Does Replacing Bad Habits with Good Habits Work?

Bad habits are a frustrating and persistent part of life. As an adult they can hold you back from reaching your goals and lead to negative consequences in your personal and professional life. As a child they can negatively impact growth and development as well as frustrate Dads and Mums (as well as peers and teachers).

Many people try to replace bad habits with good habits as a solution, but does this approach actually work? Let’s explore the effectiveness of this question and explain the importance of addressing the root cause of the bad habit.

One factor in the success of replacing bad habits with good habits is understanding what is driving the bad habit. Whether or not you’re aware of it, bad habits often serve a specific purpose or fulfill a need.

The idea is that the bad habit is performed to relieve stress, or boredom, or even to accomplish a dopamine hit or to gain something that you want.

Some examples for children include:

Leaving you cereal bowl on the table – getting to my next task (often play) faster

Picking the string out of the carpet strand by strand – boredom or anxiety

Hitting a sibling each time they walk past – dopamine hit from the loud sound/attention

Whining every time they hear "NO" – gain the desired response

But it’s a problem because the bad habit tends to make the original problem worse, so you might focus on the bad habit and try and just stop it without understanding the root cause. If you do this, it may cause you to implement the wrong good habit to replace the bad habit, making it seem like replacing bad habits does not work.

The problem is that if you don't address the underlying issue causing the bad habit, you will continue to have the trigger for the habit. Due to this, you may struggle to maintain the good habit because it’s not fulfilling the original need that the bad habit alleviates.

To uncover what is causing your or your child’s bad habit, ask yourself some questions:

· What need or desire is the bad habit fulfilling?

· What emotions or feelings are experienced before, during, and after the bad habit?

· What situations or environments trigger the bad habit?

· What are the consequences or costs of the bad habit?

Answering these questions offers insight into the root cause of the bad habit and helps you identify potential solutions.

Replacing bad habits with good ones is challenging. But breaking free from negative patterns and creating lasting change in your or your child’s life is possible. Having said that, you must understand the root cause of your bad habit and find effective strategies to address it. Doing so will set you up for success in adopting healthy, positive habits to replace bad ones.

Remember to be patient with yourself and your child, and don't get discouraged if you encounter setbacks.

You can access a FREE copy of my Step-by-Step Guide to creating healthy habits with your children here.

#1 Fool-Proof Method To Teach Your Children Healthy Habits Every Time - Guaranteed!