Everyone has bad habits that they know they shouldn’t be cultivating. Whether it’s something that’s just annoying and you can’t help but do (biting your nails used to be a big one for me), or whether it’s downright gross (picking your nose in public is nasty), bad habits can sometimes get the best of you.
As a college student, it’s easy to let bad habits manifest (like procrastinating), but I’ve gotten the best of them by simply replacing them with better habits.
Some thoughts for you before you check out my new habits:
Practice = habit
If you want to get good at something, make it a habit. For example, whenever I have a really interesting thought I’d like to share, I write a post about it. I’ve been doing this every week for almost a year.
Bad habits make you feel BAD
If you don’t know what a bad habit is, analyze your actions in this respect: the habits that are bad make you feel bad while you are doing them. Another example, procrastination, ALWAYS makes me feel like crap because I know what I’m doing feels wrong. If you don’t feel good doing something that you’re choosing to do, why do it?
Behavior change takes more than just word-of-mouth
You have to really want to change in order for change to occur. Writing down words and spouting empty promises does nothing to change who you are. It takes guts, practice, and ultimately, WILLPOWER. This is a prime example of willpower from my blogging buddy, Josh, over at The World’s Strongest Librarian.
Without further ado, here’s my list:
Given up – Watching television
What I do instead – I watch whatever I want online. I no longer have to wade through channel after channel waiting for something interesting to come on. Thank god for Youtube and Hulu.
Given up – Watch local news
What I do instead – I’ll spend a few minutes skimming the world news headlines, but read articles that are especially of interest
Given up - Multi-tasking (The stereotype that women are better multi-taskers has some truth to it)
What I do instead – It’s easier to do one thing at a time. I just can’t concentrate on lots of activities at once anymore. In end, I just feel like I’ve gotten nothing done.
Given up – Going on Facebook for hours everyday
What I do instead - Spend more time on Twitter and other quick social media outlets for maybe thirty minutes every few hours or so. I learn so much more on Twitter because everybody is sharing links and actually communicating, whereas Facebook just has people’s static profiles to look at.
Given up – Hanging out with people not worth my time
What I do instead – Get to know people who make me feel good about myself, inspire me to act, and are positive influences in my life.
Quick tip: Remember, your time is valuable. Don’t waste it.
Given up – Talking on the phone for close to an hour
What I do instead – Spending time on the phone is okay, but in general it’s not something that I particularly favor. If conversation end up being over an hour on the phone, you might as well go visit the person on the other end and talk face to face. I tend to stick with short messages over the web, but long phone convos if I haven’t heard from them in a while.
Given up – Biting my nails
What I do instead – I keep my nail clipper in more convenient spots (like in my side drawer). That way I can just clip them whenever I need to.
Given up – Sleeping until noon
What I do instead – I wake up bright and early every morning feeling really energized and ready to start the day. What they say about feeling productive in the morning isn’t a lie. You feel much more in control (and not like you’ve wasted an entire day).
Given up - Drinking only juice everyday; eating only junk food
What I do instead – When you think about it, it’s not that difficult to switch to drinking just water everyday. All you have to do is stop making juice and junk food accessible. Changing your eating habits is understandably much more difficult, but, again, it really all starts with what you buy.
Given up – Playing video games for hours on end everyday
What I do instead – I used to be a huge video game fanatic. Everyday would be spend investing hours into games that I would finish and the proceed to play again and again, just to get the same feelings of enjoyment and accomplishment. Of course, as the law of diminishing returns implies, I eventually would get bored and stop playing certain games for years. My alternative now is playing for maybe 7 or so hours in a day once every few months, or maybe 2 hours everyday for three days before stopping for a couple of weeks.
These are just a few examples, but what I’ve gained from replacing my habits is invaluable. I don’t feel like my habits are controlling me. I feel as if I’m living the way I WANT to live.
Any bad habits you’ve replaced recently? Tell me how you did it.
photo credit: rawbin underwater.
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13 comments to “Get Rid of Bad Habits By Replacing Them With Better Ones”
Great article. I could really relate, I am in the process of forming new (better) habits myself. Very timely.
Thanks!
Anytime Alfreda, and welcome to the blog.
Excellent advice! It can be really hard to get rid of bad habits, but it actually seems easier when you think about it as replacing them with better habits!
Positively Present´s last blog ..a celebration of spring: 13 ways to enjoy the weather
Hey Dani,
You’re right – simply getting rid of habits won’t work. You’ll need to occupy your time with something else. Otherwise, you’ll revert back to the habit you just gave up.
John…I’ve been practicing this subconsciously now for about a decade. In a sense I often simplify. As a minimalist for example, I get rid of two or three items and replace them with one. I also do this with habits and activities.
What you made me realize however is that if I simply list the few bad habits I have and the few good habits I want I can eliminate AND add them so easily using your methodology. Giving it a go tomorrow. Thanks.
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Stephen,
I see, that’s great! You’re way ahead of the game. Habits are nothing but what you do routinely everyday. Hope to hear more about your implementation when it succeeds.
Hi John,
Great job putting this together.
Million dollar tip is “Time is precious and do not waste”. All the points mentioned are really going to help in order to start a better “you”. I will recommend it to my friends and clients as well.
The best I liked is “Get to know people who make me feel good about myself, inspire me to act, and are positive influences in my life.”
This is one good way to feel inspired and motivated.
Bye for now,
Cheryl
Cheryl Paris´s last blog ..How We Grew With An Acorn- N is for…
Cheryl, it’s great that you’re going to try and implement this technique. Really, feel free to do so, as it’s been pretty affective for me.
Time is the most valuable resource you have. Choose wisely about who and what you give it to.
Love your lists! Overcoming the little things gives us courage for the big ones. I have this article explaining a simple method to help get rid of those bad habits. Take a quick look.
http://unselfishhelp.com/wordpress/2010/03/29/tickler-tools/
Thanks for sharing Jeff and welcome to the blog.
Sometimes you raelly do just have to get out of your mind and into the simple things. Practicing something enough and you will get good at if by default if nothing else. Loved that tip.