Have a habit you can’t break? Bad habits can be hard on your body, mind, relationships, and overall well-being. You might feel that your life is being controlled by a negative habit or coping mechanism. Whether you’re looking to tackle poor eating habits, excessive drinking, drug abuse or any other vice, life is too precious and short to not take action against bad habits. Here are some tips for getting the help and initiative you need to live your best maladaptive habit-free life.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
NYC is always working and moving. Sometimes this fast-paced life can be stressful and lead you to develop negative habits. Residents should consider cognitive behavioral therapy in NYC, which helps people successfully address substance abuse issues and other harmful behaviors by focusing on changing their thought patterns.Cognitive behavioral therapy, sometimes called “CBT” allows patients to approach their thoughts and structure them in a more positive and proactive way allowing for less negative and problematic reactions to their emotions. This is why it is an effective type of therapy when people are looking to break nasty habits.
This form of therapy has been widely studied and has shown success with many patients looking to change their outlook and to adapt healthier habits. It has grown in popularity because it gives hope to those struggling and the chance to alter how they react to their emotions.
Start slow and make gradual changes
Starting slow is important for success. You might be more likely to start over from the beginning if you try to go too fast or try to stop several bad habits all at once. This is one reason that therapy is important. You might actually need someone there to help you hold yourself accountable and to approach change in a careful and thoughtful way. For example, if you want to quit smoking, the first step might be to spend several months preparing and fully understanding your patterns of use and the role that smoking and nicotine plays in your life. From there you may develop a sensible plan to lower the number of cigarettes you smoke a day. Eventually, you will continue to cut back on the number of cigarettes you smoke until you are cigarette-free. At the same time, you’ll develop and implement strategies for coping with psychological and physical cravings. It is important to be compassionate towards yourself in your habit-breaking process. Starting slow is the answer and more likely to bring you success in your efforts.
Keep a journal that reflects on your feelings, emotions, and actions
Journaling has been studied in the realm of mental health and addiction recovery for years. It seems trivial or not worthwhile to some, but that isn’t the case. Journaling is one of the best ways to describe how you are feeling and track your progress and emotions. Journaling gives you an outlet that is just between you and yourself. It gives you a place to write freely about your feelings, pitfalls, concerns and more. This gives you something to reference when you are having a bad day or feel like giving in.
When journaling, write down the good, the bad, and the encouragement you have for yourself! There really aren’t exact tips to keeping the perfect journal, but you can find what works for you through trial and error. There are some journals you can purchase that guide you in the process. Don’t worry about the stress of not knowing what to write or how to write. A progress journal is for you and should only be what you need it to be.
Once you take these initiatives, you are on a stronger path to breaking your bad habits. Your life is worth more than succumbing to something you feel is bringing you down. Fortunately, resources such as cognitive behavioral therapy can help you find the right path.