Bye-Bye Bad Habits

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Once your brain gets used to a routine, even a destructive one, it’s tough to shake free. A friend offers you a smoke whole you’re sipping your cocktail. You have a cigarette every now and then, and you’re hooked. So what’s the harm?  This is your brain battling a bad habit…and losing. As you continually perform a behavior, the neural pathways in your brains form new patterns. When a prompt arrives, such as the offer of a stick of nicotine, your brain shifts on autopilot. Situational cues bring out habits that are deeply embedded. These behaviors can be bad news and you need to break those bad habits pronto.

What if you’ve been chugging caffeine nonstop? When a coffee fanatic doesn’t get that fix, blood flow in the brain spikes. The expansion causes that annoying headache, while you also suffer from other nasty symptoms such as grumpiness and fatigue. You often visit the coffee shop to avoid this dilemma. A constant infusion can set your nerves on edge. High daily caffeine intake may decrease hand steadiness and increase anxiety. And when you consume more, you also increase your chances for diabetes. Break the habit by starting to write down every single thing you eat or drink for a few days to identify all the sources of caffeine. Soda, tea, and energy drinks are common culprits. Then, set to reduce your intake by about ten percent. You can also mix decaf with your full-strength coffee and slowly increase the ratio. Keep dialing back until your craving subsides.

How ‘bout if you take a quick drag every now and then? While regular smokers have a chemical component fueling their addiction, people who smoke only occasionally succumb mainly to social and environmental triggers. The most powerful prompt is often being around people who are smoking. Lighting up a few times is still poisoning yourself and there’s no lower limit of exposure to tobacco smoke that’s safe. Just one stick can injure the walls of your blood vessels, which can lead to heart and other problems. But benign cigarette substitutes can do wonders. Grab a drink stirrer and hold it between your fingers. Set it between your lips while you take out your wallet or phone. This keeps your hands and mouth busy. Carry nicotine gum or lozenges to help wean you off the addiction. Though these are healthier than cigarettes, they can be habit-forming as well. Practice restraint.

The bad habit that many aren’t aware that they have is laziness. Once or twice a week, it’s totally okay to grab some snacks and fire up the plasma in the evening. But if you do this every night, then you seriously have a problem. People who are under high levels of stress and who may not have a large network of friends are prone to isolation. To break this routine, decide which shows are a must-see. Get the DVD and watch at a later time. Zipping through commercials helps a lot. Make after-work plans as well. Join the gym or get into something.

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