Conquering Those
Hard-to-Break Habits
 If you want to lose weight, quit smoking, improve your diet, or change practically any other bad habit, roll up your sleeves. "Habit change is work," says Matthew A. Budd, M.D., retired assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of "You Are What You Say."
Why? Some habits that are the hardest to break are deeply embedded emotionally. Through food, for example, we learn how to soothe ourselves, beginning in infancy. "At an early age, we learn that food, comfort, and security are all connected," says Dr. Budd. "That's why some adults overeat when anxious."
Dig Deep
To break stubborn bad habits such as overeating, "you need to get behind the emotion that's driving the behavior," says Dr. Budd.
What to do first: "Determine the recurring circumstances that drive you to food or any other substance," he advises. If you notice you head to the vending machine whenever your boss gives you a new project, think about what's causing the anxiety that's causing you to eat.
If it's fear of failure, ask for help from someone else rather than seeking solace through food. Drink a glass of water or meditate and take a few deep breaths to shore up your confidence.
"Only when you address the emotions underlying the addictive or habitual behavior can you really begin to produce positive results," says Dr. Budd.
Create a Game Plan
Once you're aware of the emotions driving habitual behaviors and you've developed strategies to deal with particularly troublesome habits, you can develop a practical plan that can help you accomplish your goals, such as losing five pounds by your birthday or giving up smoking.
During this planning stage, trouble-shoot to design a doable behavior-change plan. If, for example, you want to give up high-fat takeout dinners but don't have time to cook, make sure you stock your kitchen with low-fat meals, prepared salads, and fruits and vegetables each week so you'll have easy, healthy meals on hand.
Snap Back After a Slip
Once you've put your plan into action, beware. There will be times when you don't stick to it – perhaps you'll eat too many dip-laden potato chips at a holiday party.
Don't despair. "To slip is to be human," says Dr. Budd. Instead of giving up on your plan and reverting to bad habits, use the suffering that's associated with the slip as a learning opportunity so you can avoid it in the future.
Ask yourself what caused the slip. Was it something practical – such as going to the party too hungry, then standing by the potato chip bowl all night? Or was it something emotional, such as feeling stressed about a work project?
Once you've nailed what caused the slip, "let the slip go and forgive yourself," says Dr. Budd.
But before you resume your behavior-change plan, "see if it's in your heart to honestly recommit," he says. If so, strengthen your strategy and fortify your resolve by seeking emotional encouragement from a support group or a network of friends. The help they provide can be a powerful motivator.
"If you have other people watching your progress, you'll be less ready to break that commitment," says Dr. Budd. "But if it isn't in your heart to recommit, be honest about it because, otherwise, you'll just suffer more."
Timing is important when committing or recommitting to a behavior-change plan. "The ideal time to make a habit change is when your motivation is high and when your life is relatively predictable," says Dr. Budd.
A less-than-ideal time is when you're starting a new job, moving, switching careers, or attending lots of social events. Your best bet: "Select a time that's a relative clearing in your life," says Dr. Budd.
Source
Wellness Library Health Ink and Vitality Communications ©2010
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