Steps to break free from bad habits that sabotage your success

Habits become hard to break because they are deeply wired, by constant repetition, into our brains. While all habits are not created equally, the overarching goal is the same, namely you are taking more charge of your life, being proactive rather than reactive, deliberate rather than routinized.

1. Change your mindset – If you can’t change your situation, then you have to change your mindset. The point of changing your mindset is to change where your focus lies. Only then can you change yourself.
2. Focus on what you like – If you don’t like some aspect of your life, then stop focusing on that aspect and start focusing on the one thing you do like about your current situation, no matter how small it may be.
3. See yourself in a new way – At least once per day for 10 minutes, visualize yourself free of the bad habit that’s hindering you. If you’re always late, see yourself getting to work on time and sitting at your desk comfortably. See yourself enjoying your job. It can surely help you re-create yourself and break free of bad habits.
4. Give yourself time – Remember that it takes 30 days to ingrain a new habit into your daily routine, and if you’re like most people, you’ll likely ”fall off the wagon” occasionally. Should that occur, don’t be too hard on yourself. Honour yourself and realize that slip-ups are a normal part of the process, but don’t give up!

Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do. Sean Covey