Illustration: Clayton Junior
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When you understand how your vices help you, you'll have a
better shot at kicking them to the curb.
Admit it: You drink at least two cans of Diet Coke a day. Or like 28
percent of Americans, you hit the drive-through once a week. Or like
roughly 16 percent of women, you still smoke. You know you
shouldn't, but the real reason you can't stop yourself may be
because you haven't admitted that these "bad" habits are
actually solutions instead of problems, says executive coach Deborah
Grayson Riegel, author of
Oy Vey! Isn't a
Strategy: 25 Solutions for Personal and Professional Success.
Don't think your habit could possibly be doing you any favors?
Grayson Riegel begs to differ: Diet Coke provides energy when
you're tired; fast food saves time when you're too
overscheduled to plan, prepare, and cook a meal; cigarettes give you
a feeling of belonging to a community, a me-time break from work or
a sense of rebelliousness. Once you've identified the problem
your vice is solving, give yourself some credit: There's no
question that you have the power to troubleshoot your own problems.
Then ask yourself, "What would I be capable of if I used my
conscious mind to develop a new, healthier strategy?"
"You'll be far more successful if you can replace the
original action with something that gets you the same reward,"
says Alexandra Jamieson, holistic health counselor and author of
Women, Food, and Desire:
Embrace Your Cravings, Make Peace with Food, Reclaim Your
Body. "Try transforming a habit by substituting something
else enjoyable: If ice cream is your go-to comfort food, try taking a
bath with a few drops of grapefruit essential oil, which is still
sensory," says Jamieson. "If you'd normally swing by the
drive-through after a bad day at work, try stopping at a stationery
store if that's your thing and buy a cute card. You still have
the problem of wanting to feel comforted, but now you have solutions
in place that aren't bad for you, making them guilt-free and far
more sustainable."
— Sarah Z. Wexler
More: [LINK HERE] 3 Myths That Keep You From Reaching Your
Goals
