Welcome to Day 24 of the Wellbeing 9-a-Day blog! In my previous blog on Letting Go, I wrote about how The Wellbeing 9-a-Day Journal has helped me to replace bad habits with good ones. In today’s blog, I am going to focus on how to let go of bad habits and my own journey with stopping smoking.
Learning How to Let Go
Start by making a list of your bad habits. Some of these will be bigger than others. A few might even seem too big to let go. Pick a bad habit that you could, would and should let go of, whether it is tobacco, alcohol, coffee, sex, drugs, rock n’ roll, or not doing the dishes. You can then use the journal to track your progress as you try to let go of habits that are having a negative effect on your health, wellbeing and life in general.
What you let go of is up to you. As general advice, prioritise your bad habits and give them up one at a time. Identify the main reason why you want to give that habit up, and then remain positive in the face of setbacks. Remember, instead of losing something, you are actively letting something go to aid your own growth.
Don’t see it as a loss; see it as a gain.
As you move through The Wellbeing 9-a-Day Journal, you can track how long you have let go of a bad habit, making it easier to stay strong when tempted. Breaking a 10-day streak comes at a bigger cost, providing you with extra motivation to let go of the old you and stick to the new.
The Dragon Called Undeally
I have had two addictions in my life that have not served my health and wellbeing. The first and worst was smoking tobacco, a dragon I call Undeally. Despite the fact I knew that smoking was actively harming my health, and costing a lot of money in the process, I somehow found myself to be a smoker.
Stopping smoking was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
On early attempts, I would struggle to get to sleep, often staying awake until the early hours. When I did get to sleep, I would wake up in a sweaty bed, tired and very much wanting to smoke again. More often than not, I would succumb to the temptation and slip back into the old habits, something that was much easier after two or three nights of poor sleep.
I was finally able to slay the dragon called Undeally when developing The Wellbeing 9-a-Day Journal. Replacing the bad habit of smoking with eight good habits softened the transition, helping me to stay strong when I was tempted to buy tobacco. Now, almost two years since my last cigarette, I have no intention of ever smoking tobacco again. That feels good to say 😊
Call to Action!
Take some time to reflect on the bad habits that you have let go of in the past. How were you able to overcome temptation and remain strong in your behavioural change? By looking back on your successful behavioural changes of the past, you can use the lessons learned to help you let go of your bad habits in the present, and look forward to a brighter future.
This blog was written as part of a 90-day blog writing fundraiser for Live Well with Cancer, a volunteer-led charity serving North Tyneside and the surrounding areas. If you enjoyed this blog, please show your appreciation by donating to my JustGiving page. Every penny raised from donations or sales of the journal will help deliver workshops, events and support groups that empower better health and wellbeing for those affected by cancer, including family, friends, carers, and healthcare workers.
Comments