111 Habits: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

If you are like 99.99 per cent of the people, you naturally find it difficult to break a bad habit. Here are a few tips to get you started on giving up some of your most clingy [and ugly] habits.

• Attack just one: Write down all the habits that you think are bad for you and why. Then, identify the one that you want to give up most and start with it. That's because habits are stubborn and take a lot of willpower to change. Working on many habits will dilute your attention, giving you success with none. So start with a habit that is easier to break; it'll give you confidence to tackle the tougher ones.
• Identify the triggers: What causes you to reach for that cigarette? Fights, pressure, tea break with colleagues? Identify what leads you to fall into the mindless pattern and try to keep away from it and all the people, situations that trigger the trigger.
• Resist the urge, just that once: When you consciously try to give up certain behaviour, you are more aware of the urges. They will be there, but they won't last long. Just hold out, let it pass just that time—get yourself busy till the urge passes. Do the same, when the next urge comes, and the next time and the next.
• Cheer yourself: When you manage to resist the urge, congratulate yourself. Talk to yourself, be your own friend. In fact, share your resolve with your near ones and share the good news of every victory over your urge with them. A few pats on the back will encourage you to do an encore.
• Don't do it ever again, not even once: Once you walk away from a habit, revisiting it even once means you have to travel back to where you started. And you may not have the willpower to do the journey all over again. So continue walking away to break the connection with the habit.
• Take plenty of rest, have enough water: A tired body leads to a weak mind, which then gets tempted to fall back on old ways. Rest to stay strong. The same goes for water; it will keep you active and refreshed.
• Fill the void with something good: A lot of people find it easier to exchange one habit for another. This time though, make sure the new one is one that serves you. This will keep your mind off not doing something and on doing something good.
• Go slow with the new: When you are embarking on the new habit, take baby steps. Say for instance you want to start walking. Try walking for 10 minutes first and gradually increase the time. This will make it easier on you.
• Picture yourself: Visualisation is a powerful tool. Use it. Imagine yourself gunning for the bad habit, overcoming the urge and successfully giving up the habit. How will you feel? Feel the same feeling. You'll be out of your old ways in no time.
• Don't beat yourself over a relapse: If you do end up repeating the bad habit, forgive yourself. See what made you fall. And go at it again; this time with a plan to avoid that trap.

Here is a snapshot of some of the habits that we have covered.

26. A bikini at a funeral?

Are you nuts? Never in your life! But the exaggeration makes a point. Always dress appropriate to the occasion. To avoid embarrassing yourself and others, confirm the dress code well in advance.

27. Eew!-de-cologne

If your perfume precedes you, please make sure it's mild and pleasant—lest you may assault the "senses" of people around you.

28. How to lose friends and offend people

Simple. By smelling obnoxious. Bad odour due to poor personal hygiene is bad for your health, and also puts people off. Worse, it makes you unpopular among those you share your space with.

For 111 such habits across all aspects of life: health, beauty, skin care, food and nutrition, parenting, relationships, workplace, self-development, spirituality, and much more, grab the Nov 2009 issue of Complete Wellbeing magazine or call 91-22-66784320 to order for a subscription.