Don’t Quit Your Bad Habits

Research shows replacing is often more effective than quitting when it comes to habit optimization. Explore the mindset needed and several ideas to replace common bad habits.

We are all creatures of habit and for good reason.

Established routines allow us to be productive without the necessity of having to overthink or stress about accomplishing mundane tasks. 

Passive execution is enhanced with ingrained habits. 

Subconscious proficiency is derived from consistent execution.

Discontinuing a habitual tendency, therefore, is extremely difficult.

Reversing plasticity is harder than building it.

Establishing new, beneficial habits, therefore, is more effective than only trying to quit bad ones.

What you focus on, you get more of.

Focus on your bad habits and your thought patterns will still revolve around their entrenched network within your brain. Ironically, bad habits are perpetuated by consciously trying to quit them.

Focus on a new habit, however, and eventually evict the poor one.

Progressive implementation of preferred habits to improve health and performance leads to replacement of less desirable ones.

Essentially all bad habits form from either the pursuit of excitement or comfort and/or the avoidance of boredom or stress.

Fortunately, there are many productive habits that can also provide a rush or prevent distress.