Tips for Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits

 
October 16th, 2007 by Scott Young

Breaking bad habits

Most of life is habitual. You do the same things you did yesterday, the day before and every day for the last month. It’s estimated that out of every 11,000 signals we receive from our senses, our brain only consciously processes 40.

Habits, good or bad, make you who you are. The key is controlling them. If you know how to change your habits, then even a small effort can create big changes.

I’ve been using these techniques for years to re-engineer many aspects of my life. That includes overhauling my diet, exercising regularly, cutting out television, and bulking my e-mail and work routines. Little changes that, when put on autopilot, can result in an improved quality of life.

Here are some tips to get you started:

One Habit For 30 Days – Steve Pavlina, popularized the 30 Day Trial. You focus on one change for thirty days. After that time it has been sufficiently conditioned to become a habit. I’ve used this as the basis for most of my habit changes. It definitely works to sculpt the automatic programs that run in the background of your mind.

Use a Trigger – A trigger is a short ritual you perform before a habit. If you wanted to wake up earlier this might mean jumping out of bed as soon as you hear the sound of your alarm. If you wanted to stop smoking this could be snapping your fingers every time you feel the urge for a cigarette. A trigger helps condition a new pattern more consistently.

Replace Lost Needs – If you opened up your computer and started removing hardware, what would happen. Chances are your computer wouldn’t work. Similarly, you can’t just pull out habits without replacing the needs they fulfill. Giving up television might mean you need to find a new way to relax, socialize or get information.

One Habit at a Time – A month may seem like a long time to focus on only one change, but I’ve found trying to change more than a few habits at a time to be reckless. With just one habit change you can focus on making it really stick. Multitasking between three or four often means none become habits.

Balance Feedback – The difference between long-term change and giving up on day 31 is the balance of feedback. If your change creates more pain in your life than joy, it is going to be hard to stick to. Don’t go to the gym if you hate it. Find diets, exercise, financial plans and work routines that are fun to follow and support you.

“But” to Kill Bad Thoughts – A prominent habit-changing therapist once told me a great way to nuke bad thinking. Anytime you feel yourself thinking negatively about yourself, use the word “but” and point out positive aspects. “I’m lousy at this job – but – if I keep at it I can probably improve.”

Write it Down – Don’t leave commitments in your brain. Write them on paper. This does two things. First, it creates clarity by defining in specific terms what your change means. Second, it keeps you committed since it is easy to dismiss a thought, but harder to dismiss a promise printed in front of you.

30, 90, 365 – I’d like to say most habits go through a series of checkpoints in terms of conditioning. The first is at thirty days. Here it doesn’t require willpower to continue your change, but problems might offset it. At ninety days any change should be neutral where running the habit is no more difficult than not running it. At one year it is generally harder not to run the habit than to continue with it. Be patient and run habits through the three checkpoints to make them stick.

Get Leverage – Give a buddy a hundred bucks with the condition to return it to you only when you’ve completed thirty days without fail. Make a public commitment to everyone you know that you’re going to stick with it. Offer yourself a reward if you make it a month. Anything to give yourself that extra push.

Keep it Simple – Your change should involve one or two rules, not a dozen. Exercising once per day for at least thirty minutes is easier to follow than exercising Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays with yoga the first day and mountain biking the third day, except when it is raining in which case you will do… Simple rules create habits, complex rules create headaches.

Consistency is Key – The point of a habit is that it doesn’t require thought. Variety may be the spice of life, but it doesn’t create habits. Make sure your habit is as consistent as possible and is repeated every day for thirty days. This will ensure a new habit is drilled in, instead of multiple habits loosely conditioned.

Experiment – You can’t know whether a different habit will work until you try it. Mix around with key habits until you find ones that suit you. Don’t try to follow habits because you should, but because you’ve tested them and they work in your life.

Post Your Change Here – Pick a change you want to work on and post it right here in the comments. You’ll get the benefits of writing it down and making a public commitment. The best time to start is right now.

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147 Comments

  1. [...] Read it all here [...]

  2. practica on 16.10.2007 at 06:38 (Reply)

    Fantastic post!!
    Mu current habit I am trying to develop is regular blogging. What I’ve done is [as you suggest] gave up on television and switched to my laptop. But then email notifications killed me – so I turned it off. Now I am focused to invest my time in blogging research and content creation – 90 minutes each evening
    thanks

    1. ashiq on 15.12.2009 at 21:53 (Reply)

      watching tv and watching song subsitute with internet

  3. John Wesley on 16.10.2007 at 08:24 (Reply)

    practica,

    Good luck with the blogging habit. It’s one that I’ve definitely been working on since I started this site and have made a lot of progress.

    Getting away from email and other interruptions is a big help. The good news is that the longer to do it, the easy and better your blogging becomes.

