We are what we repeatedly do. ~ Aristotle
Habits are behavioral routines that are repeated and tend to occur subconsciously or instinctively. Old habits are hard to break, and new habits are hard to form, because the behavioral patterns we repeat are imprinted in our neural pathways.
Have you ever heard the saying, “We are creatures of habit.”? It’s true. It's our nature. A resistance to change is a natural defense. It’s our human way of risk management. You can be highly motivated to change and emotionally resist at the same time.
Top 10 Worst Habits
Gossip
Over Spending
Poor Time Management
Over Eating or Eating Unhealthy Foods
Excessive TV, Internet or Games
Smoking
Drinking
Cursing
Nail Biting
Negative Thinking
Why We Form Bad Habits
If you think about it, habits are relatively simple to develop. Think about all the habits you don’t like. Now let me ask you, did you have to work hard at developing the habit of overeating or watching too much TV, checking social media, sleeping too much, or smoking? Of course not. You formed the habit through repetition, over enough time, until it became a habit. But why did you keep doing it?
If you examine your undesirable habits closely, you will find that they all have something in common. They all give you some type of feeling that is rewarding to you. Why do people spend hours watching mindless television? Why do people smoke? Why do people do things that they don't even want to do - eat too much, bite their nails, spend too much money? They do these things because it gives them a certain feeling, in some cases, relaxation, stress reduction, or even excitement.
You see, we’re not addicted to the actual activity. What we’re addicted to is the feeling that activity gives us. Just think of any habit you have that you find undesirable. What positive feelings does it give you? You should understand that you’re getting a “reward” for those bad habits. That’s why you continue doing them. We don’t do things habitually that make us feel bad, at least not at the moment that we’re engaged in doing it.
The 5 Steps to Developing Habits
Begin with Discovery… We suggest a “Habit Inventory”
Define the feeling associated with the habit
Develop strong enough reasons why you want to replace the bad habit with good habits.
Educate yourself. Know what it really takes to form or change the habit.
Repeat the good until it becomes a habit… Continue on the stairs until you reach the escalator.
Any hope of sustained change begins with discovery
Over Spending Stats
1 out of 3 Americans have no savings because of overspending.
1 in 4 Americans have more debt than savings.
The average American spends $1.33 for every dollar they earn.
Only 50% of Americans have a working monthly budget.
Of those that have a monthly budget, 21% fail to meet that budget at least 6 months out of the year.
Over Eating Habit Stats
25% of Americans eat too fast for the taste of our food to even register.
27% of us always clean our plate, even when we’re full.
37% of us can’t tell when we’ve had “enough” of our favorite foods.
Worst of all…A whopping 79% of us believe we are in control of our eating habits. Yet the CDC says fully two thirds of us are overweight. And those numbers just don’t add up.
Do you need help breaking bad habits or learning to form good ones? Coaching can help you get the most out of life. Call Tammy today for a free evaluation!
Tammy Holyfield is the founder of Holyfield International, a business and personal development company. Tammy works with business professionals, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, leaders and individuals from all walks of life, teaching skills that are proven, practical and get results. She is also a best selling author, professional speaker, and consultant. For information on organizational solutions, visit www.TammyHolyfield.com. Check out her Facebook page. Follow Tammy on Twitter for more posts on business and leadership.