How To Break A Habit
Posted by
patrick
Habits, whether good or bad, are actually (unconsciously) developed in the first place to meet one of our needs. A habit has a specific function and role. It is important not to overlook this role that habits play in meeting needs when attempting to break bad habits.
For example take the bad habit of biting fingernails. Many people bite their fingernails when they feel nervous. To them, biting fingernails is actually an outlet to release their nervousness and anxiousness. So that is the function of the habit of biting fingernails.
Now, if you kicked a habit but did not find something else to replace its function, your body will eventually have to go back to the old habit because that particular need isnt being met. Take the above example, if those people do not find an alternative outlet to release their nervousness and anxiousness, they will eventually go back to the habit of biting fingernails.
So it is very important that you identify what the original function of your habit is. What did you gain on a physical, psychological and emotional level from partaking in that bad habit? Which needs did it meet? It may be to relieve pain, relieve boredom, to be an outlet for emotional release or something else.
If you do not have an adequate replacement for a habit that youve kicked, sooner or later you will slowly and unconsciously go back to doing the bad habit. When a need is not met, your body will naturally look for ways to meet that need, and the easiest way is to go back to the old habit.
To know the function of a habit or the need that it meets, we need to know and assess the details of the habit. Look for and identify any recurring patterns that relates to the habit. Seek out indicators that point to possible functions that the habit may be meeting.
In identifying the patterns of a habit, you can ask questions such as when do you usually do the habit; what other thing were you doing at the time; where were you; who were you with; what happened before you did the habit; what time of the day was it etc.
Once you have identified the function of the habit and the need that is being met by it, then find an alternative to replace it. Think of an effective way to meet that need and use it whenever you become aware of the need for it. For example the next time you become nervous, instead of biting fingernails, try doing breathing exercises that will calm the body down.
Look for positive ways to fill that gap and ensure that the replacement is effective and adequate. Only through doing that will we kick a habit for the long term.
For example take the bad habit of biting fingernails. Many people bite their fingernails when they feel nervous. To them, biting fingernails is actually an outlet to release their nervousness and anxiousness. So that is the function of the habit of biting fingernails.
Now, if you kicked a habit but did not find something else to replace its function, your body will eventually have to go back to the old habit because that particular need isnt being met. Take the above example, if those people do not find an alternative outlet to release their nervousness and anxiousness, they will eventually go back to the habit of biting fingernails.
So it is very important that you identify what the original function of your habit is. What did you gain on a physical, psychological and emotional level from partaking in that bad habit? Which needs did it meet? It may be to relieve pain, relieve boredom, to be an outlet for emotional release or something else.
If you do not have an adequate replacement for a habit that youve kicked, sooner or later you will slowly and unconsciously go back to doing the bad habit. When a need is not met, your body will naturally look for ways to meet that need, and the easiest way is to go back to the old habit.
To know the function of a habit or the need that it meets, we need to know and assess the details of the habit. Look for and identify any recurring patterns that relates to the habit. Seek out indicators that point to possible functions that the habit may be meeting.
In identifying the patterns of a habit, you can ask questions such as when do you usually do the habit; what other thing were you doing at the time; where were you; who were you with; what happened before you did the habit; what time of the day was it etc.
Once you have identified the function of the habit and the need that is being met by it, then find an alternative to replace it. Think of an effective way to meet that need and use it whenever you become aware of the need for it. For example the next time you become nervous, instead of biting fingernails, try doing breathing exercises that will calm the body down.
Look for positive ways to fill that gap and ensure that the replacement is effective and adequate. Only through doing that will we kick a habit for the long term.
About the Author:
Author Ethan Beh is a business consultant and self improvement enthusiast. Check out his website for resource on personal development techniques which includes motivation, leadership and changing a habit.
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