  4. Alex on 16.10.2007 at 08:37 (Reply)

    Nice article and important topic. I recently wrote a similar article on my own blog called Get Off Autopilot and Change Poor
    Habits with Self-Remembering.

  5. [...] | read more | [...]

  6. Evolving on 16.10.2007 at 11:23

    [...] For example – Has anyone ever tried to change a bad habit? This article provides a step-by-step process and encouraging ways to help you create new and positive habits… Cultivating Good Habits [...]

  7. Eugene on 16.10.2007 at 13:36 (Reply)

    Great post! I especially recommend the idea of telling someone about it. One of the things that forced me to finish writing my first book was telling a close friend my plans. He kept on asking how it was coming along and so I had no choice but to deliver!

  8. [...] Read the rest of Pick The Brain’s post at http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/strategies-for-breaking-bad-habits-and-cultivating-good-ones/ [...]

  9. Habit revision « Later On on 16.10.2007 at 13:43

    [...] Posted in Daily life at 10:42 am by LeisureGuy Periodically one wants to drop a habit and/or add a habit and/or modify a habit: habit revision. Different tactics work for different people, and today Pick the Brain has a list that works for some: [...]

  10. Eric Monse on 16.10.2007 at 14:35 (Reply)

    The thirty day part is definitely true. The first thirty days are the hardest.

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  12. Jean Browman--Cheerful Monk on 16.10.2007 at 16:13 (Reply)

    It’s interesting, I used to use the list technique to keep me on track. Now my time management system is simple and automatic. I only have to write things down when my mind starts feeling cluttered. The trick for me is to simplify my life and focus on what’s truly important.

  13. [...] came across this post – 13 Strategies for Breaking Bad Habits and Cultivating Good Ones – and thought it was worth sharing. I hope you find it interesting too and take the time to read [...]

  14. ozzy20 on 16.10.2007 at 20:16 (Reply)

    My habit that im going to break is to stop biting my fingernails.

  15. anonymous coward on 16.10.2007 at 20:28 (Reply)

    I’ve obsession disease and I want stop some bad habits that I have. I tried to took medicine but it doenst works and I can’t work or make sex because of the medicine and I need 24 hours of sleep each day. What I have is not so terrible, is like some litlle bad habits that I don’t like like. Cracking my fingers and my knee.
    What I need to do? Snap my fingers? I can’t believe that it will work :(

  16. [...] Read the whole article… This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 at 9:09 pm and is filed under le Chat Marchet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. [...]

  17. Carson on 16.10.2007 at 20:35 (Reply)

    My habit is to get out of bed when my alarm goes off and cook myself a healthy breakfast!

    1. beasdelle on 23.06.2009 at 03:51 (Reply)

      hello, if anyone can help, I have this habit of waking up and eating my breakfast then going back to bed for a few hours everyday, I’d really like to change this, but seem to find it very hard to condition myself when only half awake.. please help

  18. SurfsideRyan on 16.10.2007 at 20:35 (Reply)

    The habit I want to break is to stop biting my fingernails.
    It is an annoying habit I have had ever since I was a child, and now at 18 I am completely embarrassed by it, although I cannot stop it.

  19. hoi on 16.10.2007 at 21:35 (Reply)

    I work as a web developer and end up reading way too many coding books. I want to get back into reading fiction books and stop thinking about work once I’m home.

  20. Jay Andrew Allen on 16.10.2007 at 22:43 (Reply)

    Thanks for the tips. I haven’t tried using triggers before to establish new behaviors . I’m going to give that a shot to help me get my lazy rump out of bed in the am.

    But for your tip “Write It Down,” you suggest we write it on…paper? Really? Dude, how 1993 of you. :) There are better electronic places to put this kind of jotting. I use a private Blogger blog for my personal journal (not indexed by Google, unavailable except by invite). You can also use Google Notebook to tack down your commitments. If that’s too intricate, just put them in a text file on your hard drive.

    re: hoi – I used to be the same way about reading too much work material. I let my wife recommend some fiction she thought I might like, based on her reading and her knowledge of my personality. I also made a conscious decision to “interleave” my reading. For every nonfiction book I read, I compel myself to read one work of fiction before moving back to nonfiction again.

    I’m not perfect in this habit, but it’s helped me broaden my horizons significantly.

  21. Web 2.0 Announcer on 16.10.2007 at 23:12

    13 Strategies for Breaking Bad Habits and Cultivating Good Ones…

    [...]Habits, good or bad, make you who you are. The key is controlling them. If you know how to change your habits, then even a small effort can create big changes. Little changes that, when put on autopilot, can result in an improved quality of life. …

  22. Pholop on 17.10.2007 at 01:55 (Reply)

    I will stop biting my fingernails.

  23. Gerbs on 17.10.2007 at 04:12 (Reply)

    I will study Japanese for one hour every morning for the next month.

