking about the resolutions they’re hoping to stick to. Below are some ideas, but keep in mind that they're not one-size-fits-all, since every person and their circumstances are different.It’s the start of a new year-and, this time around, an entirely new decade. Once you've identified the habits you want to change, you can start to put some plans in motion to get them out of your life. If you notice friends or family starting to seem frustrated, it might be time to seek professional help." How to Break Bad Habits "But others might get frustrated hearing about the same issue over and over again and not understand that breaking bad habits takes time.
"Sometimes friends and loved ones can help remind you in a moment of weakness why you don't want to engage in a habit," she says. Powers echoes that sentiment, adding that your loved ones can provide support in helping you break these habits, but only to some extent.
Tension is created when we're not ready to accept help or to change ourselves." "Sharing information in a hostile environment can be detrimental. "It helps to talk to friends, family, or loved ones about recognizing these habits when they are safe-meaning they should be supportive and caring," Catchings says. Asking for input from your friends and family can help you recognize something you didn't realize about yourself, but both Catchings and Powers say you should tread carefully here.
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