Bad habits are time-sucking, energy-wasting, and detrimental to our wellbeing. So why does seemingly everyone have them, and is there a way out? We develop bad habits mostly due to stress and boredom. These bad habits actually address certain needs in our lives! While cutting them out cold turkey may seem like the best solution, the better alternative is actually to replace our bad habits with good ones. By doing so, we replace our bad habits with a healthier behavior that addresses that same need. Here’s Front Porch’s advice for overcoming bad habits:

Set a deadline

Setting deadlines forces yourself to act. Whether this means forcing yourself to move and undertake the burden of rent or not stopping until a task is done, put yourself in a situation where you physically have to get your rear in gear!

Knowledge is power!

Read about what you want to be/do. It will build confidence and help you in a professional setting, and any setting for that matter.

Eat well and exercise

The power of a good morning routine can easily be overlooked. I have found that waking up early and exercising jumpstarts my day, as well as automatically removing any stress I was carrying.

Find a substitute habit!

As mentioned earlier, we develop bad habits to deal with stress, such as nail biting, foot tapping, and jaw clenching. Finding a substitute habit will help overcome bad habits. An example of a substitute habit can be taking a walk when you find yourself tapping your foot. Also, squeezing a stress ball when you start clenching your jaw.

Find a buddy!

Joining forces with someone who shares a common goal can be very powerful, and this way you both hold each other accountable. You are in it together!

Cut out triggers

While this may seem self-explanatory, actually stick with it! Throw away sweets, hide TV remote, delete apps temporarily- do what needs to be done to ensure you rid yourself of the bad habit.

Conclusion

Bad habits are normal, so don’t beat yourself up! If you are able to recognize they are bad, you’re one step closer to replacing them. Thank you for reading, and we hope you are able to overcome at least one bad habit with Front Porch!

Today is January 15th, of course it’s not too late! There’s never a deadline for making assessments of the past and setting goals for the future. In fact, now is the perfect time.

Full disclosure: I’m not a big resolutions kind of gal. There’s too much pressure to stick to them, and many of us stumble in keeping them. A goal, however, is a measurable and achievable thing. It’s a win to work towards. Achievement feels rewarding and gives momentum to continue and achieve bigger.

So you have some work goals. Kick-off meetings are in full swing and corporate goals have been finessed and delivered. And you have some family goals. The holidays allowed you to hit the re-set button and assess personal goals for yourself and your family.

Now is the tricky part – melding the two. It’s always a delicate balance. While family will always hold the trump card, you have obligations at work and work supports your family. Here are my suggestions as you map out your quarter or your year:

• Categorize the goals – are they strategic, operational, educational or organizational? This gives you some direction.
• Think about the steps you need to take to achieve the goals. List them. Assign dates to them. This all helps them feel more tangible and achievable.
• Assign deadlines and pick your top three goals. When those goals are met, re-assess and keep going.

There are going to be days that you get nowhere near your goal, and other days that the lens focused on your goal seems so perfectly crystallized. Remember that any movement is just that – movement. Put one foot in front of the other and think about the bigger picture. You WILL get there!