    Thanks. =)

  24. Billy on 17.10.2007 at 04:59 (Reply)

    I will leave home to school no later than 7:45 sharp and don’t skip class.

    1. indra on 16.12.2009 at 03:16 (Reply)

      all over he world people sleep less. kent koeningger said he didn`t know the effect of the computers. he is one of the people who invent internet.
      I found out eating/drink/taking fresh honey from insects honey bees and melipona (singless honey bees )improves work performances during night time and sound sleeping the morning after.
      i found cheaper honey from the south adultered with cane sugar are very much likened by ants

  25. [...] cheating on your spouse, etc. These bad habits can really wreck havoc in your life. Scott tells you how to get rid of them and also how to acquire the good [...]

  26. [...] Here are some tips to get you started [...]

  27. Martin on 17.10.2007 at 08:50 (Reply)

    For the next 30 days starting today, I will have sex every night. I’m hoping that by the 30th day I’m a fantasic lover. WaWa Wee Wah!!!!

  28. HelpLife on 17.10.2007 at 08:50 (Reply)

    Whoa nice post actually I want to stop smoking. Thanks for tips!

  29. Tiny Planet » Links o' the day on 17.10.2007 at 08:51

    [...] 13 strategies for breaking bad habits and cultivating new ones. We’ve all got them, now it’s time to kick their habitual asses. [...]

  30. hoi on 17.10.2007 at 10:04 (Reply)

    Thanks for the tip Jay Andrew Allen!

  31. blegh on 17.10.2007 at 10:42 (Reply)

    i, too, want to stop biting my fingers and fingernails… I am 22 and sick of the embarresment of having banadaged and bloody finiger tips constantly

    1. Franky on 13.02.2008 at 05:41 (Reply)

      hi,,,,I have tips for you but this I think can to help you,,maybe..buy 50 a fingger nails,,,,,,

  32. Web 2.0 Announcer on 17.10.2007 at 13:15

    13 Strategies for Breaking Bad Habits and Cultivating Good Ones | PickTheBrain…

    [...][...]…

  33. L on 17.10.2007 at 13:16 (Reply)

    I like the idea of telling someone about it, and sticking with it for 30 days. I told my boyfriend, and I’m going to stop drinking for 30 days. Day 1 is today. Awesome.

  34. [...] bad habits and how to develop better habits. Here is the list of the tips they give, go ahead and click here to view the detailed [...]

  35. [...] read more | digg story [...]

  36. Anne on 07.11.2007 at 14:03 (Reply)

    I have bad skin, and I cant seem to kick the habit of picking it and making it worse. I am going to stop today because it is ruining my life and I feel so frustrated because it is self inflicted.

    1. liz on 25.07.2009 at 06:50 (Reply)

      with the skin, you just have to not touch it, make a habit of not touching your face for a month, that’s what i have been doing and the skin has improved.

  37. [...] Source: Pick The Brain [...]

  38. How to Learn From Mistakes on 15.11.2007 at 06:00

    [...] mistakes are caused by bad habits. To avoid making the same mistakes you need to break these bad habits. This requires careful consideration and sustained effort to change your way of thinking. However, [...]

  39. [...] need A Game Plan. Your Game Plan is your schedule for habit-removal. Set up checkpoints, 30, 90, and 365 day checkpoints seem good (you didn’t think you could get by with no record [...]

  40. will on 20.11.2007 at 17:27 (Reply)

    exercise 30 minutes a day and drop an old habit. 11/20/07

  41. Roadmap to Riches on 11.12.2007 at 12:38 (Reply)

    This is great. Bad habits can kill success in any avenue. Thank you for posting this.

    -Jeff

  42. Leanne on 28.12.2007 at 18:39 (Reply)

    My habit to break is giving my finace no attitude and bullshit when he doesnt need it…any ideas to help with not having an attitude or telling him no, since i feel like its my way or no way…any ideas to help this all?

  43. Miguel Perez on 11.01.2008 at 00:30 (Reply)

    Hi…,
    Mi name is miguel…, I’m a 17 year old struggling in high school. Its my senior year and due to “bad habits” i ended up at a continuation school. I know for a fact it isn’t due to me bing incapable of learning a certain material because my sister had simpler classes and is able to pass wiht c’s or b’s. Anyways. I know what i should,could and would do. But i can’t seem to do it. I’ve tried and am still currently trying. I think what i need is just someone to keep pushing me and just keep motivating me. In short. Maybe just a friend and an insparation. Anyone is qualified i don’t discriminate. I see myself as a really bright kid with some bad mistakes. I never smoked or drank or partied and had sex. I really did want to be that straight A student. It just never happened. I think it takes a lot for me to be writing this. But i’m really at the poing where maybe i should stop talking and maybe start listening to more people. Not people with Unconditionable love and are kinda obliged to support me. But from people i dont know. People who have gone thru worse or better yet there willing to say so how you doing? Anyways…, Like i said anyone is welcome to write to me. Maybe I could even help some of you out. So I hope if you read this your willing to not make it a waste of time and write.
    you can email me at
    Gamblebynight21@aol.com
    or you could send me a message on myspace.
    myspace.com/thatsrightimgay
    (no i’m not gay long story)
    anyways…
    I hope you all have a great day/evening/night.

