We live in a world where you can get nearly whatever you want, almost instantly. When trying to focus on starting up a good habit, temptations can make it difficult. They seem to be everywhere and can be very easy to give in to. Although temptations can prove to be stumbling blocks for good habits, there are several things you can do to help you stay away from them.
First, establish the new behavior you want to make a habit of. Once you have decided on the desired habit, you will need to discover your possible temptations and stumbling blocks. It may be helpful to write these out. Oftentimes, by writing out obstacles and solutions we are able to wrap our brains around them easier. Temptations are personalized to you, what might be a pitfall for someone else, might be no problem for you. So, the point is to think about what will make following through with this new habit difficult for you.
Once you’ve recognized your possible pitfalls, you can make a plan to get rid of them or try to overcome them. Getting rid of temptations might be as easy as simply not buying certain foods anymore or setting out workout clothes the night before. But, most likely there will be temptations and possible stumbling blocks that won’t be so easy to get rid of. Planning for these will help you greatly in securing your success with habit formation. The company we keep tends to have an influence on our behaviors. Talking to your family and friends about your goals and explaining how they can assist you with stumbling blocks can be helpful as well. Maybe your family will help by deciding to eat better with you, eliminating junk foods at home. Or, a friend may want to cut back on overspending at restaurants too and you can enjoy a night watching movies at home.
Temptations are a given when trying to change our habits. It’s imperative that you discover your possible pitfalls. Once these stumbling blocks are identified, planning for them is the key to combating them. No one is perfect. If you find that you have given in to whatever temptation it is that can derail your progress toward your goal, don’t give up. Tomorrow is another day to try again. Who you are as a person boils down to the things we choose to do every day. So, good habits should be something all of us strive for.
