7 Steps To Break Or Make A Habit

We all have habits, some good and some not so good, we can’t deny that fact but these are behaviours that we’ve learned and that occur almost automatically. And most of us have a habit we’d like to break, or one we’d like to develop, true or false?
For most people, it takes about four weeks for a new behaviour to become routine or habit. The following steps can make it easier to establish a new behaviour pattern.

1. The first step is to set your goal. Especially when you are trying to stop or break a habit, you should try to phrase your goal as a positive statement. For example, instead of saying “I will quit snacking at night”, say “I will practice healthy eating habits”. You should also write down your goal. Committing it to paper helps you to commit. It can also help if you tell your goal to someone you trust, just like I did last week, I told a friend that am now eating the ketogenic way, unlike others, she choose to encourage me and that motivated me more.

2. Decide on a replacement behaviour. If your goal is to develop a new habit then your replacement behaviour will be the goal itself. This step is very important when you are trying to break a habit. If you want to stop a behaviour, you must have a superior behaviour to put in its place. If you don’t, the old behaviour pattern will always return and you can never fight it.

3. Learn and be aware of your triggers. Behaviour patterns don’t exist independently. Often, one habit is associated with another part of your regular routine. For instance, in the snacking example, the trigger may be late night television or reading. You automatically grab a bag of chips while you watch. Many people who smoke automatically light up after eating. Think about when and why you do the thing you want to quit.

4. Post reminders to yourself. You can do this by leaving yourself notes in the places where the behaviour usually occurs. Or you can leave yourself a message on the mirror, refrigerator, computer monitor or some other place where you will see it regularly. You can also have a family member or co-worker use a particular phrase to remind you of your goal, this method works so well.

5. Get help and support from someone. This is kind of obvious, any job is easier with some form of help. It works even better if you can form a partnership with someone who shares the same goal to always encourage each other when any one of you are trying to go off track.

6. Write daily affirmations. Write your phrase or sentence in the present tense (as if it were already happening), and write it ten times a day for twenty-one days. This process helps make your goal a part of your subconscious, which will not only remind you to practice the new behaviour, but it also keeps you focused and motivated, not easy to do but always worth it.

7. Reward yourself for making progress at set time intervals. Focus on your goal one day at a time, but give yourself a small treat at one, three and six months. The rewards don’t have to be big or expensive, and you should try to make it something that’s associated in some way with the goal. Doing this provides you with both incentive and extra motivation.

Following these steps is no guarantee of success of course. Depending on the habit it may take several tries to finally make the change. But if you stick with it, you can do it. Good Luck to you as you take that bold step of change.

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Wishing you all a fantastic weekend ahead.

Lots of love

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83 Comments

  • Reply
    BrendasCouch.com
    October 7, 2016 at 12:09 am

    To think of it, i haven't really had any bad habit, maybe I think i will say My bad habit is time..when i say give me ten minutes, you may watch a one hour movie waiting for me… and when i am watching an interesting film and cooking at the same time, be very sure it will get burn.

    Brendascouch.com

  • Reply
    tr3ndygirl fashion blog
    October 7, 2016 at 12:53 am

    great post my darling, very interesting suggests
    would you like to pass from my blog?
    <<< tr3ndygirl fashion & beauty blogger >>>
    kiss

  • Reply
    Rina Doria
    October 7, 2016 at 1:29 am

    Change can be so difficult for everyone. It's such a good idea to set goals and make a plan to help you reach them, makes it so much more attainable that way!

    xoxo Rina
    http://www.andshedressed.com

  • Reply
    Simera H
    October 7, 2016 at 2:28 am

    These are really useful tips. I love the tip about triggers.
    Beautetude

  • Reply
    Straight A Style
    October 7, 2016 at 2:56 am

    Good tips. I think setting a replacement is important.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

  • Reply
    Yourbeautyscript Blogger
    October 7, 2016 at 2:57 am

    I like setting realistic goals and rewarding myself when I accomplish them, Great little guideline, It sounds so simple following these tips 🙂

    Have a great Friday!
    ♥ Josune @ Your Beauty Script

    http://yourbeautyscript.com

  • Reply
    Laura Mitbrodt
    October 7, 2016 at 4:48 am

    These are all great tips, thanks for sharing
    xo

    http://www.laurajaneatelier.com

  • Reply
    Yiotou_La
    October 7, 2016 at 5:05 am

    Rewarding is so important when we achieve something, I used to think 'if I do this, then I am allowed to buy this' so it was a great motivation to do something and achieve my goals. Lovely post,thank you!

    Yiota
    PinkDaisyLoves

  • Reply
    ►Nadush
    October 7, 2016 at 6:40 am

    peerfect helpful post!
    NEW POST : THE COLORFUL THOUGHTS

  • Reply
    lyrics
    October 7, 2016 at 7:47 am

    great post! i hope you're having a wonderful day!

