5 Powerful Ways to Get Rid of Bad Habits*

Hey loveys,

This is a collaborative post (not written by me).

Is there something you do that you're tired of? Has it gotten so bad that it's interfering with your regular activities and relationships? Well, you're definitely not alone, and it's always good to become the best version of yourself. With that said, it is not so easy getting to that stage where you can be satisfied with yourself, and you'll need all the help you can get. Here are five tips that can make it easier for you.

1. Start small

Quitting a bad habit does not happen in a day and so be patient with yourself about the behavior you want to get rid of. Start with baby steps, changing one little thing at a time until you have reached your goal. For example, if you want to quit smoking cigarettes, switch to a less invasive option such as vaping. Click here to find out more information about quality accessories you can use. From there you can move to something less damaging and so on. Trying to stop at once might worsen the situation.



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2. Find a Partner

Doing it by yourself might be harder than finding someone going through the same process. An accountability partner will be useful in getting rid of the undesired behavior. You can also join a group of people with the same aim as you to share your journey with. This way you know that you're not alone and that you will be relieved of some pressure, making it easier to quit.

3. Change your environment

Changing your environment involves making it harder for you to access the things that contribute to your bad habit. For example, put junk food out of reach or throw it away altogether. If seeing the grocery store makes you want to buy some snacks, then walk on the other side of the street. And if having more clothes makes you disorganized then give some away.

4. Have a solid reason why

It is easier to eliminate an undesired habit if your reason is legitimate and meaningful. Though important, it’s simply not enough to try to stop ‘just because you want to’. What does it mean for your health if you quit? How will your friends and family feel about it? Are there people looking up to you that you can change your behavior for? These are some excellent, sentimental reasons you can have to keep you going on your behavior change journey.

5. Delay your urges



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Slowing down your response to the urge for the habit can make you forget it temporarily. Count to 20 seconds whenever you feel you want to get into the practice, and you might not feel the same way after. It is like procrastinating the practice, and like how that works, it can lead to you forgetting to do it altogether.

The life you desire is just within reach if you take the necessary steps. It is great that you are thinking about getting rid of the bad habit, and that is the most critical step. Once you have that at the back of your mind, it's smooth sailing going forward.

Thanks for reading. 
Leah xoxo

Mornings Matter: Beating The Blues One Day At A Time*

Hey loves! 

This is a collaborative post (not written by me). 

We’re living through a moment in history. A moment that we’ll tell our grandkids about in the same way that our elders regaled us with tales of world wars and rationing. Yet, knowing that we will come out of this the other side doesn’t always make the present easier to live through. Even if we’ve been fortunate enough to avoid contact with the coronavirus itself, we will not have been able to insulate ourselves from the physical and psychological effects of the pandemic. Yet, while we can’t change the circumstances which have necessitated the lockdown, we can take control of how they affect us. If you’ve started every day feeling sluggish, groggy and sick, the action we take at the start of the day can make all the difference to the rest of it.

Image by Free Photos via Pixabay

Why mornings matter

The moods and thought processes that we develop at the start of the day can be carried around with us right up until the day ends. If you’ve ever had one of those days where a bad nightmare or a fitful sleep has effectively ruined the rest of your day, you know just how impactful the morning can be to our mental state.

Still, we have every opportunity to improve our perception and shape a better reality from the inside out. Here’s how...

Start out with some CBT

Feeling down or depressed? Feeling a non-specific dread that you can’t shake off? Negativity can toxify all of our thought processes. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t take back control. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) encourages us to challenge negative or damaging thoughts and replace them with more positive and wholesome alternatives. It might take a while, but over time you can condition yourself to shrug off negativity and get every day off to a positive start.

Get whatever exercise you can

Our moods are partly affected by external circumstances, partly by our thought processes and partly by our complex neurochemistries. Little lifestyle changes can make a big difference to the latter. Like starting your day off with some gentle exercise. Whether you choose to try stretching with yoga in the morning or starting the day with a brisk walk or jog, you can start your day off riding an endorphin high. You don’t have to start with a gruelling workout. Just get your blood pumping and your mind and body activated.

Try reading or music instead of the TV

When our bodies and minds feel sluggish, everything we do seems like more of a challenge, whether we’re working or not. As well as awakening our bodies, we should also try and gently awaken our minds in the morning. So instead of plonking yourself down in front of the TV for a few episodes of The Simpsons, why not play some music and read a book while you enjoy a leisurely breakfast?

Reading in the gives us some quality time with ourselves while also warming up our minds so that they’re better able to cope with the challenges of the day.

Thanks for reading, 
Leah xoxo