    Sicerely,
    -Miguel A. Perez

    1. Franky on 13.02.2008 at 05:38 (Reply)

      hi,,mybe you can to consentration with the homeowork,,,or,,,you can try something sport(fitnes),,swimming,,,watching with your firends…..sry my english not good…i from indonesia

  44. Joshua on 21.01.2008 at 23:29 (Reply)

    Dearest Nancy Schimelpfening,

    I know that you try very hard to help people break their bad habits. I have read a good amount of your work. I have my own that I am seeking to break…starting March 1st I’m going to be giving my day to day efforts on breaking my bad habits. I would love your help in getting people to participate in my journey. This will be very beneficial to all of the people in your system…I will be providing a lot of information and confidence to everyone. This is a great way for anyone with bad habits to have daily contact with the desire to fix their problems.
    This will be very uplifting yet very honest in my trials. I would love to put in and use any material and articles that you think would be very beneficial as well as any advice…I want to help anyone with a bad habit…ranging from the lowest to the highest of problems and issues. The website where this will all take place is http://burnthehabit.blogspot.com.

    Thank you so much,

    Joshua Thompson

  45. Sariya on 12.02.2008 at 11:04 (Reply)

    I am going to stop using Splenda and eat three healthy meals per day. Peace of mind about my health is far more important that a sweet coffee!

    1. Franky on 13.02.2008 at 05:34 (Reply)

      the health is very expensive….so be care

  46. [...] you that popping pimples is one of the perverse pleasures associated with the condition, and can become almost addictive. But beware – popping is not always the best way to get rid of pimples overnight, and can in fact [...]

  47. Anonymus on 18.02.2008 at 19:29 (Reply)

    Hey!
    I just read your post and it really helepd me one habit i’m trying to break os watching t.v. and i’m replacing it with scrapbooking. And the other I’m erasing is masturbating. I’m replacing it with reading. You really helped me.

  48. Anonymus on 18.02.2008 at 19:31 (Reply)

    Hey!
    I just read your post and it really helepd me one habit i’m trying to break os watching t.v. and i’m replacing it with scrapbooking. And the other I’m erasing is masturbating. I’m replacing it with reading. You really helped me.
    signed anonymus

  49. Miran on 08.03.2008 at 13:58 (Reply)

    I am changing my habit of getting up late in the mornings. I am starting it from today 09-03-2008. I am fully convinced that if I persist with it for 30 days this habit will stick. Pray for me. I have learn’t in life, by doing otherwise, that getting up early in the mornings is the best good habit one can have.

  50. [...] skincare products, then a homemade acne remedy might be the refreshing change that makes a real difference to your [...]

  51. [...] treatments recently with many claiming a combination of an acne prevention diet and some of the all natural acne treatments to be the answer. So you might want to try that [...]

  52. Barto on 13.05.2008 at 03:27 (Reply)

    Great article. i have read this before but for some reason never gave it a shot. ok here goes …

    My first habit to break in 30 days would be to handle the things i dont favour at work first without exception.

  53. Ivanhoe on 31.05.2008 at 03:43 (Reply)

    Hi, well after reading this article I am willing to try this trial. In thinking about my bad habits I have realized that I have tried similar tactics in breaking them, however, I just did not have a goal. Now, that I have a goal I am hoping and wanting to try this 30 day trial;) It makes sense. So, I will for 30 days eliminate the porno sites and excercise every day instead.

  54. [...] no longer requires willpower. It’s a technique I’ve used to start exercising, switch my eating habits, wake up early and add various other productivity [...]

  55. Aditya Pratama Ramadhan on 06.06.2008 at 06:18 (Reply)

    Hi I’m Aditya…actually I’m 13 years old. The problem is that I have a really powerful bad habit. The habit is to open porn things. Actually I tried a hundred times, but I can’t stand it. Each time I try to stop, my head would bi filled with thoughts. I just cant stop it….but I’m trying…TODAY!!!…thanks 4 the post…please help me…

    1. Alia Sarastita on 14.12.2008 at 20:00 (Reply)

      Hi, well, about your bad habit,,,,the only way u can get rid of it is you just have to really thing about what you’re seeing, what i mean is, you really have think of the disadvantages that you would get by seeing or even watching porn things that is unnecessary. there isn’t any specific tips for this habit, i believe, the only thing that matter is the intention from yourself, but that’s only my opinion, some people might disagree. Maybe you could just concentrate on your study since you are only 13, there are soo much more things that lay ahead you, and something that you need to worry about (such as your exams)….

