This manual was published by CIO.com.
Define what you want to stop doing and why
First of all you must define which bad habits you actually want to get rid of. This sounds trivial but often there is no clear answer to the question. How do you imagine this "getting rid" process happening? Which specific activities will it concern?
Now an important question: why do you want to stop doing whatever? You motivations and reasons will play an important role in the process you are about to set up and also in whether you eventually succeed.
Step by step
How to put an end to bad habits once and for all? Not through sudden, large-scale changes, but by smaller steps. At the start of a new year, many people decide to live more healthily; they plan to go exercising three times a week, go running twice a week, count their calorie intake, eat vegetables for snacks, stop smoking and stop drinking alcohol. By February, most of these enthusiasts are back to their old ways. Changing a habit requires long-term dedication and it is better to proceed via small steps. Start running the first month; the next month, change your diet. Let each change settle a while. Whatever habits you are trying to change, proceed slowly and step by step.
Specific goals
The second crucial advice when it comes to changing habits is setting specific goals. Do not just say "I will eat healthily", "I will work more", "I will improve my performance." What and when exactly will you eat? How much longer will you work, when will you get up? How many new clients will you get, and how will you reach this goal?
Set yourself partial goals, divide your plan into steps and climb them as if on a staircase. A change in habits and personal self-improvement require discipline and hard work. When we look at successful people, we tend to see only the success; we often forget about that part of the iceberg which is hidden under the water.
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