Here’s The Perfect Solution If You Want to Break Bad Habits

Consider for a moment that you have built a handful of healthy habits but there's just one pesky habit that you can’t seem to get rid of. No matter what you tried… you closed your eyes, did five jump jacks, unplugged the cord and waited 3 seconds and plugged it back in (common way to fix your wifi connection btw) 🤣 ….and nothing…nada… Well, I have some timeless wisdom from James Clear Atomic Habits book for you.

Surprise, surprise… So the way to break bad habits is to simply reverse the laws of creating good habits.

Let’s review how to create a good habit.

To Create a Good Habit:

Make it Obvious
Make it Attractive
Make it Easy
Make Satisfying

To Break a Bad Habit:

Make it Invisible
Make it Unattractive
Make it Difficult
Make it Unsatisfying

So how do you apply this? Good question!

Let me give you an example.

You want to break the social media scrolling habit:

Make it Invisible (Reduce Exposure): Delete social media apps from your phone or move them to a hidden folder. Also, unfollow accounts that trigger excessive scrolling.
Make it Unattractive (Reframe Mindset): Remind yourself of the time wasted and potential negative impacts on well-being. Highlight the benefits of engaging in activities that bring more fulfillment and joy.
Make it Difficult (Increase Friction): Set up complicated passwords, enable time restrictions on your phone for social apps, or move the app icons to a less accessible screen. Introduce intentional steps before accessing social media.
Make it Unsatisfying (Accountability): Share your goal with a friend or family member who can act as an accountability partner. Make the costs of excessive scrolling public and perhaps commit to a consequence, like treating them to dinner if you slip up.

You want to stop eating junk food:

Make it Invisible (Reduce Exposure): Clear your home of junk food. Donate or discard those tempting snacks, creating a healthier environment without the visual cue to indulge.
Make it Unattractive (Reframe Mindset): Focus on the drawbacks of unhealthy eating – sluggishness, potential health issues. Highlight the benefits of a balanced diet: increased energy, better mood, and long-term well-being.
Make it Difficult (Increase Friction): Put healthy snacks at the forefront of your pantry, making them the easy choice. Perhaps put away those chips and candies in a drawer that is hard to reach.
Make it Unsatisfying (Accountability): Share your goal with a friend or family member who can help you stay on track. Make the costs of indulging in junk food public, perhaps committing to a consequence like contributing to a shared fitness fund if you give in.

Mind blowing right? 🤯 Where was James Clear 10 lbs ago? 🤣🤷‍♀️ No more excuses! Let’s get to work. How will you start implementing these strategies today to finally break that pesky habit once for all?

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