7 Steps to Crushing Mindless Habits

A step-by-step guide to changing mindless habits

If you've ever tried to make a New Year's resolution and failed, then this article is for you. More than half of Americans create resolutions yearly, but only 8% follow through on them. If that sounds like you, it may be time to stop going through the motions and start making real changes in your life. Here are seven simple steps to help you get started on your journey toward a more intentional lifestyle:

1. Establish your priorities.

Before you can start changing your habits, the first step is to figure out what those practices should be. This means knowing what you want in life and taking action towards that goal.

Sometimes people get so caught up in their day-to-day busyness that they don't take time to think about what truly matters most to them—and once they do, it's too late. But, even if you haven't had time for this before now, it's never too late to change!

2. Assess your current lifestyle.

The second step is to assess your current lifestyle. What does it look like right now? Make a list of the good things, bad things, and things you want to change or keep the same. Then take some time to reflect on what this means for you as an individual and why those details are important.

3. Be mindful of what's stressing you out, and take action to combat it.

Stress is a normal part of life. No matter how much you try to avoid it, stress will creep up on you at some point or another. However, when the "some point or another" becomes every day and takes over your life, it's time to make a change.

Stress can lead to poor nutrition and sleep habits, which in turn lead to lousy exercise habits and poor relationships with friends and family members who aren't addicted to coffee as much as you are (and let's face it—who isn't?). If left unchecked, this chain reaction can spiral out of control quickly until there's little left for you but an empty apartment filled with empty cups of coffee and even emptier dreams of what could have been had things gone differently for all involved parties. 

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4. Create a daily practice that lays the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

Having a ritual is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A good ritual makes it easy to stay on track, while a bad habit can make you feel overwhelmed and discouraged.

Make your own by following these steps:

  • Map out your day in advance (outlining when you will eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner)

  • Set aside time for exercise each day

  • Block off time for work or school (or both!)

5. Let go of toxic people or situations that no longer serve you well in life, even if this means cutting off certain people from your life entirely.

Letting go of toxic people or situations in your life can be one of the most challenging things to do. It's hard because they can be so close to us, whether they're family members, friends, or colleagues. The good news is that you'll feel lighter and happier by letting them go.

Letting go doesn't mean cutting off all contact with these people forever—it just means choosing to no longer let them affect you or negatively control your life. For example, suppose someone is bringing negativity into your life (spreading rumors about you behind your back). In that case, it might mean ending that relationship entirely if the person isn't willing to change their behavior for the better.

Suppose someone has abused you personally or emotionally in any way. In that case, it's even more important for them to leave your life forever because this type of abuse will always prevent positive growth from happening within yourself as well as other areas in which this person might still have some influence over what goes on around them (family reunions, etc.).

6. Give back whenever possible to make your community a better place to live, work, and grow up in.

Volunteer for charity or community service. It's not just about giving money (though that is important too), but being active with your time and effort as well. You should also consider donating items if you can't volunteer some of your time—the American Red Cross has a list of things they need on their website, but think about what those in need might be lacking personally instead of just focusing on the most obvious items like food or clothing. You may have an item collecting dust around the house that could be extremely helpful or bring joy to someone else's life!

Take care of your neighbors by keeping an eye out for them when they're sick or having trouble maintaining their homes; it could save lives while also building stronger bonds between neighbors who may not know each other otherwise!

7. Put intentional effort into changing negative habits 

This means changing your behavior rather than just thinking and talking about it. You don't need to fix everything all at once—just one step at a time will get you on the right track.Change is possible because you have the power to choose what you do with your time and energy each day, but it won't happen unless you're intentional about how you use those resources. Think of this as "being in charge of your own life." It's not something anyone else can do for you (even if they want to). And there are no shortcuts through this process: every person who has made positive changes did so by facing their weaknesses head-on and making small shifts in their daily lifestyle until they had a new ritual or way of being that worked for them instead of against them!

Now it's up to you. Choose your intentions

We hope this guide has provided you with helpful tips for getting rid of bad habits and developing good rituals. If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that the only way to change your life is to put in the hard work necessary to make it happen! So whether you're looking to get fit or just start waking up earlier each morning, keep these tips in mind as they'll help you along your journey towards a more intentional lifestyle


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The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Information is shared for educational purposes only. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Our content may include products that have been independently chosen and recommended by Dr. Monisha Bhanote and our editors. We may earn a small commission if you purchase something mentioned in this article.


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by Dr. Monisha Bhanote

✅ EVIDENCE-INFORMED REVIEWED ARTICLE

About the Author

Monisha Bhanote, MD, FCAP, ABOIM, is one of the few quintuple board-certified physicians in the nation. She combines ancient wisdom with mind-body science to naturally bio-hack the human body through her expertise as a cytopathologist, functional culinary medicine specialist, and integrative lifestyle medicine doctor. Known as the Wellbeing Doctor, Dr. Bhanote has diagnosed over one million cancer cases, provides health programs at DrBhanote.com, and leads wellness workshops and retreats worldwide. Featured in Shape, Reader’s Digest, and Martha Stewart Living, Dr. Bhanote serves on several clinical advisory boards and is a go-to health and wellness expert for Healthline, Psych Central, and Medical News Today.

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