      Ps: sorry if my english isn’t good enough, since i’m only 13 and i come from a non-english-speaking country.

      Talk to you on facebook,
      Aliyyah Sarastita

  56. Sonya on 07.06.2008 at 12:58 (Reply)

    Hi! My problem is that i’m always sucking my thumb which is causing ruin to my teeth but i cant help it i suck it when im asleep so i dont realise.

    1. lazurm on 03.11.2008 at 06:17 (Reply)

      I find sucking my thumb to be a great benefit, especially as a sleep aid. As far as your teeth go, think of it as a mere accomodation, a way to allow your mouth to enjoy your habit more comfortably. I wouldn’t mind if my teeth moved even more than they have as a result of my thumb sucking. You may as well get the most out of a free, convenient, effective, legal relaxation aid and if that means your teeth move a bit, well, embrace it, it’s easier than fighting.

  57. nnrao on 07.06.2008 at 14:16 (Reply)

    hi, I want to get up daily at 5.00 in the morning to study for my gmat .I am committed to do this for 30 days .I love the way you have explained .keep it up .

  58. [...] Tips for Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits by Scott Young Original Post on Habits by Scott Young [...]

  59. diamond on 22.06.2008 at 01:23 (Reply)

    I am going to stop snooping and start trusting.

  60. Tom on 29.06.2008 at 11:53 (Reply)

    I just came accross this post as I am focusing on changing my bad habits like diet and exercise, stress, and email checking.

    A few techniques I used from this are a habit per 30 days, writing it down, posting my progress on my blog. Anyway, I’m just starting, but it’s really having an impact! Thanks for the other tips as well.

  61. luary on 14.07.2008 at 04:42 (Reply)

    I am giving up my morning sleep upto 8.00am. I am going to get up at 6.00am and stard meditating.

  62. [...] thinking to deduce a positive step you can take to make things easier. It is very much like developing habits (indeed, many obstacles are often created by bad [...]

  63. Ashley on 07.09.2008 at 16:01 (Reply)

    Hello all. I’ve read this post and it is truly inspiring to me. I had bulimia and anorexia for 5 years and now struggle to fight the eating disorder. My habit that I am going to break with these techniques is snacking late at night and when I’m bored. I’ve gained just a couple of pounds, but know that if it gets too out of hand it will trigger my eating disorder to come back and I can’t have that because I almost died from the behavior. I will remain concious of my actions and have a backup plan set in place to follow instead of boredly or emotionally eating. Thanks guys!

  64. farouk on 08.09.2008 at 05:51 (Reply)

    amazing!!! thank u!!

  65. Robin on 12.10.2008 at 13:32 (Reply)

    I have been trying to break my habit of chewing on my hair for 6 months, but now that I have a boyfriend I’m going to push myself until I finally break it. Maybe now my hair will grow longer faster! XD

  66. Robin on 12.10.2008 at 13:36 (Reply)

    Artificial sweeteners such as Splenda and Sweet ‘n Low are actually worse for you than real sugar, because they are ARTIFICIAL. For this reason also, diet sodas are worse for you than regular sodas.

  67. Pranav on 16.10.2008 at 03:25 (Reply)

    i have a very bad habit or u may call it a teenage addiction that i like watching porn….. i am ready to break this habit becoz i feel guilt for havin it in me………i slowly noticed that my attitude towards the opposite sex was changing due to that habit. I felt this was the worse thing in my life coz it has deteriorated my life as a student and as a honest Boy i have started feeling like that i am someone who has no control over himself.Due to this habit i cultivated other bad habits also like not tellin the truth to others for no strong reasons watching TV or doing computer when unnoticed like now……..I have lostt sincerity towards my studies …..these are my problems since i can’t tell this to anyone whom i know as my value in their eyes will fall downn i request u to help me out desperately…………..

    1. Marie on 18.10.2008 at 20:05 (Reply)

      i want to start getting up earlier. even if i mean jumping out of bed. but aside from all of my other bad habits that i realy realy want to change i totaly get what ur saying.like u dont want to tell them or ask for help…my bad habbit is having sex w/myself. eversice i stoped seeing my boyfrind everyday(now everyother6 mths!!)ive fealt this nothingness inside me. I want it to stop…ive also gotten other habits from it…watching tv and just staring into space.or u know just bing on the computer when i realy should be doing something else.i just want to wake up,stand up and never do it again…EVER!

      1. jelle on 01.07.2009 at 22:54 (Reply)

        dear little boy wish you stop veiwing such thin you mentioned but they said never late than never so please make more mixing with people and practice telling the truth hope you change….

