HealtH & Beauty By Julie Jacobs
breakIng bad
Learn How to Quit
N
ew Year’s Eve is right around the corner and you know what that means—time to make those annual resolutions to be a better you. Perhaps you want to quit smoking, lose weight or curb a coffee addiction. For many of us, however, what typically begins in earnest in January often falls by the wayside just a few months later.
Kicking bad habits is tough, to be sure. and while going “cold turkey” may work for some, for the majority of people abruptly ending a long-held practice usually proves ineffective. In fact, it can even be unhealthy and lead to new bad behaviors. The best way to change patterns for the long term is to follow a gradual, orderly process. Here we provide the steps to get you on your way.
IdentIfy trIggers
Do you know what caused you to start your habits? Figuring out what’s behind your behavior and how it makes you feel is the key to stopping it. Maybe it was a particular life event, a reaction to someone else’s words, or an everyday occurrence that affects you on a deeper level. Whatever the trigger, acknowledge it, understand it and avoid it if necessary (and possible!).
set goals & tImelInes
after you’ve identified the causes for your habits and committed yourself to changing your behaviors, it’s important to define your goals and establish a realistic timeline for achieving them. adapt attitudes and activities so they are more aligned with your objectives, and document your progress on a daily basis. experts say that it can take between two and three months before a new behavior becomes a habit. If you relapse, which may very well occur, don’t give up. use the experience to further tailor your new lifestyle and plan ahead.
replace old HabIts
Will power can only take you so far, so choose positive alternative behaviors to replace of the old ones. If you’re trying to quit smoking and yearn for a cigarette, for example, reach for sugarfree gum or crunchy vegetables instead. If you’re looking to stop biting your nails and start to feel anxious, take deep breaths and meditate for a few minutes. Such actions will help “fill the hole” left by the habits you are eliminating and also keep you focused. 52
SUBURBAN ESSEX MAGAZINE
Winter 2012