A large part of the essence of a human is in our need to be in a routine. You’ve heard it before and this won’t be the last, but we are creatures of habit. Our day revolves around a clock that continually clicks. With every tick of the hand, our lives flow with it. We get up for work at the same time every day, we go to lunch at the strike of noon, and any time after 3:00 we anxiously await our time to leave work.  

Throughout our days, we tend to create habits to go along with this pattern. When life is stressful, many of us open our fridge and indulge in the temporary stress relief of eating. To avoid conversation or awkwardness, we stare down at our phones for far too long. We spend time with people we shouldn’t, we drink, we smoke, and we all spend too much time off our feet. Let’s be honest, many of those habits may not benefit our productivity in our career or health.  

There are simple ways to start breaking free of these bad habits. The first being, being open and vulnerable with yourself on what you want to change and why.  

Journal

Think of a journal as a secret keeper. A journal is a place you can be 100% honest with yourself. This little book is also a great place to track your progress. End the night with a recap of your day and your progress. 

Practice mindfulness

It is okay to have these habits; remind yourself of that daily. Mindfulness can help you develop self-awareness around your thoughts. Mindfulness goes hand in hand with journaling. This practice requires observing your triggers and impulses that have become a habit.  

Replace a bad habit with a good one

Practice not reacting to bad habits but brainstorming other options. When you have the desire to eat, pick up a fruit. Have a simple conversation with a stranger instead of being glued to your phone- you never know when you can make someone’s day. And before you even sit on the couch for the night, get outside. Go on a walk, to a yoga class, to the gym, or even stretch before parking on the couch.  

Keep yourself accountable

Leave little reminders in a place where you can see them every day. Bring a trusted friend into this task to hold yourself accountable. Embedding reminders and check-ins into your routine will help you get further away from these habits. 

Remember, it is okay to have these bad habits. Like everything in life, take it with moderation. Ease yourself out of these routines. Without these bad habits, you will no longer be slowed down from your productivity. Good habits form creativity skills, increase your brain accuracy, and excel your performance.