How to break a bad habit forever in five steps

As Benjamin Franklin once said, even a small hole can sink a big boat. If you have a long-standing bad habit and do nothing about it, it might start limiting you significantly in your career advancement. Moreover, having a long-term bad habit may discredit you in the eyes of subordinates. But some habits are hard to break and it is never easy to get rid of the bad ones. Here is a way to do so in a few simple steps.

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Step one: Identify your bad habits

According to TED, identification of bad habits is the first step, which is not always as easy as it might seem. Think about the core of the problems you are facing, and which of your bad habits are responsible for these problems.

Step two: Set up goals

What are your goals? Do you want to eliminate the habit altogether or just reduce it? Can your goal be expressed exactly, in numbers? It is always better to proceed according to a system than blindly.

Step three: Make changes gradually

Do not redesign your entire life all at once. Proceed step by step, and only after you succeed in making a small change, go further. If you try to change everything immediately and in one go, it will most likely end in failure.

Step four: Study theory

Before making a change, study the best way you can stop the habit and what you will be doing instead of it. People often make the mistake of focusing too much on what not to do without having any plan for how things should actually be done properly.

Step five: Be in touch with someone you trust

The more the merrier. If you are serious about making a change in your habits, you should discuss the situation with someone and track developments continuously. This person might be a colleague, an acquaintance, a family member or a professional coach.

 

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Article source TED.com - TED is a nonprofit devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading". 
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