Changing bad habits

In so many instances of my life, I have caught myself with some habits that I consider to be inappropriate. They are habits that I would like to change so that I can effectively use my mortal life experience to serve others. For example, one of the bad habits I face that currently has affected my health is overeating. I am now fighting high blood pressure, a non-communicable disease that could be fatal if not reversed or controlled. I cannot say about your experiences, but you may as well experience some habits that are affecting your life negatively.?Whatever bad habits we are facing, the world of science has shown us what to do to improve. ?Bad habits can be changed if we understand the habit loop and can create a new habit we desire.

The first important thing is to be able to identify the bad habit that we want to change. If I use my case, overeating is one of many bad habits that has led to my condition of high blood pressure. In the article published by the learning centre from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, titled “Changing habits” the writer emphasizes that identifying a routine is an important initial step of changing a bad habit. In other words, we need to clearly and precisely name the challenging habit so that we are clear of the enemy we have to fight against. In my personal experience, overeating has been a long-time problem. I identified it in 2010. I eat whatever is in front of me and large quantities. Soon after eating, I notice to be a new person.?

The second thing is to be aware of the rewards or benefits we get after completing the routine. Continuing with my example above, soon after eating I feel relieved. It is like I have put down a heavy load that was in my head. This comes with a sleepy state. And so, I go to sleep or I take long naps; after which I feel lighter and ready to keep doing what I have to do.?The writer of the article published by the learning centre from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, titled “Changing habits” informs that the rewards “helps your brain determine if a particular habit loop is worth remembering or not”. It happened to me; my brain kept remembering and I went back to eating more for the immediate benefit of feeling good. After I noticed gaining weight, I started to ask myself what has been occurring.

To close the habit loop, it is important to isolate a cue.?A cue is anything that when we sense or think subconsciously triggers an impulse toward an action that ultimately makes us get the rewards. ?In an article titled “How to break bad habits” published in 2017 in psychology today blog by professor Robert Taibbi, he argues that “By identifying your triggers, you have a way of pushing back and not having that autopilot kick in.” With my personal experience of overeating, I came to realize that stress is the major cause. From medical school until today, I have a lot to study. My personality makes it worse. I don’t give in easily; I always want perfection. If you have any bad habit, ask yourself what triggers it. Is it a group of friends with that habit? For instance, if you take too much alcohol, your group of friends who drink could be a trigger.

Once we are aware of the habit loop, our next task is to introduce a new habit that will provide us with the same psychological rewards. I have decided to introduce a new habit, jogging that can cause the release of chemical substances such as endorphins in my brain that will give me the same sensations. However, I have not been sticking to my new routine adequately but blood pressure has shown to go down to normal values when I run consistently for a week or two. The writer of the article “Changing habits” from the learning centre of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, emphasizes that the subject person must commit to repeating the new habit consistently. He also adds that a person must be aware of pitfalls he will face and create a plan that he will use to reach the desired reward.?

Both expert opinions and my personal experiences have shown that understanding the cyclic loop of habit formation can positively transform our lives. Therefore, it is our responsibility to study our bad habits and replace them with new ones that will make us better servants and enjoy life.