Have you ever tried get rid of a bad habit? Were you successful? Did you relapse back into your old ways once you had thought you'd kicked it for good?
I'm certain I'm not the only one with bad habits and demons I've tried to exorcise to no avail. Does anyone out there have any good techniques or tricks for altering their habits for good?
They say it takes 21 days or repetitions to form or change a habit. I have a long, laundry, list of negative things I'd like to change and a list of positive habits I'd like to incorporate into my life. I will say with certainty that I am making progress, but I have a lifetime of negative thinking and habits to change, so it isn't always easy. But then again, perhaps it isn't easy for anyone...and maybe it shouldn't be. Everyone has their own unique set of challenges and circumstances to face.
For me, I will share that perhaps my greatest challenge is overcoming my bouts with Social Anxiety Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Without elaborating too much at this point, I will say that I come from an upbringing of negativity and ignorance, without a lot of socialization or love.
What I previously thought as normal thinking patterns and habits, I now realize were as unhealthy as one man could have and still function with some semblance of normalcy. With the help of some great support networks, and some great family physicians, I now realize it is possible for a person to think, feel and live positively, and happily.
Though it is still a daily struggle for me, I now see that happiness is a possibility. A year and a half ago, I wouldn't be able to comprehend or fathom how someone could be happy. My mind was nearly always consumed with negativity, worry, and fear of judgment from others.
Looking back, I don't know how I made it as far as I did without seeking treatment. But now that I have received the help and knowledge that is allowing me to heal, I am slowly but surely, beginning to move forward with my life, and am beginning to make some significant changes.
Some of the newly formed habits that I have incorporated into my life are journalling and meditation. Both help me to clarify what I'm thinking and how I'm feeling, and also bring peace into my daily routine. I haven't done either with so much consistency in all my life, and it is bringing me a greater understanding of daily situations, and also offering me an opportunity to evaluate my perceptions -often negative- of what is occurring.
A technique I am currently employing to change a bad habit is to track whether or not I can eliminate one negative habit while replacing it with a more positive one for 30 days straight. A 30-day challenge. I have the dates circled on my calendar and check them off for each successful day I have completed.
I have read that this is a good method in order to make changes permanently since often we try to change everything at once. This way of changing everything simultaneously in a short period of time is often overwhelming and so that leads to relapse and the individual feeling shameful and full of guilt - counter-productive feelings for someone trying to get mentally fit.
By changing one habit monthly, it gives the habit a greater chance of sticking permanently. And in one year, drastic, measurable changes will be seen. Of course, I understand more than anyone theories are easier said than done.
My 30 day challenge is to quit wasting time surfing the internet and replacing it with doing brain exercises on a website I've chosen (www.lumosity.com). I'm about half way through, and I haven't been perfect, but I will say that by me raising my awareness of how much time I spend needlessly online, it has helped to significantly reduce the amount of overall time I waste.
Lastly, I have made it a point to do my brain exercises as soon as I wake up in the morning and it feels great to be on track in regards to that.
Do you think the 30 day challenge is a good technique to use? Has anyone else tried this method out and can offer some feedback? Does anyone have any other methods or techniques for breaking there old, outdated, automatic mental and physical habits?
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