Changing a bad habit will require patience, practice, openness, and a desire to change. Reading “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey left a lasting impact on me with a simple yet profound line from the beginning of the book:

A thousand miles journey, begins with the first step, and can only be taken one step at a time

These 10 steps for changing a bad habit will guide you on that journey, as they have certainly helped me.

Write down the reason why you want to change it

To change a bad habit, you must first acknowledge it. Often, we don’t realize the impact until we hit a major obstacle. One effective method is to write down not only the reasons you want to change but also the feelings you envision after making that change. Focus on personal rewards rather than expectations. Write down the 10 things you want the most, and whenever you feel discouraged, revisit these to remind yourself why you started.

Start with small changes first

Changes are challenging and to do it all at once will be a guarantee to failure. Begin with small steps. For example, if you aim to start running, begin by walking. If you want to reduce coffee consumption, eliminate one cup per week. Plan for incremental changes, as they will eventually become ingrained habits. Your routine does not have to be perfect, it need to help you gain progress.

 

Schedule it into your calendar

Set alarms for your goals and daily tasks in achieving them. Include morning, noon, and evening reminders of your actions. Incorporate inspirational messages throughout the month to stay motivated.

Share with close friends and family, but not to everyone

Encouragement is something you will always need to change a bad habit. Say it to your closest friends and family, those who love you will always be inclined to give you a hand and help you any way they can. However, don’t go around and advertise to everyone you know.

These processes are slow, some people with the heart in the wrong place will make it harder for you. Words and “funny” comments can discourage you. The fewer people you say it, the less you will have to give accounts of it.

Just share it with those you know will support you!

Think of the outcome

Keep your end goal in mind as you navigate through the challenges of changing a habit. Visualize both the larger goal and the small changes along the way to stay motivated. Remind yourself frequently of your goal to stay focused and maintain your commitment.

Everything in life takes time, you need to enjoy every step in your journey!

Repeat it

Repetition is key to forming new habits. Consistently repeat each small step and task. As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act but a habit.” Repetition solidifies behaviors and leads to lasting change in the long run.

Just repeat it. It is easier than you think.

Don’t beat yourself for cheating or setbacks

It’s natural to revert to old habits at times. Instead of dwelling on setbacks, reflect on why they occurred and make adjustments to prevent future lapses. Forgive yourself and focus on the positive changes you can make moving forward. For example, if you stayed in bed when you needed to awake to go to the gym, change your evening routine, put your alarm far from your bed, or just stand up and go next time. But don’t dwell with bad or negative thoughts. Try to make the positive out of your falling.

Look for a mantra that relates to your goal and repeat it every morning

According to google dictionary, a mantra is a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. However, in Sanskrit mantra means to consult, seek advice or help, to think and deliberate. God is the source. Hindus believe that a mantra sends energy to the world and is carried to its final destination. Hence the maxim also goes, “We Are What We Think.” I don’t necessarily follow or do Hindu or Buddhist mantras.

I have my own mantra’s and I get them usually form reading books. My last one, it was said by Abraham Lincoln, and it goes like this: “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most”, then I repeat three times what I want most. Do it every morning.

Choose a mantra that aligns with your goal and motivates you. Repeat it daily for focus and encouragement. Craft a personal mantra that resonates with you, drawing inspiration from sources like books or quotes. Repeating this mantra regularly can reinforce your commitment and drive.

Celebrate small wins

Acknowledge and celebrate even the smallest victories on your journey. Embracing these wins boosts motivation and reinforces progress. Recognizing and appreciating these incremental achievements will encourage you to keep moving forward. Smalls wins are the ones that lead you to the end game of changing a bad habit.

In an article published by the Harvard Business Review “The Power of Small Wins” this is called the progress principle: “Of all the things that can boost emotions, motivation, and perceptions during a workday, the single most important are making progress in meaningful work. And the more frequently people experience that sense of progress, the more likely they are to be creatively productive in the long run.”

This also applies to your goals in changing your habits, the more you see the small result the more you will feel proactive to keep working.

Enjoy every step of the way

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.”- Anonymous

Focus on making progress each day without fixating solely on the end goal. Be present, only then you will be able to enjoy the process.

A thousand step journey is long, and you need to learn to enjoy the process. How? Well first, thank God for every morning it has given you, second, accept the circumstances you cannot change and work in the ones you can influence, and third forgive yourself. In relation to this third one, we often forget to forgive ourselves, and yet just like Jason Mraz “Living in the moment”, you need to let yourself off the hook for the things you’ve done and just let the past in the past.

Closing thoughts

Incorporate these 10 steps into your habit-changing journey, and remember that change is a gradual process that requires dedication and self-compassion. Celebrate your progress along the way, and enjoy the impact on your life.