3 Powerful Ways to Eliminate Your Bad Habits

Remove the triggers, replace the behavior, and create a commitment contract.

Photo by Wasa Crispbread on Unsplash

1. Remove the Triggers

We tend to assume that our personality drives our behavior.

But in many cases, our environment drives our behavior even more(1).

So, whenever you want to break a bad habit, removing its triggers from your surroundings is a good practice.

Here are some examples:

• If you stay up too late at night, remove the TV from your bedroom.
• If you spend too much time on your phone, turn off your notifications.
• If you procrastinate at work, use software to block distracting websites.

The fewer unhelpful triggers you have in your environment, the less willpower you’ll need to resist them.

2. Replace the Behavior

It’s much easier to replace a bad habit than it is to break it(2).

Imagine, for instance, that you want to stop using your phone in bed.

Your current habit loop might look like this:

Cue: Get into bed → Routine: Use your phone → Reward: A sense of calm