  • Reply
    ♥♥ SzandraVNR ♥♥
    October 7, 2016 at 8:19 am

    Really good tips. I love your post, it's really useful and give inspiration. 🙂
    xoxo, Szandi
    [Beauty and Destroy]

  • Reply
    TinyTiff
    October 7, 2016 at 9:02 am

    Hi! Beautiful tips! Thank you as always for sharing! Have a wonderful weekend filled with blessings

    Tiff
    http://www.dashoffashandfinance.com

  • Reply
    Ankita Bardhan
    October 7, 2016 at 9:46 am

    These tips came in right time, I need to break out of my few lazy habits. Thank you for sharing these tips, can certainly use them 🙂

    Come visit us soon
    xx
    Makeup, Style and Sugar
    http://makeupstyleandsugar.blogspot.in/
    https://www.instagram.com/ankitabardhan/

  • Reply
    Jacquard Flower
    October 7, 2016 at 11:07 am

    Great post and tips. Thanks for sharing them. Gemma x
    http://www.jacquardflower.uk

  • Reply
    Paola Lauretano
    October 7, 2016 at 11:11 am

    Change is very difficult, but your post is very helpful!
    Great job babe!
    Kisses, Paola.
    Expressyourself
    My Facebook
    My Instagram

  • Reply
    Chineze Anigbogu
    October 7, 2016 at 11:14 am

    I agree very much with deciding on replacement behaviour. I find that when I know what I want to do instead of what I am currently doing I transition more effectively. Fab pieces of advice. Thanks.

    Inez | My Small World

  • Reply
    Anett B
    October 7, 2016 at 12:10 pm

    This is such a useful post, thanks! Great tips!

    Bella Pummarola

  • Reply
    James Benita
    October 7, 2016 at 12:54 pm

    Really helpful post. Love the 7th tips. Thanks for sharing Tessy.

    xx
    http://www.thestylefanatic.com

  • Reply
    Angel Pinkoolaid
    October 7, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    I have a really terrible spending habit <3 I need to break it before my finances suffer. Will give these a try 🙂

    http://www.pinkoolaid.com/

  • Reply
    Chanel From Je M'appelle
    October 7, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    Thanks for sharing! I used to have a bad habit of speaking to myself negatively, but I've tried to break it.

    Chanel | Je M'appelle Chanel

  • Reply
    Sophie Atieno
    October 7, 2016 at 5:21 pm

    Great tips Tessy. Very insightful. They would surely work.
    sophieatieno.com

  • Reply
    Gingi Freeman
    October 7, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Daily affirmations and reminders (usually pop ups on my phone) are the best for me to form habits… great post dear! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

  • Reply
    Gingi Freeman
    October 7, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Daily affirmations and reminders (usually pop ups on my phone) are the best for me to form habits… great post dear! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

  • Reply
    SONCAR
    October 7, 2016 at 6:23 pm

    FIRST OF ALL YOUR BLOG ITS SO GREAT AND GOOD POST THANKS FOR THIS SHARE IT HAVE A NICE DAY

    best education service
    FREE SOFTWARE HAT

  • Reply
    The Velvet Runway
    October 7, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Great tips! Thanks for sharing these – I have a terrible snacking habit and I think my trigger is boredom so I need to find a replacement habit!
    Julia x
    http://www.thevelvetrunway.com

  • Reply
    Dressed With Soul
    October 7, 2016 at 9:09 pm

    Thanks for sharing these very good tips!
    xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
    http://www.dressedwithsoul.com

  • Reply
    Harija
    October 8, 2016 at 3:09 am

    Great and interesting post.
    MyLyfeMyStory

  • Reply
    Lily Kanaya Widjaja
    October 8, 2016 at 6:18 am

    "Reward yourself for making progress at set time intervals" : this is may favorite 🙂

    – Lily Kanaya
    http://www.glowlicious.me

  • Reply
    That New Dress
    October 8, 2016 at 9:12 am

    Such a great post! You've left me feeling inspired to make some changes! xx

    http://www.thatnewdress.com

  • Reply
    Alice Diner
    October 8, 2016 at 9:52 am

    Love love love this post, time to makes some changes i think xx
    http://www.basicallyalice.blogspot.co.uk

  • Reply
    Anouk
    October 8, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    I fully agree with what you're saying. Goal setting is a must if you want to get anywhere in life.

    LUXESSED

  • Reply
    Hristina Kovačević
    October 8, 2016 at 6:12 pm

    Great tips! I have so many bad habbits so i can use your advices, thank you!

