Why Quitting Bad Habits Is So Hard

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Of course, nobody is perfect. However, not all bad habits are equal. Some just might be irritating to the people around you, while others could put your health at risk. Nevertheless, bad habits have something in common: They usually are hard to quit. As a result, many of us feel demotivated and weak when it comes to creating a self-improvement journey. It’s not that we don’t want to become a better person. We don’t know how to make it work! Here are the top four reasons why quitting bad habits is hard: 

Because it’s a habit

The first clue is in the name. It’s a habit, and therefore, it is an integral part of your routine. As a result, quitting cold turkey and without any preparation can be incredibly difficult. Instead, the best approach is to mentally prepare yourself to turn a page by setting a quit date. Keep your goals realistic, though. If you’ve been a smoker for the best part of your adult life, you probably don’t want to quit tomorrow. Instead, you can use your quit date to gradually reduce your intake of nicotine until it becomes bearable for your body to sustain low quantities. 

Because it helps you cope

Why do we develop bad habits? Your habit is a response to a situation. Some patterns are learned, such as copied from your parents as a child. Others are chosen to fill a void. Destructive habits that put your health at risk typically act as a coping mechanism that helps you deal with stressful events. Highly functional drinkers, for instance, don’t drink because they like the taste but because they can’t function without the relief of alcohol. As a result, sober living centers have developed dedicated support to help people not only identify the underlying problem but also manage it more effectively. The same principle applies to a variety of harmful habits. You need to focus on addressing the triggering issues first. 

Because it’s part of your social image

Some habits are developed to facilitate social integration. Social drinking, for instance, is a natural behavior for people with an extended circle of friends. After all, friends who drink together stay friends forever (or so they say). Consequently, it can be difficult to build healthy habits, as you might worry about social isolation, whether you want to quit alcohol or junk food – two of the most prevalent unhealthy behaviors among friends. 

Because it needs replacing

You can’t just drop a habit and hope for the best. When the habit disappears, it leaves a void you need to fill. Smokers, for instance, have an established routine, from the first cigarette in the morning to the last puff before bed. If you don’t build a healthy replacement, you are more likely to give up and return to your bad habit. Introducing a new habit helps you to create a new gesture and pattern to rely on in your day-to-day life. 


Can you quit your bad habits tomorrow? If the answer is no, you needn’t worry. Nobody can quit without notice, because your habit is part of your life. You must detach yourself from this side of your personality to create room for something positive in your routine.


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3 Ways To Modify Your Environment For Your Well-being

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When people think of self-improvement, they often think of stuff that happens "internally" rather than "externally," strictly speaking. For example, they'll work on reducing their negative self talk, setting productive goals, becoming more "motivated" to perform particular tasks, and so on. Interestingly enough, some of the most significant ways to transform your life for the better, actually rely on changing your environment, rather than just your thought process.

As human beings, our internal mental and emotional domains are always liable to be impacted to a significant degree by the surroundings we find ourselves in, and since we all spend so much time in our own homes, restructuring your home can easily be one of the most effective ways of creating that kind of change.

Here are just a few ways you can modify your environment to transform your life.


Overhaul your bedroom, and bedding, to experience a new world of deep sleep

People often underestimate the incredible degree to which the quality and length of their sleep impacts everything else in their lives. The research on this topic is crystal clear, though- when you get a good night's sleep, you're simply a better person across the board. Your emotions are more well-balanced, your mind works faster, your memory is better, and you're healthier.

Many people these days experience insomnia and other sleep conditions. Often, simply overhauling your bedroom, and bedding, can radically transform the quality of your sleep. Specially designed bedding, such as Tencel bed sheets ensure your sleep is refreshingly comfortable and the less crowded your bedroom is, the more likely you are to sleep properly at night.

Reshape your space, to increase or reduce resistance, and manage your habits

Writers Charles Duhigg and James Clear, have both written very successful books on the art of habit management. One theme that both men cover is that establishing good habits, and dissolving bad ones, largely comes down to managing "resistance." In other words – since people are typically inclined to follow the path of least resistance, making it just a bit harder to engage in negative habits, and a bit easier or more rewarding to engage in positive ones, can completely transform how you behave on an everyday basis.

In many cases, this is largely a matter of restructuring your home, and office environments. Such as by removing distractions, putting healthier food in the fridge, et cetera. Our habits define us to an enormous degree – so getting this right can really turn you into a new person.

De-clutter your home to enhance your attention and focus

It's inevitable that if your home is cluttered, your attention will be perpetually drawn in different directions, and you will find it very difficult to focus and maintain your attention on one thing at a time. There's a good deal of research to suggest that this particular state of affairs leads to chronic anxiety, and underperformance in work, hobbies, etc. Decluttering your home can help you to enhance your mental clarity, and simply lead to enjoying a better life.

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