How to Break a Bad Habit Permanently

If you are looking to break a bad habit that is causing disturbances in your life?

Here are five simple tactics that you can use to help you break those bad habits permanently. By the end, you will know exactly what these methods are and how to apply them in your life to finally free yourself from those habits that just seem unbreakable.

Bad habits. I have personally used these tactics to break bad habits in my life and also helped many people do the exact same. I also have a habit-building and personal development blog solely dedicated to helping people build better habits and be more productive in their lives. Now it’s your turn to learn how to break that bad habit for good this time.

1. Remove It from Your Identity

The first and most important thing you need to do is remove the habit from your identity. What I mean by identity is that you need to believe and understand that the bad habit is no longer a part of who you are. James Clear reports in his book Atomic Habits that what you do is a product of your identity. What you put into practice is a reflection of the type of person you see yourself to be whether or not that is a conscious process. This means that which ever bad habit you have you think of it as a part of you. You must break that association.

For instance, when you are in the process of breaking the habit of smoking and someone hands you a cigarette, don’t say “No thank you I’m trying not to smoke” or “I’m in the process of quitting. Instead try “No thanks I don’t smoke. The difference is powerful: In some versions you are presented as a person that still smokes but doesn’t want to, in others you are defined as former smoker. When you believe you are the person you’re trying to become, your actions start to reflect that identity.

Another example—if you say “I’m always late,” you’re telling yourself that’s who you are and will continue to be late. Instead, identify yourself as someone who is punctual. Do what punctual people do like prepare ahead yourself, check commute times, and plan the day before the work. Shifting your identity plays a crucial role in changing your behavior, which in turn helps to break the bad habit.

2. Make the Habit Difficult to Do

The second best approach is to make bad habits hard to perform.

Let out that you wish to break the habit of eating junk all day. What I would do is to get rid of the junk food in your home. Either throw it out or pass it along, so it isn’t right there within arm’s reach. When cravings hit which is when you most notice them, the effort of leaving the house to get that junk will make the urge to have it pass.

Store only healthy food in your fridge. If you must keep some junk food, move it to the back where it's less visible. If you snack at work, clean out your drawers and stock healthier options. If you tend to buy junk at the gas station, pay at the pump and avoid going inside.

Another example—if you’re trying to break the habit of using social media while working, try leaving your phone in another room. Or delete the apps from your phone and only reinstall them once a week if absolutely necessary.

By making a habit difficult to do, you are more likely not to do it. Over time, this will help you break free from it for good.

3. Replace the Bad Habit with a Better One

Another powerful method is to replace your bad habit with a better one.

For example, if you emotionally shop when you’re stressed, replace that behavior with something else that lifts your mood—like calling a friend or watching a favorite show. If you still feel the urge to buy something, buy a self-help book on stopping emotional spending. You’ll feel better about the purchase because it’s an investment in yourself.

If you bite your nails, try keeping trail mix nearby. When the urge hits, eat some instead. Do this every time you catch yourself about to bite your nails.

As Anthony Ekanem states in Breaking Bad Habits, once you can replace bad habits with good ones, you can eliminate the stress and anxiety those bad habits cause. This leads to genuine feelings of happiness and well-being.

By replacing your bad habit with something positive, you are addressing the emotional void and redirecting your actions into something healthier.

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4. Get to the Source of the Problem

One very good way to break a bad habit is to understand its origin. Rewind and think about when and why this habit began.

Habits form through repetition. So go back and identify the root cause. For example, if you’ve been watching too much TV lately, think about when that began. Maybe it started when you got a TV in your bedroom. That’s the source—remove the TV or move it to a less convenient location.

If you overeat, ask yourself: is it due to stress, poor nutrition, or just oversized plates at home? If it’s stress, address the root cause. If it’s poor nutrition, improve your diet. If it’s plate size, switch to smaller dishes.

By getting to the source, you’re essentially disinfecting the root of your bad habit. Solve the root problem—break the habit.

5. Change Your Environment

One of the most powerful changes you can make is to altering your environment.

W. Clement Stone once said, “You are a product of your environment, so choose the environment that will best develop you toward your goal.” Are the things around you helping or holding you back?

If everyone in your household eats poorly, chances are you will too. If all your friends smoke or drink, chances are you will follow suit. If your co-workers procrastinate, you likely will too.

To over come a bad habit, change your setting. If you wish to exercise more, associate with people that health care. If you are trying to be more productive but your work space is full of distractions, get a different desk or transform your space.

If going out to eat results in bad choices, begin to cook at home more. Remove yourself from environments that reinforce your bad habits.

Also, consider finding a partner who wants to break the same habit. Doing it together increases your chances of success.

Now you know exactly how to break that bad habit that just won’t leave you alone.

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