Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
Most women want to be as healthy as possible, but, sometimes, life gets in the way. We’re all trying to get through the day as best we can. This may lead to unhealthy habits that help us cope. There’s no doubt that plenty of curve balls get thrown in the course of our lives. But dealing with these stressful times without unhelpful behaviors like substances, anger, emotional eating, and overworking can be tough. Just know that breaking unhealthful habits is possible.
Unhealthful habits are easily established, but, unfortunately, they can be tough to break. Whatever your habit(s) are, there’s no doubt that they bring some type of comfort during stressful times. I’ve been there and have done some horrible things to my body, mind, and spirit in effort to cope.
Feelings of guilt about dishonoring your health and life is another troblemaker that causes its own set of problems. So, how can you address the core issue and free yourself from habits that make you feel temporarily better? Keep reading to find out:
Do Some Soul Searching
This may sound scary to some of you because it’s not easy work. You will likely need to face some core trauma, pain, and patterns that have been there for a while. I’ve recently done this, and though it was beneficial, it stung like hell. Take baby steps as you work through tough things that come up. If it hurts, you are on the right track to discovering what makes you turn to unhealthful habits. Just being willing to go there makes a huge difference in the process of breaking unhealthful habits.
Reduce Stress Levels
Reducing the stressors in your life sounds farfetched, maybe even impossible. It may also sound like an oversimplified solution that you’ve heard a million times before. But stress is a silent killler of bodies and relationships. It’s also a major trigger of habitual behavior. Addressing the causes of stress and the way you react to stressful situations can be a key to reducing or breaking unhealthful habits
We all know that we should try to reduce our stress levels, but what you need to do is to find a method that works for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to reducing stress levels. Instead, you need to figure out what’s effective for you, and then understand how to apply it to everyday stressful situations. Figuring this out takes trial and error, but once you find what works for you, it will help you to stay calm and minimize your dependence on unhelpful stress-induced habits.
Seek Professional Support
Breaking habits alone may not be the best and most efficient way to go for some women. In this case, it’s helpful to get support from a professional couselor or coach. This is especially true with all-consuming habits like substance abuse. For additive habits, entering a Rehab program might be needed. That way you have support around day and night. Attending a treatment center, with trained staff available to talk about your addiction, enables you to work through the issues at the heart of your addiction. However, for some habits, seeking help from a family member or friend can be enough to make progress toward your goals.
Leave Behind the ‘All or Nothing’ Mindset
Many women have an ‘all or nothing’ mindset that bites them in the ass frequently. This can lead to quickly giving up on goals and good intentions. Recovery from habits is rarely a straightforward, easy process. Giving up too soon is actually an unhealthful habit in itself. If you acknowledge the challenges along the way, and keep pushing through them, you’ll succeed, and the effort will be well worth it.
