Odds are you are reading this article because you have a bad habit that you want to break. It’s likely a habit you have been dealing with for a while and find challenging to get rid of. Well, the good news is that you don’t have to live with it. There are many ways to break bad habits and replace them with good ones.
To help you out, here are 3 common bad habits and tips on how you can quit or substitute them.
1. Smoking
Smoking cigarettes is both a bad habit and a psychological addiction. The act has become a daily ritual for many; it is an automatic response for you during a break from college or office, during the long commute to home after a tiring day, or with your friends after dinner. Perhaps people around you smoke, and it has become a way for you to relate to them. In addition, the nicotine inside cigarettes provides an addictive high, therefore you may smoke as a way to cope with anxiety, stress, or even boredom.
Quitting smoking can seem like a mountain to climb, but health-friendly alternatives and treatments are available and these are known to significantly improve your health compared to going cold-turkey by yourself. For instance, ejuice reduces the risk of lung-related diseases that arise from frequent intake of tobacco while providing the same hand-to-mouth sensation you’ve become used to. People who smoke often find that they have a better chance of tapering down their nicotine levels gradually when they switch to ejuice. Incredibly, ejuice is able to recreate the full-bodied flavor of smoking; it’s available in several flavors that match popular brands.
2. Watching Excessive TV
According to a study, individuals who watch television for three hours a day are at a greater risk of early death. More screen time means less physical activity, which raises the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, TV time can get in the way of you working productively. The more time you spend on the couch, the more sluggish you are likely to feel – resulting in laziness, lethargy, and the inability to concentrate effectively.
To break this bad habit, follow the 2/30 rule; no more than 2 hours of screen time per day and at least 30 minutes of exercise. You can even get some exercise during commercials (bring out that treadmill). Also, consider removing your cable subscription; being subscribed to cable makes people feel compelled to watch more. If you’re serious about breaking the habit of watching excess television, forget about the line-up of entertainment shows and unsubscribe immediately – you’ll also save money in the process.
3. Nail Biting
Nail biting can be a sign of nervousness, anxiety, and low self-esteem. You may even find yourself biting nails when you are hungry, bored, or feeling insecure. Though the habit isn’t known to cause severe harm to your health, frequent nail biters will have hands and nails that appear unsightly. They may also develop chips or cracks in their teeth from too much nail biting. Additionally, putting fingers in your mouth increases the risk of germs entering your bloodstream – this can make you prone to viruses and infections.
A simple way to deter yourself from this habit is to keep your nails short. The idea is self-explanatory: if there is little to chew, you won’t be as compelled to bite your nails. Adopt a trimming routine because nails grow fast. Another thing you can do is consider chewelery. It’s for people who need to chew. You can select your toughness on a scale from extra tough to easy. Gadgets like these work best for people who are aware of their nail-biting habit.
Breaking bad habits is no easy feat, but many individuals have failed because they ignored the alternatives. By giving it all to the above-mentioned efforts, you’ll be able to replace your bad habit with a good one or a healthier alternative for better health.