Battle with Bad Habits

Battle with Bad Habits

Jim Ryun an American Athlete & Author writes

                 "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going". 

But in case the habit is not conducive for the goal then it will drain a lot of mental, physical, emotional, and intellectual energy. As we being limited in terms of energy should learn the art of conserving energy rather than losing it unnecessary habits.


Teens are generally highly vulnerable to bad habits in the modern which promotes it something which is cool or heroic. Till the time fellow realize that he is not supposed to be doing this the habit has already taken control of the mind.

##The habits if not tracked properly can be fatal as well.

1. Deaths due to Tobacco consumption per year- 6 million

2. Deaths due to Alcohol consumption per year- 88000

## Sometimes on health the effect is seen 

e.g. Obesity - 13 % of world population is obese.

##At times the habits may not be fatal but they can be a lot time-consuming.

e.g Indian user spends 200 min per day   &  American spends 300 min per day on the phone.

Here I will write some ways to get rid of any bad habit. This will really helpful for college students as they are highly prone to bad habits on their journey of exploring the world which ends up exploiting themselves.

1.KAIZEN

Kaizen means continuous improvement.  So you don't have to make a change all of sudden to break the habit. The mind will put huge resistance to the decision. Take baby steps towards the goal. For small improvement, the mind will cooperate but suddenly you decide no more Facebook from tomorrow since I am wasting so much time. It may last for some days but you will lose it after some days the battle against the bad habit.

Try a baby step. For example, I am wasting too much time on Facebook and I am not able to give to up also completely. I  tried deactivating the account multiple time but again I come back. So what should be done is ...
I will use Facebook only 3-4 times a day. By this, the mind won't show the red flag at once but will cooperate with little resistance. Like this can be continued after some weeks and when you are comfortable at this stage then make another level of improvement.

Another Level- Use Facebook only once in two days. Like this regulation can be brought in the habit/

So the principle is to start with a small improvement and go on doing continuous improvement rather than all of sudden giving up the habit. This same can be done for any kind of habit starting from the addiction of cigarettes to such addiction to social networking.

2. A Battle of 66 Days

To develop or break any habit it takes average 66 days confirmed after research done in a University College London. It can be more or less also depending upon how deeply the habit has an impression on the mind. The deeper the impression more it is going to take the time to clear off. 

Make a chart of the habits which you are trying to change. The chart should be about Date Vs Habit.

It can be put in a place where it is visible easily every day. Now for 66 days, you have to very strictly follow the vow and after that, it is going to be easy. After that one can increase the level of difficulty for the habit.

Along with doing continuous improvements(kaizen), one has to track the habit for  66 days and take conscious efforts to change the habit. Many apps are also available for tracking habits( I use HabitBull)

3. Observing the Patterns

One has to observe the patterns in his/her daily life at which he/she falls prey to a particular habit.

The pattern in terms of a particular time, a particular environment, a particular situation, particular friends, particular conditions, etc in which one is falling prey to the habit.

List down those patterns and try to diligently avoid those patterns. As one weakens in such a situation the best thing can be to avoid it completely till the time we become strong. 

Suppose I am a heavy alcoholic and whenever I meet particular friends generally I end up drinking.
If I want to overcome the habit of drinking then I have to avoid such friends.

Another example I have a habit of using Facebook just before sleeping on the mobile and while doing so unwillingly  I waste a lot of time. So in such a case, I should avoid keeping mobile while sleeping.


In short, a certain situation will bring a strong emotional change in mind that will trigger the desire to indulge in a particular habit. In such cases recognize the behavioral pattern of the mind and be alert in those situations.

4.  Bad Habit is a Disease, Not a Defect

Many times we see the bad habit as a defect. When one sees it like this then the motivation to overcome is very poor rather one goes into too much lamentation. Why? Because one thinks it can't be overcome. But when the mentality of tackling the bad habit as the disease is developed then it gives a positive hope. The disease can be cured by proper medication. Similarly, bad habits can also be cured by proper methodology.


              So one should not give on the path while trying to overcome the bad habits. 

In this endeavor, there may be a temporary failure but one should not lose the spirit. Each time you fall fight back with more enthusiasm.

              "Remember glory is not in never falling rather                   getting up each time you fall."

Summary:-

1. If the habit is not conducive to the goal then it will drain a lot of mental, physical, emotional, and intellectual energy.

2. Start with a small improvement and go on doing continuous improvement rather than all of sudden giving up the habit.
3. By this, the mind won't show the red flag at once but will cooperate with little resistance.
4. To develop or break any habit takes 66 days in general. It can be more or less also depending upon how deeply the habit has an impression on the mind.
5. Certain situations will bring a strong emotional change in mind that will trigger the desire to indulge in a particular habit. In such cases recognize the behavioral pattern of the mind and be alert in those situations.
6. When the mentality of tackling the bad habit as the disease is developed then it gives a positive hope
7. In this endeavor, there may be a temporary failure but one should not lose the spirit.

• Power of habits - You tube video link.

Questions welcomed in the comment section....)