Break Up with Your Bad Habits: 3 Simple Shifts to Start Now

"Breaking up with your bad habits isn't about perfection or overhauling your life overnight. It's about recognizing what's not working, honoring the underlying need, and replacing one small action at a time with something that supports the best version of you."

Let’s talk about habits—those little routines we default to day in and day out. Some are great, like brushing your teeth or drinking water first thing in the morning. Others? Well, not so much. Maybe you’ve got a habit of scrolling TikTok for an hour instead of getting to bed, or reaching for cookies when you’re stressed. Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: habits are just patterns we’ve repeated so often that they’ve become automatic. They’re not bad because we’re lazy or weak; they’re just... there. But if some of these habits aren’t serving us, it’s time to make a change—one small shift at a time.

Ready to ditch the habits holding you back and replace them with ones that align with your best self? Let’s dive into the three simple shifts that can help you break up with your bad habits (without beating yourself up in the process).

2. Focus on One Habit at a Time

You might feel inspired to overhaul your entire life in one go. While that enthusiasm is awesome, trying to change all your habits at once is like trying to juggle 12 bowling pins—overwhelming and not super effective.

Instead, choose one habit to shift. Give yourself a full week to focus on it and make the replacement feel natural. Once you’ve got that one down, move on to the next. It’s a slow-and-steady-wins-the-race approach, and trust me, your subconscious mind will thank you for it.

Here’s an example: if your goal is to stop doomscrolling before bed, start by replacing the habit with 10 minutes of reading or journaling. Keep it simple. Once that habit feels solid, you can move on to the next one.

3. Ditch the Shame and Judgment

This one’s big, my friend. Too often, we’re quick to beat ourselves up for the habits we don’t love. But shame isn’t exactly motivating—if anything, it keeps us stuck. So, instead of judging yourself for eating that cookie or skipping your workout, try this: acknowledge the habit without attaching guilt to it.

Say to yourself, “Hmm, I’ve been turning to [habit] a lot lately. What’s going on here? What need am I trying to meet?” Curiosity opens the door to change. Judgment slams it shut.

Bonus Tip: Stay Motivated with Vision

Here’s a fun exercise: ask yourself, What would my life look like if I shifted just this one thing?

Take a moment to visualize it. Picture how your days might feel lighter, your confidence might grow, or your energy might increase. When you connect to the "why" behind your habit shift, it’s easier to stay motivated, even when it feels challenging.

The Takeaway

Breaking up with your bad habits isn’t about perfection or overhauling your life overnight. It’s about recognizing what’s not working, honoring the underlying need, and replacing one small action at a time with something that supports the best version of you. And hey, you’re allowed to stumble along the way—progress, not perfection, is the goal here.

So, what’s the one habit you’re ready to tackle this week? Start small, stay curious, and remember: you’ve got this!

Written by the team at A Higher Way Of Living