Do you have a bad habit that is ruining your life?  Everyone has something they frequently do that can be labeled as annoying and are hard to get rid of.  Here are some ways you can get rid of those habits. 

First, we will have to begin with knowing when and how long does it take to get rid of a bad habit. According to healthline.com, “Research from 2012 looking at habit formation suggests 10 weeks, or about 2.5 months, is a more realistic estimate for most people. The main evidence-backed time frame for habit breaking comes from 2009 research, which suggests it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days.”  This means with whatever habit that you want to give up, putting time in will be necessary to break the habit.  In addition, a lot of self-motivation, self-perseverance, and support will be needed for individuals who are making a change in their life style.

With that noted here are some ways to get rid of a habit, that you either find bad or just something you want to stop doing. 

First, get the help you need; this might sound cliche, but it all starts with a little push, whether it is nail-biting or something more serious, so getting help can increase your chances of getting rid of it. According to scientificamercian.com, “A survey by Gene Heyman, a research psychologist at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, found that between 60 to 80 percent of people who were addicted in their teens and 20s were substance-free by their 30s, and they avoided addiction in subsequent decades.” Now of course this goes to more serious habits that turn into an addiction, yet, it can work in both ways. An example being, say you have a nail-biting habit and you want to get rid of it, so you ask your friend/family member to help you not do it, either in front of them or to remind you when you do it. This can be a start for you to get rid of the habit and remind you to not do it. 

Of course, this is just one way, another way can be, replacing it for something different. “Research has shown that what you’ve done before is a strong indicator of what you’ll do next. This means established habits are hard to break. But the good news is, if you keep at it, your new behaviors will turn into habits, too” (heart.org). An example can be, say instead of biting your nails of either stress or just a habit that you have abated, you can relieve that stress in physical activity or try to touch your hair every time you feel or notice your hand getting close to your mouth. 

People tend to get rid of habits not only because of their personal life, but as well as having the real image of themselves shine more than their flaws, in public, like schools and the work force. According to healthyplace.com, “This is how bad habits come to affect our self-esteem. When we identify a habit we don’t like, we often jump to immediate self-judgment. ‘I can’t believe I’ve developed this bad habit,’ we tell ourselves. ‘I am [insert negative adjective].'” When we try to break a habit and are unsuccessful, we often jump to the belief that we are too weak to stop. The more times we fail, the more the habit seems rooted within us. Frequently, our relationship with a bad habit is not even with the habit itself–it’s with the way we react to it. When we respond by labeling ourselves with stagnant definitions, we impede the ever-growing, ever-changing work of self-discovery.”

With that said, our self-improvement is our motivation, and with the best luck, you can improve yourself to reach your goal.  What bad habit do you have in your life?  Now is the time to get rid of it.  Put in your best effort and find better habits to surround you each day.