Unlearning bad habits can be a useful starting point before adding another ambition. I notice how reliably I can repeat an unwanted behaviour, then ask what would happen if I gave that pattern some attention first.
Have you ever realized how most people are very consistent and disciplined when it comes to:
– being late (guilty!)
– not eating healthy
– using the phone 100x daily
– scrolling on social media
– practising bad habits that make us feel bad
Changing behaviour is indeed a struggle.
So, instead of trying to learn a new behaviour – or a new habit, why not try first to unlearn a bad one?
Something simple as what you drink.
Exactly one month ago I decided to unlearn drinking unhealthy drinks (for me it was mostly Tonic water, …).
So, I decided to just not drink anything else than water (and sometimes a black coffee without sugar).
Important for me was to remove sugar from my life.
But to keep it just with water and nothing else, that wasn’t that easy.
Because we get many ‘opportunities’ and weak moments.
Learning to say “No” is more important than trying to learn new habits, while we are struggling with old ones.
Saying NO to unhealthy habits is a first step in the right direction.
Next challenges:
– Saying NO to unnecessary coffee meetings
– Saying NO to my smartphone outside the office
Related reading and sources: habits and identity
