Here's How To Break Your Unhealthiest Habits

Some habits in your life come naturally such as turning off the lights when leaving a room or waking up before your alarm. Unfortunately, not every single habit affects your life positively. We all know bad habits are, well, bad for us, yet it's so hard to stop them. According to NIH News in Health, habits form through repetition. The more you do something, the more likely it is that you'll create a habit. 

As Healthline notes, although there's nothing inherently wrong with having habits in general, it is the bad ones that can affect your health and happiness. In fact, some habits might even make you feel like your life is slowly being sabotaged and ruined. The good news is that there are always things you can do to break a pattern of bad habits in order to start making better choices.

It's important to know your triggers, which means pinpointing whatever it is that might send you down a spiraling path. You should also be asking yourself why certain habits seem to have a chokehold over you when they are something you would rather let go of. Enlisting support from friends and family, being mindful, setting reminders, and preparing yourself for possible slip-ups are some of the things you can do on your path to healing from a bad habit. It's also pivotal to show yourself grace and celebrate your growth as you continue making progress in the right direction.

Fingernail biting is one of the most common bad habits people deal with. According to WebMD, nearly half of all kids and teenagers bite their nails. Unfortunately, a lot of those kids and teenagers grow up to be adults who still can't seem to kick the habit. Biting your nails can cause them to start growing in an abnormal manner, can damage your teeth, and can make you sick if you accidentally consume some of the disgusting germs that are stuck underneath your nails. 

If you feel like nail biting is something you'll never be able to stop doing, there are a couple of simple tricks to consider. One idea is to make sure your nails are always cut as short as possible. Cut your nails down with a grooming device and you'll instantly make it way too hard to get anywhere with your teeth. The American Academy of Dermatology Association suggests investing in manicures in order to stop yourself from nail biting. If you're not into colored acrylic, gel, or regular polish, you can still get clear nail polish coated onto every finger. The bitter taste of the polish will eliminate your desire to put your fingers in your mouth. Dipping your fingers in something equally bad tasting can also save the day. Think lemon juice, pickle juice, Tabasco sauce, or tuna juice, for example.

Many people depend on a warm or iced cup of coffee in order to start their day. They feel like they can't get motivated, they can't focus, and can't get energized enough to handle work or school without something caffeinated in their system. The truth of the matter is that coffee can be quite problematic for many reasons. According to Mark's Daily Apple, caffeine pushes your adrenal glands to release a stress hormone called cortisol. This hormone can trigger anxiety and cause you to have a panic attack, can lead to random hot flashes, and can also interfere with prescription drugs you may be taking.

For these reasons and more, it might be in your best interest to quit drinking coffee for good. To do so, Cleveland Clinic suggests gradually reducing your coffee intake a little more each day. Switching to decaf is a smart alternative since it tastes like coffee without any of the caffeine mixed in. Some of the worthy coffee alternatives you might consider include tea, matcha, and chai. If you can push through your caffeine withdrawal symptoms which might include headaches, anxiety, irritability, moodiness, and tiredness, then you'll be able to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Most people know that fast food and junk food items aren't the healthiest things to eat. Sure, they can be cheap and convenient, but that's where the positives end. According to Healthline, when you're trying to break free of your fast food habit, you should start planning your snacks and meals ahead of time by creating lists of what you will eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner several days into the future. 

The best way to cut out a fast food habit is to ensure your first meal of the day is a healthy one. As you are meal planning, base your first meal around protein and start your day on the right foot, according to Heart Foundation. This makes it easier for you to continue eating healthy foods until nighttime arrives. And to curb mindless snacking, keep healthy alternatives available. Craving a chocolate bar? Try a low-calorie protein bar instead. Want a bag of chips? Grab a bag of unbuttered popcorn. In the mood for a lollipop? Choose frozen blueberries or grapes. 

Getting rid of fast food and junk food habits also means you have to start being mindful of when you eat. This means avoiding food altogether while you're driving, scrolling on your phone, or watching TV. When you're eating, the only thing you should be focusing on is the food you are consuming at that very moment.