      2. Ahs on 01.08.2009 at 10:26 (Reply)

        Hi there,,, i just read your commet. unfortnately i am going through the same problem :( .. . i guess u are out of this problem till now but i am still into it… i wrote u back just to ask if u can help me in getting rid of this practice,,. hope to get +ive reply from u ….THANX

  68. lesly Melat on 26.10.2008 at 23:42 (Reply)

    I really really would like to stop masturbating so much. I have been masturbating since 11 years old and I do this about 6 times a day, It has gotten to the point where my clitoris becomes inflamed and sore but I cannot stop.If anyone has tips for me, newfish11@live.com

  69. Maria on 10.11.2008 at 07:54 (Reply)

    Procrastination!!
    This will be a toughy for me… What’s better than putting off for today that you can do tomorrow, right?.. Wrong! I find myself falling even deeper into this. I faced a traumatic period in my life 2 and a half years ago and now I feel trapped like a rabbit in a car headlight whenever faced with the need of change or strong responsibility, it terrifies me to know that it is getting worse. I have to do something… please offer some suggestions for positive triggers.. Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks!

  70. [...] mistakes are caused by bad habits. To avoid making the same mistakes you need to break these bad habits. This requires careful consideration and sustained effort to change your way of thinking. However, [...]

  71. Joe on 29.11.2008 at 07:52 (Reply)

    I vow to break my bad habit for at least 183 days, starting today.

  72. Matt on 06.12.2008 at 21:38 (Reply)

    I will follow through on my plans relating to the next three weeks.

  73. [...] Strategies for Breaking Bad Habits and Cultivating Good Ones by Pickthebrain.com [...]

  74. harry dick on 19.01.2009 at 07:03 (Reply)

    hi i have a bad habbit since i was 11 licken girls pussy till their red. please help me

  75. harry dick on 19.01.2009 at 07:04 (Reply)

    my bad habbit is having anul sex all the time with girls im 13 and i already banged about 7 times i can stop please help me

    1. youneedhelpson on 19.01.2009 at 07:10 (Reply)

      i really recommend you get some counculing or your basicly screwed. i really wouldnt want to be you cause mhy parents woulld go crazy. are you black cause only blaack people do those kinda things? kid your messed in the brain i feel bad for all the people u raped.

  76. james on 19.01.2009 at 10:46 (Reply)

    hey

  77. karthick on 26.01.2009 at 11:31 (Reply)

    Nice post.I
    am going to wake up early in the morning

  78. Stephenie J on 30.01.2009 at 07:29 (Reply)

    I want to not lie for my habit. I just got out of a good relationship. I lost it because i lied. I want to make it a habit not to lie.

  79. In my experience the easiest way to breaking habits is to release the old thought which is causing the bad habit to a productive thought.

    What worked for me was to hear the same message over and over, till my actuall thinking changed.

  80. [...] Tips for Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits [Pick The Brain] – One habit for 30 days. If we pick just one activity to do every day for 30 days, we can condition ourselves to develop this endeavor into a habit. As you might imagine, this isn’t exclusive to blogging. [...]

  81. Liebherr on 05.03.2009 at 12:44 (Reply)

    Liebherr
    Good interpretation, but I think hardly could be apllied to life.
    ksoleifdjj388

  82. I agree with all your points, especially the last one about writing it down and making it public (albeit in an anonymous way). I also suggest getting a network of people committed to the same habits as you are.

    With this in mind, I recently started a new social network called NüHabits, where people can find other people who are working on the same habits – squashing bad ones and forming good ones. It’s free, and it can be one more tool in your arsenal against complacency!

  83. Daniela Cane on 12.04.2009 at 21:33 (Reply)

    Nice tips. These is the very good sample on how to change people who are having a bad habit.
    ______________

    Electronic Cigarettes

  84. Rezina on 13.05.2009 at 03:17 (Reply)

    I will stop being lazy and be active .

  85. Luriza on 21.05.2009 at 03:10 (Reply)

    Day 2 of 30 minutes every day!

  86. danny bagucci on 10.06.2009 at 04:05 (Reply)

    I need to break my internet addiction! Day one starts tomorrow!

  87. Tony Rothwell on 11.06.2009 at 05:51 (Reply)

    Well, not related to this as such, cause I started this months ago, but I have gone for a challenge of a year without chocolate (New Years to New Years) and am still holding strong :D

    I’m gonna use the info on this page to reinforce my self-imposed ban and to pick up a good habit or two along the way! Thanks!

  88. [...] websites, books and personal trainers who specialize on that field. ZenHabits is one place to go, this is [...]

  89. shelshi on 22.06.2009 at 04:48 (Reply)

    i will get up early, 5am at the latest :)

  90. ELS on 26.06.2009 at 03:55 (Reply)

    Great idea,

    After reading this I decided to cultimvate some good habits one by one and bring back my good habits I lost in the past.

