Kicking Bad Habits Replace Them with Healthier Alternatives

Kicking Bad Habits Replace Them with Healthier Alternatives Bad habits can have a lot of effect on our lives. Some of them can annoy others, some make us unhealthy, while others make us unhappy. Everyone has a bad habit that they want to kick, but many never manage to do it. If you want to give up a bad habit, one of the things you can consider is swapping it with something else. Every time you get the urge to smoke a cigarette or bite your nails, you can redirect your thoughts and energy. It can help you develop healthier habits and better coping mechanisms. Try these alternatives to help you replace a bad habit. Swap Eating Junk Food for Cooking Weve all been guilty of comfort eating in one way or another. Well order pizza or gorge on chocolate when weve had a bad day. While thats not a big deal once in awhile, its not healthy to use eating as one of your main coping mechanisms. If you like food, consider taking up cooking or baking as a stress reliever. You can still enjoy a tasty meal (or maybe a cake), but its the act of making it that helps you feel better. You can make healthier food, and you can share with others when you finish. It helps you feel accomplished and proud of yourself, instead of guilty for eating a whole tub of ice cream. Swap Smoking for Vaping By now, everyone knows the health risks of smoking. Yet, many still struggle to quit or are reluctant to. There are several factors that make it hard to stop. There is, of course, the addictive factor of nicotine. However, many people also have a hard time giving up the ritual of smoking. They might roll their own cigarettes and take a break from work so they can smoke. They like the familiarity of holding something in their hand and putting it to their mouth. Some people find that taking up vaping helps them to quit. It can be as simple as having a few disposable e-cigarettes. But many like to take it further and turn it into a hobby. You can get some serious pieces of equipment, like the Smok H-Priv temperature control unit. Vaping allows you to start a collection of equipment and liquids. You liquids can contain nicotine or not. It gives your hands something to do and can turn giving up smoking into something interesting. Swap Late Nights for Early Mornings Bad habits are always hard to break. But for those who struggle to get up in the mornings, breaking the habit can be particularly hard. Many people can sleep through their alarm clock without realizing, or hit snooze when theyre half asleep. Its difficult to get full control over your half-asleep brain. Getting up earlier isnt impossible, though, especially if youre willing to give up a few late nights. Going to bed earlier is a great place to start if you want to feel more refreshed when you wake. Another way to ensure your brain isnt foggy when your alarm wakes you is to track your sleep. You can make sure you wake up when your sleep is lightest. Its also a good idea to consider different types of alarm clock. Do you wake up better with noise, light, or even a vibration? Swap Coffee for Tea Theres nothing wrong with enjoying coffee. In fact, millions of people love it. But, unless youre drinking decaf, its a fact that its full of caffeine. While an occasional coffee wont hurt you, a habit of several cups a day probably isnt doing you any good. If you cant resist a hot drink several times a day, switching to tea might be a better idea. Even a cup of caffeinated tea has less caffeine than a cup of coffee. But for an even healthier alternative, fruit and herbal teas offer you a huge range of flavors. A lot of people find that once they start drinking them, they quickly build a collection of different teas. Swap the Sitting for Standing For many people, sitting a lot isnt just a habit, its a necessity. You might have to sit at a desk all day to get your work done. But then you go home and spend a lot of time sitting on the sofa or at the dining table too. If you think you spend too much time sitting down, you can make an effort to stand up more. At work, you can walk across the office, take the stairs and make sure you get up during your break. If youre lucky, you might be able to convince your boss of the health benefits of a standing desk. You also dont even need to stand up to get in some extra movement. A few minutes here and there of moving your body in your seat can improve your health. Swap Nail Biting for Playing Nail biting is something that many people do absent-mindedly. They dont even realize they have done it until its too late. It can be a difficult habit to break, but there are some alternatives that can help. Giving your hands something to do keeps them occupied. There are several things you could do to keep your nails out of your mouth. When youre at work, having a desk toy or something else to fiddle with could be handy. You could take up a hobby like knitting to help relieve stress and keep your busy. Swap Playing the Lottery for Treating Yourself A lot of people play the lottery in the hope that they might one day win. While its possible you could win the jackpot, the chances of it happening are very slim. Buying a ticket regularly could just be making you money. The thought of winning might make you happy, but youll only be disappointed when you dont get a prize. Instead, put the money you spend on a lottery ticket toward something else. It could buy you a chocolate bar or coffee, or it could go into a pot to help you save for something more expensive. You can turn your bad habits into good ones if youre willing to rewire your thoughts and actions. It can take some work, but its worth it for a healthier lifestyle. Image credits Main  JunkFood   Tea  Playing