Tips and Tricks on How to Quit a Negative Habit

Getting Rid of Negative Habits 

Addiction is one of the most serious cases in the Philippines today, but do you realize that if we take a thorough look at the lives of the victims of addiction, they, at some point earlier in their life, were also capable of choosing not to fall into the things they are addicted to today? All addiction victims had their minds gradually conditioned to become addicted – in other words, addiction is simply a negative habit.

What Are Habits?

Habits are an essential part of a person’s life. By psychological definition, habits are ways of thinking, willing and feeling that a person subconsciously develops over time because he or she keeps doing it repeatedly.

A good example of this is a person who decides to always go to work on time. From the time he starts making good on that decision, he will become accustomed to doing it that in the future, he won’t even have to think about waking up early; he will subconsciously do it because that is what he has been doing all this time. In other words, he has developed the habit of punctuality.

From the example, we see how essential habits are to building our ethics and personality. Forming good habits enables us to become more productive and helpful to our community, making us better people as we mature. However, there are also certain habits that don’t benefit us. These negative habits, if not addressed, can eventually lead us to destruction and demise, literally. Because of this, it is essential for us to make sure that we always form positive habits, all the while breaking the negative ones that have been developed along the way.

Negative habits don’t break easily, but they can be broken. Since habits are developed over time, quitting negative habits will take your time, effort and patience. Here are five simple yet profound principles that will help you quit your negative habit:

1. Acknowledge the Problem and Desire to Get Rid of It.

The only way to address an issue is to know it, completely – and this isn’t just talking about being aware that you have a problem, but actually acknowledging that you have a negative habit and must break it. Breaking a negative habit starts when a person realizes that it exists and is destroying his life, and he must quit it to make his life better. It may not be easy at the start but as you begin to take actions, you will get used to it and will soon realize the benefits.

2. “Reposition” Your Mind.

All habits are formed in the mind, and in order for a person to quit a negative habit, the first area he needs to address is his thinking. Do you know why addiction victims cannot get out of their problem? It is because they keep on thinking, “I’m an addict. I’ll never get out of this.”

Set your mind the other way around and start believing it, even if you catch yourself still doing the same thing. For example, if you want to break obesity, stop saying “I’m fat”. Instead, start believing and declaring, “I am getting slimmer. I can control my appetite.” This mindset will allow you to be motivated enough to do what it takes to achieve your goal.

3. Set Your Goals and Make Plans on How to Reach Them.

Negative habits are formed because people get used to doing things over and over. And in order for someone to do something, he must have a goal – whether he is conscious of it or not. In the same way, freeing yourself from negative habits will require you to set a goal – not just the overall goal of quitting that negative habit, but everyday goals of what you need to do, what you need to avoid, and so on and so forth. Setting a specific goal can help you focus on something that you really want to achieve.

4. Exit The Old, Enter The New.

Do you know that the law of physics states that when you empty a space of a certain object, something else will replace it? It applies to our habits. You can’t break free of negative habits and leave it that way. For example, if you plan to stop smoking or quit drinking alcohol, you can’t leave it at that. You have to find something else to do. Try out recreational activities that will occupy your time and attention, thus re-programming your mind to like something else instead of what you used to be addicted to. Try to engage to something worth doing and that you also enjoy. As time goes by, you will see that you have allow yourself to forget the negative habit and connect to a positive one.

5. Get Help. You Can’t Do It On Your Own.

Finally, seek assistance. People don’t form negative habits without outside help. Drug addiction victims became so because someone gave them drugs in the first place. Inversely, you cannot break the negative habit and form a positive one without someone lending their aid. Look to the people who care about you. They want to help you, and all you have to do is to accept it. Involve family members on your plans. Ask for their supports. If necessary, create new circle of friends who have the same goals as yours.