  91. jjjjjjj on 26.07.2009 at 00:56 (Reply)

    fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

  92. Hela on 26.07.2009 at 16:51 (Reply)

    my plan is to exercise every day for at least half an hour. 30 days:) keep ya fingers crossed:)

  93. Hela on 26.07.2009 at 16:52 (Reply)

    lol and ill let u know how is it going;)

  94. jandi on 28.07.2009 at 02:00 (Reply)

    hahahahahah baliwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!kau lahayt

    panget nio

    baliw kau
    hhhhhahahahh

    ako c jandi

    hahahahhaha

  95. wendy on 16.08.2009 at 13:15 (Reply)

    The habit I need to break is obsessing over my ex-boyfriend. I can look at his pictures online with his new wife and analyze every detail. I’m starting my 30 days today.

  96. wendy on 16.08.2009 at 13:36 (Reply)

    Another bad habit? Visiting a very negative blog site. 30 days starting today!

  97. wendy on 16.08.2009 at 13:40 (Reply)

    It’s not only the pictures, it’s stopping any bad habit related to him, such as reading his horoscope or any related b.s.

  98. Sny on 21.08.2009 at 12:34 (Reply)

    I want to be a pure person. But I find myself masturbate time and again. It might sound ugly but I have to be honest with myself. Some may claim it is normal. But I have my own reasons. but the point is I want to be pure and healthy and guileless, both mentally and physically.
    Other than that I want to work hard and lead a simple and healthy life. So eating good and healthy food is also on my list. Both these things go together. I am confident that I can live a pure and selfless life, serving the poor, working hard, reading philosophy, having good friends..Wish me good luck :)

  99. Sushmeeta Sriram on 22.09.2009 at 14:28 (Reply)

    Hi I am in 5 grade .
    I want to be a pure person. But I find myself masturbate time and again. It might sound ugly but I have to be honest with myself. Some may claim it is normal. But I have my own reasons. but the point is I want to be pure and healthy and guileless, both mentally and physically.
    Other than that I want to work hard and lead a simple and healthy life. So eating good and healthy food is also on my list. Both these things go together. I am confident that I can live a pure and selfless life, serving the poor, working hard, reading philosophy, having good friends..Wish me good luck

  100. wendy on 23.09.2009 at 16:50 (Reply)

    Alas, I must start my 30 days over again, but I have an excuse! A good one, actually, but I’m not going to let it deter me. THIRTY DAYS starts again today! If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

  101. [...] for Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits October 16th, 2007 by Scott Young Print This Post Most of life is habitual. You do the same things you did yesterday, the day before and every day [...]

  102. Nozi on 19.10.2009 at 11:21 (Reply)

    Am waking up 5am tomorrow till death, thanks for the nic post…

  103. mike on 21.10.2009 at 10:38 (Reply)

    i love this article. first things first. im going to focus on school and give up online gaming. its been ruling my life pretty much all the 15 years ive been breathing. 30 days, imma try my best. :)

  104. A ZIA on 30.10.2009 at 06:08 (Reply)

    FROM NOW ONWARDS, at 8 pm on October 30,09 I will stop my “THE BAD HABIT (1)” & will quit for it till Novem 30, 09. Whenever I will get any alarm for it, i will snap my fingers & will replace it with 2 minute reading article & 2 minutes walk.

  105. Mark Anderson Push on 01.11.2009 at 02:06 (Reply)

    Well Guys i Liked the idea but it needs a lot of commitiment to do.. I tried a lot to follow this tips but i get bored everytime i start !!
    I visited Egypt 3 months ago and attended a Human Resources Lecture in the German University in Cairo !!
    loool it was AMAZING !! really those people know how to think right!

  106. sarah busby on 03.11.2009 at 21:28 (Reply)

    My bad habit that I need to break is eating while I am watching TV.

  107. cmws on 11.11.2009 at 20:39 (Reply)

    I would like to break the habit of interrupting people when they talk. It seems like I’m rude, but I just get really excited to add to the conversation. I will stop interrupting people and trying to finish their sentences. I’m leaving undergraduate school and trying to move up in the world. It requires patience and for ppl to not feel I’m impeding their thoughts. I start tonight.

  108. MGA on 13.11.2009 at 14:50 (Reply)

    I will stop overeating in order to make myself happier and healthier, and to prevent future damage. I’ll be back in 365 days to share my success and help motivate people.
    -M

  109. MuhammadNaeem on 15.11.2009 at 22:15 (Reply)

    nice !
    I think such blogs can bring a rationality in man.
    Thanks to the blogger.

  110. www.coaches247.com on 17.11.2009 at 22:41 (Reply)

    Very good article on breaking habit. Many valuable principles are addressed. I believe accountability and support 24 hours a day is also very helpful.

  111. Melanie on 26.11.2009 at 07:18 (Reply)

    I am going to stop buying a twix at lunch time at the cafeteria and chew a gum after lunch instead.