    Kika's blog

  • Reply
    Carina Ž
    October 8, 2016 at 6:42 pm

    Nice tips!

    http://carinazz.blogspot.com.ee/

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:05 pm

    Aww! I trust you will work on it. Thanks babes.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:05 pm

    Thank you dear, sure..

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:06 pm

    So true! Thank you love.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:06 pm

    Thank you Simera dear.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Sure.. Thank you.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Yaay!So good to know. Thank you

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Thank you for reading!

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    Great! Thank you sweetie.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    Thank you.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    Thank you! You bet!

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:09 pm

    Oh wow! Thank you.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:09 pm

    Thanks for reading!

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:10 pm

    Great..Thank you too.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:10 pm

    Thanks Gemma!

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:11 pm

    Thank you pretty!

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:17 pm

    Thank you Chi, so glad to hear this.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:18 pm

    Aww! Thank you Annett.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:18 pm

    Thank you dearie.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:19 pm

    Oh wow!Am sorry pretty, just try your best to manage it properly hun.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:21 pm

    Great you have done away with it. Kudos babe.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    Thank you Sophie

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    Thank you!!!

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    Thank you!

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:29 pm

    Great! Glad you know your weak point and I trust you will surely work on it. Love you babe.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:30 pm

    Thank you ma.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    Than you dear.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:35 pm

    Thank You Lily.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:36 pm

    Aww! Oh wow! you just want to make me cry. Thank you love.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:36 pm

    Wow! Thank you so much.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:37 pm

    Thank you dearie, so true.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:37 pm

    Oh wow! Thank you love.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 8, 2016 at 10:37 pm

    Thank you Carina.

  • Reply
    Comfycozyup
    October 9, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    Great tips! Daily Affirmations are always a plus for me.
    http://www.comfycozyup.com

  • Reply
    Darriyan Cateland
    October 9, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    Great tips, thanks for sharing! Hope youve had a good weekend!

    Darriyan xo | http://www.darriyancateland.co.uk

  • Reply
    Holly Olivia
    October 9, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    I love this post so much! I will definitely be following your advice! x

    http://www.bisoushollyolivia.co.uk

  • Reply
    Andreea Birsan
    October 9, 2016 at 10:05 pm

    Breaking bad habits is really hard to do! Thanks for sharing all your lovely tips. x

    Have a nice week,
    Andreea
    http://couturezilla.com/

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 10, 2016 at 3:12 am

    Thank you.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 10, 2016 at 3:16 am

    Thank you pretty.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 10, 2016 at 3:19 am

    Yaay! Thank you.

  • Reply
    Tessy Onyia
    October 10, 2016 at 3:28 am

    Thank you Andreea.

  • Reply
    Nwamaka Ajaegbu
    October 10, 2016 at 4:00 pm

    This such a great post. Every tip is useful.

    Whatever it is you want to stop doing, replacing it with something positive works too. The time you would have used for the former, do for the later. And you'd get over the bad habit in no time.

  • Reply
    Anna 1303
    October 10, 2016 at 11:17 pm

    Great post, thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Do you want to follow each other on GFC? If yes, let me know on my blog and I’ll follow you back.

    Have a nice day!

    Best regards, Anna <3

    annax1303.blogspot.de

  • Reply
    Naomi Vangestel
    October 11, 2016 at 8:17 am

    Definitely agree! I have a few habits I'm trying to change and while they're all completely different from each other, I think working on them step by step helps.

    Naomi in Wonderland

  • Reply
    Sauniya
    October 11, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    Like they, it's better to build the new than try to fight the old.
    your tips are great Tessy.
    thank you for sharing them 🙂
    xo
    Sauniya | Find Your Bliss ♡

  • Reply
    Jeanelly Concepcion
    October 11, 2016 at 6:58 pm

    This is a great post! Thanks for sharing!
    Xo
    Jeanie
    http://www.thefashionlotus.com

  • Reply
    Mónica - Mes Voyages à Paris
    October 19, 2016 at 10:52 am

    I loved the post!! Thanks for sharing!
    xx
    Mónica Sors
    MES VOYAGES À PARIS
    NEW POST: SHOPPING OUTFIT + LRV INVITATION!
    DON'T MISS: PINK OFF THE SHOULDER – PEGGY SUE'S, CALIFORNIA

  • Reply
    Rich Tweten
    October 28, 2016 at 12:14 am

    Habits can either make us or break us! Tessy, I love the golden tips you share in this article. It's critical to replace one habit with another. You can't expect to stop gravitating towards an unhealthy action if there is no healthy action in exchange. Here is an effective article on weight loss management that will teach you how to lose a bad habit which can negatively affect your fat loss results. A great read!

  • Reply
    Alessia
    October 28, 2016 at 8:41 am

    Thank you for this interesting post! It's very difficult to change the habits, I will definitely try to follow these steps!
    xo Alessia

    http://www.fleurdhiver.com

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