In the natural course of life, you can develop addictions to certain things. Often, this can happen without you even realizing it. Addictions aren’t always related to dangerous habits. In fact, many of our day-to-day addictions might be harmless. However, to live life fully and to grow as a human being, it is important to always look for addictions (even the tiny ones) and take steps to get rid of them.
We are all aware of harmful addictions to alcohol, smoking, video games, or even drugs. However, you might not be aware of the smaller addictions like taking too many naps, shopping, parties, smartphones addictions or even addiction to the status quo! All these can lead to adverse impacts on your life in the long term. So, you should follow certain steps to overcome them as soon as possible.
Realizing That You’re Addicted
Any positive change first requires a profound realization that you are indeed addicted to a particular thing. Living in denial will never allow you to bring change in your life. So, how do you even realize that you are addicted?
Well, you could listen to your friends and family. Most probably, they would tell you if they notice that you over-indulge in a particular habit.
The second way would be to sit down and take note of all the things you do daily. Then, in a non-judgmental manner, you need to figure out if your habits are actually addictions. If the answer is yes, you need to figure out then how to get rid of them.
Replace Them With Good Habits
Some addictions might happen purely because you have too much time on your hands. Let’s say you are addicted to eating snacks while binge-watching your favorite tv show. This could be the result of boredom and some extra time.
So, you could change your daily routine in such a way that you leave no spare time for yourself.
It is a good idea to introduce some good habits to your daily routine. You could start reading books, learn how to play a musical instrument of your choice, learn cooking, or make any of the other good habits that will help you develop your skills. Eventually, you won’t even remember your addictions.
Practice Meditation
Meditation is a really powerful ancient practice that can bring numerous positive changes in your life. Many studies have shown that it brings real, tangible changes to how your brain is structured, essentially rewiring it to make better decisions. It also gives you clarity of mind and helps organize your thoughts and emotions.
When you meditate, you are in better control of your choices. You become mindful of why something is good or bad for you, which will encourage you to make good real-time decisions.
Cut Off Negative People
There might be all sorts of people in your life. Some will encourage you to do good, and some will bring you down by compelling you to indulge in bad habits. It would help if you cut these kinds of people from your life.
If you feel guilty or bad about doing so, remind yourself why you are doing this in the first place! You want to make a positive change in your life, and you have the right to do so.
So, it’s completely okay if you want to get rid of these people. Once they are gone, the trigger to indulge in addictions will also be gone. You will notice that you are in much better control of your decisions, which will lead to a positive change.
Seek Support
The previous way was about cutting off negative people from your life. This one is about seeking your loved ones’ support – those who love you and care about you. They are always ready to listen to the problems you are going through, even if they are small or insignificant compared to some other ones.
These people can help you on your journey to be addiction-free. They can motivate you and act as your control so that you don’t relapse. In fact, their presence will be so powerful that you will start taking preventive measures. You will always look for addictions even before they start to take root!
Be Patient
Any change takes some time to happen. During this time, it is important to be patient with yourself. Do not berate yourself for not being able to do as fast as you had planned. Some addictions are deeply rooted in your brain, and it can take more time than usual to get rid of them. Just be patient and believe in yourself.
Eventually, you will notice that with time, it becomes easier to deny yourself any indulgence. It always gets easier with time. So, give yourself the gift of time, and you will be all set!