  112. Sanej on 27.11.2009 at 13:40 (Reply)

    HI, I want to break my habit of losing my stuff , I am keep it losing , just want to break it !!!!

  113. Rossio on 28.11.2009 at 13:50 (Reply)

    Thanks for the article.
    The habit I want to break is being overcritical and jugedmental.

  114. Sweety on 30.11.2009 at 02:16 (Reply)

    I want to change my habit of procrastination…..till the last mintue…and end up doing things in haste…..i end up running all the time….

  115. Muthukumar on 01.12.2009 at 07:01 (Reply)

    WOW!! Excellent!!.
    Dude.. fantastic article and good tips.. stressing the exact facts and pain areas to handle..
    Thanks

  116. sophie on 01.01.2010 at 18:10 (Reply)

    i want to stop lying and to stop playing with my hair when i get nervous or bored.

  117. [...] Tips For Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits [...]

  118. Elizabeth Richardson on 08.01.2010 at 17:01 (Reply)

    I love the ideas and strategies in this article.

    Anthony Robbins also works from one deep level – that “every bad habit has a positive intent” and realizing what that intent really is can expand us to the point of being accepting and grateful for creating the habit instead of feeling bad or guilty about it (which are both immobilizing emotions).

    It is from this place of acceptance that people can move on almost effortlessly and naturally instead of having to work SO hard to instigate change.

    What do you think?

  119. Kasey on 09.01.2010 at 14:32 (Reply)

    My bad habit is i am always worrying about my teeth!

  120. tayyab on 17.01.2010 at 09:52 (Reply)

    i find the above suggestion too well and only by reading once i find a hope that i can change my boring life
    all these are logical and fully supported by latest research in the field of psychology

    i think these are good enough to read

    Tayyab Ur Rehman

  121. [...] No habits define us more completely than the ones that control our mind. My ongoing experiment to end the negative talk is turning into an epiphany. After just four days, I hardly had to move the bracelet at all today. I am overcome by how quickly the act of applying consistent, conscious attention works on eliminating a behavior that I haven’t publicly committed to stopping. Those are the keys according to some research on the art of cultivating better habits. [...]

  122. Federica on 20.01.2010 at 17:12 (Reply)

    New habit: to meditate every morning for 30`.
    I did it last week for 3 days, the first one was very good, the other 2 well…. NOT.
    Ok so here`s the commitment – As of tomorrow I will meditate every morning for 30` – for 30 days
    federica

  123. Ali on 02.02.2010 at 00:11 (Reply)

    I am not regular in jogging. So from today i am going to start jogging regularly in the morning. It will fix my bad habbit of awaking up late in morning.

  124. katrina on 12.02.2010 at 10:51 (Reply)

    I want to be on time with everything I do and be organized so I don’t fall behind in my work in school. I want to reach my full potential and being late is a big problem for me. I don’t wanna do it anymore

  125. Evan on 21.02.2010 at 19:16 (Reply)

    Very nice. I think you left off a set of 0’s when you talked about how many bits of info our senses take in each second. 11,000,000 and I believe sixteen is how many reach consciousness on average.

  126. vishal gaba on 22.02.2010 at 03:26 (Reply)

    well from the above article seeems u are a very experienced person
    ——isn’t it??
    well i’ll definetely apply ur suggestions :) bcuase some of them were among those which had come into my mind earlier own their own !!:)

  127. vishal gaba on 22.02.2010 at 03:28 (Reply)

    :) I appreciate the work done very much :)
    n also the reply by the readers!!

  128. vishal gaba on 22.02.2010 at 03:30 (Reply)

    keep it up!!

  129. [...] Check out “Tips for Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits” for other interesting ways to kick your bad [...]

  130. Johnny Boy on 28.02.2010 at 05:44 (Reply)

    I want to change one word a month in my vocabulary, I feel like I continually use simple vocab and think about abstract thoughts due to my vocab, because I feel like it offends people. Now, I will work on expanding my simple vocab.

  131. [...] we make in life that make the biggest difference. Even though it sometimes sucks. Here’s a good list of tips on breaking bad habits and developing good ones. My first tip is to not forget your socks.   Do [...]

  132. michelle on 02.03.2010 at 13:40 (Reply)

    i will walk for 20 minutes each morning for the next 21 days.

  133. Elena on 14.03.2010 at 14:26 (Reply)

    Oh well, after an hour of searching in the internet, I´ve come across to this lovely article… which I will upload my “I really wanna do this but leave it for tomorrow bla bla blaaaa” habit, and do ot for 30 days….
    Do a set of strech movements that it only takes 5 minutes

  134. melisa on 16.03.2010 at 20:54 (Reply)

    I need to stop procastication, it is hurting br b/c I am onlt torturing myself. If anyone has any advise plz tell me

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