If the only thing that makes you feel good after having a bad day is a little retail therapy, you might be an emotional spender. The good news is that there are several ways you can prevent emotional spending before it happens again. One great idea is to set yourself up for success by creating a celebration fund (via Medium Making of a Millionaire). When you know something exciting is happening in your life such as a graduation, birthday, wedding, or anniversary, you can put some money aside ahead of time that would be specifically dedicated to your big day. This way, when the big day arrives, you won't accidentally overspend.

Almost half of Americans have decided to buy products for themselves while trying to spark happiness (via Intuit Mint Life). This statistic wouldn't be so bad if 30% of those Americans didn't instantly regret it afterward. Preventing emotional shopping from taking place can start with deleting any shopping apps and discount newsletters you're signed up for. 

It may also look like leaving your credit card at home before you leave for a typical shopping spree. People often emotionally shop out of jealousy in order to keep up with their peers, out of guilt to boost their mood when they're feeling sad, or out of fear when they're feeling nervous and in need of a distraction. Regardless of the motivation behind your emotional shopping desire, it still makes more sense to nurture your finances first.

Walking or sitting with a slouch happens to anyone who doesn't exercise the necessary muscles in their shoulders and back on a regular basis. People who use computers or other devices that require a downward-looking angle are most likely to struggle with bad posture. To combat this, Healthline suggests taking time to practice what it means to stand tall. Your feet should be approximately shoulder width apart, you should keep your knees slightly bent, your stomach should be tucked in, and your head should be perfectly level. 

There are also yoga moves to try, including the child's pose and the plank. NHS describes perfect posture as making sure that your neck is straight and your shoulders are parallel to your hips. Ensuring that your shoulders and back are totally relaxed is key. Avoid tilting your head forward, backward, or sideways when trying to make sure your posture is in alignment.

If you've already spent the majority of your life slouching, it will take a while for good posture to become second nature to you. You have to start somewhere, though. People who have perfect postures tend to exude confidence and self-assuredness. Slouching, on the other hand, is a body language that can be read as bored, unfriendly, or apathetic from an outsider's perspective. It's easier to be seen as approachable and likable when your shoulders are rolled back.

Feeling tempted to share secrets and stories about people you know with your friends isn't always something you should indulge in. There is a reason gossip is considered a negative thing by most people. If people think of you as a gossiper, they likely don't consider you to be a very trustworthy individual.

Per Fox 13 Salt Lake City, the simplest way to escape conversations filled with gossip is to learn the trick of disengagement. Avoid engaging with someone who is bringing gossip to you by politely excusing yourself from the conversation altogether. You can tell them you need to make a phone call, you have to meet up with a colleague, or you need to get to work. It doesn't really matter what you tell a gossiper, all you have to do is make sure that you don't participate or get pulled into the negativity.

Gossip can be a very dangerous thing as it continues circulating through the mouths of several people (via Outside Yoga Journal). If a rumor stops with you before spreading like wildfire and growing to become worse and worse, the target of the rumor is less likely to deal with backlash against their public image. It can feel incredibly uncomfortable to tell another person that you don't feel good gossiping about someone you mutually know, but sometimes it's the only route to take in order to stop gossip in its tracks.

Engaging in negative self-talk is a horrible habit to have. Although it might feel natural to fall into a pattern where you act as your own worst critic, you should actually be the one who builds yourself up more than anyone else does. Headspace suggests using different types of meditation, including sunlight visualization, to fight back against negative self-talk. If you can get outside to visualize yourself living a happier life than what you're experiencing in your current reality, it will be easier for you to speak highly of yourself by that same token. 

According to Mayo Clinic, the benefits of positive thinking include an increased lifespan, lower rates of depression, and better psychological well-being. If you're constantly tearing yourself down inside your own mind, you're doing the opposite of positive thinking. Every time a negative thought floats into your mind, you have to do your best to fight back against that thought. If you think something might be too hard for you to accomplish, you should tell yourself that taking a chance will be exciting. If you're convinced that your life will never get any better, you should tell yourself that each new day brings new opportunities to meet new people and try new things.