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Advice / Succeeding at Work / Productivity

12 Effective Ways You Can Shake That Really Bad Habit Once and for All

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How many New Years Resolutions have you spent on that one bad habit you can never quite kick? Maybe it’s unhealthy eating, lazing around, or nail biting—but regardless, it’s pretty much always haunted you.

Whatever it is, it’s easier said than done to quit. So, here are 12 actionable ways to knock that habit once and for all—in a gradual, intentional, and effective manner.

  1. First of all, eliminating bad habits almost always doesn’t work, because it creates a hole in your life where that energy once served some purpose. What you should do instead is replace it. (James Clear)

  2. Sometimes it’s about the attitude and motivations you have toward giving up a certain quality. Consider making an attitude switch for a different perspective. (The Huffington Post)

  3. If you want to kick your bad habits ASAP, think about your approach. You could have been doing it wrong the whole time. (Nir and Far)

  4. Are you a more science-minded type person? Here are the quantitative facts on how long it actually takes to break a regular routine. (ScienceAlert)

  5. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t put a full-stop to something overnight. You should be starting small to reap the biggest impacts. (Fast Company)

  6. There are actually scientific ways to build or break routines that stick with you—once and for all. (99U)

  7. Understanding why habits happen will also help you grasp why it actually is so difficult to break the cycle—as well as what will be effective in doing so. (Charles Duhigg)

  8. When you inevitably slip up in cutting out a bad tick, don’t cut your losses when you fail. (Stephen Guise)

  9. All you need is a little strategic consistency to make a new habit (in lieu of the old one) feel like second nature. (Entrepreneur)

  10. Sometimes, all it takes is a psychological shift. Try tricking yourself into better behaviors instead of forcing yourself into them. (Harvard Business Review)

  11. There are also different ways to quit particular kinds of bad habits, so it can be all about finding the right approach. (Reader’s Digest)

  12. Now think about what quirks you may have adopted in the office that could be holding you back—and work on reversing them. (The Daily Muse)