"How to Change Unhealthy Habits"
THREAD TIME:


Unhealthy habits interrupt your life and prevent you from accomplishing your goals. They jeopardize your health.
So why do we still do them?
And most importantly, is there anything you can do about it?
You can overcome Unhealthy habits—starting with these 10 steps.
So why do we still do them?
And most importantly, is there anything you can do about it?
You can overcome Unhealthy habits—starting with these 10 steps.
1. Identify the habits you want to change.
This means bringing what is usually unconscious to your awareness.
Make a list of things you’d like to change, and then pick one.
This means bringing what is usually unconscious to your awareness.
Make a list of things you’d like to change, and then pick one.
2. Look at what you are getting out of it.
In other words, how is your habit serving you? Are you looking for comfort in food? Stress alleviation through eating or nail-biting?
You’ll figure it out and you’ll have some good ideas about how to switch it up for healthier outcomes
In other words, how is your habit serving you? Are you looking for comfort in food? Stress alleviation through eating or nail-biting?
You’ll figure it out and you’ll have some good ideas about how to switch it up for healthier outcomes
3. Honor your own wisdom.
You know you’ll be exhausted & less productive the next day, but you feel entitled to sth fun, just for you. Your wisdom, however, knows this isn't a healthy way to get it.
Use that wisdom to build sth into your schedule that will provide what you want
You know you’ll be exhausted & less productive the next day, but you feel entitled to sth fun, just for you. Your wisdom, however, knows this isn't a healthy way to get it.
Use that wisdom to build sth into your schedule that will provide what you want
4. Choose something to replace the unhealthy habit.
Just willing yourself to change isn’t enough because it does not address the underlying benefit of the behavior you want to replace.
Just willing yourself to change isn’t enough because it does not address the underlying benefit of the behavior you want to replace.
What can you do instead of standing in front of the fridge when you’re stressed?
If you have a plan, you will be “armed” with tools and a replacement behavior.
If you have a plan, you will be “armed” with tools and a replacement behavior.
5. Remove triggers.
If Doritos are a trigger, throw them out on a day you feel strong enough to do so.
If you crave a cigarette when you drink socially, avoid social triggers—restaurants, bars, nights out with friends.
If Doritos are a trigger, throw them out on a day you feel strong enough to do so.
If you crave a cigarette when you drink socially, avoid social triggers—restaurants, bars, nights out with friends.
Sometimes certain people are our triggers.
Remember that you end up being like the five people you hang out with most. Look at who those people are:
Do they inspire you or do they drag you down?
Remember that you end up being like the five people you hang out with most. Look at who those people are:
Do they inspire you or do they drag you down?
6. Visualize yourself changing.
Serious visualization retrains your brain. so spend some time every day envisioning yourself with new habits. Picture yourself exercising and enjoying it, eating healthy foods, or fitting into those jeans.
Serious visualization retrains your brain. so spend some time every day envisioning yourself with new habits. Picture yourself exercising and enjoying it, eating healthy foods, or fitting into those jeans.
7. Monitor your negative self-talk.
The refrain in your brain can seriously affect your default behaviors. So when you catch yourself saying, “I’m fat” or “No one likes me,” reframe it or redirect it.
The refrain in your brain can seriously affect your default behaviors. So when you catch yourself saying, “I’m fat” or “No one likes me,” reframe it or redirect it.
Replace it with, “I’m getting healthy, or “My confidence is growing.”
Redirecting is when you add to your negative self-talk of “I’m fat” with “But I’m working my way into a healthier lifestyle.”
Redirecting is when you add to your negative self-talk of “I’m fat” with “But I’m working my way into a healthier lifestyle.”
8. Take baby steps, if necessary.
Even if you can’t fully follow through with a new habit right away, do something small to keep yourself on track. That way, you’ll reinforce your new habit, even if you can't commit 100 percent.
Even if you can’t fully follow through with a new habit right away, do something small to keep yourself on track. That way, you’ll reinforce your new habit, even if you can't commit 100 percent.
9. Accept that you will sometimes falter.
We all do. Habits don’t change overnight.
Love yourself each time you do and remind yourself that you are human.
We all do. Habits don’t change overnight.
Love yourself each time you do and remind yourself that you are human.
10. Know that it will take time.
Habits usually take several weeks to change. You have to reinforce that bundle of nerves in your brain to change your default settings.
Habits usually take several weeks to change. You have to reinforce that bundle of nerves in your brain to change your default settings.


