You are probably one of the many who starts the year by creating a list of resolutions. You wish and hope for a better year ahead by making a firm decision to break some of your bad habits. These are the habits that keep you from getting that much-needed promotion, from achieving your dream figure, or from getting that much-coveted position.

But we all are aware of the reality that resolutions are likely to be broken. Sometimes, no matter how many self-help books you read or motivational audios you listen, breaking a bad habit is simply hard. Many falls to the lure of succumbing to old toxic ways all too quickly. Sometimes quitting or abandoning your resolutions appear to be the sweeter and easier route to take. But remember the saying that ‘no pain, no gain.’ So before giving up, you may first want to try the simple hacks below:

Recognize the bad behaviors

Bad habits are likely things that you enjoy doing so it may be hard for you to realize how these behaviors are jeopardizing your life. However, the first step in changing a certain behavior is realizing and accepting that you need to let it go because they do more harm than good.

Take small but steady steps

Once you identified the bad habits that are stunting your growth as an individual, it is time to take action! To make the process easier, it is better to take small steps by making slow changes in your habits. For example, If you want to start eating healthier, you may start by reducing soda intake in your diet on your first week. Then for week 2, you may start limiting fatty foods as well. As you go on setting and sticking to small goals, you make the process a lot more doable. At the same time, your confidence to commit to a goal will increase. By taking small but consistent steps, you may one day realize that you have completely erased the bad habit from your lifestyle.

Make a room for failure

Breaking a bad habit is like hitting a high, hard wall so the worst thing you can do is to expect the transition from bad habits to good ones to be easy. You are likely to lose motivation or fail at some point and it is perfectly normal. When you notice your willpower to start a good habit waning, remind yourself that what matters is you do not give up. By making realistic goals, you increase chances of success.

Mind your choice of words

Research has proven that the power of self-affirmation and word-choice will help you say goodbye to old and harmful habits permanently. A 2011 study published by the Journal of Consumer Research reveals the difference of uttering “I don’t” and “I can’t” statements when conditioning good habits. In the said research, one group was asked to use “I don’t “statements while another group used “I can’t” statements to avoid temptations. The study concludes that 8 out of 10 people in the group that used “I don’t” manages to successfully stick to their goals.

Form a support team

Who says you have to do it all by yourself? You can seek the help of the people around you as you try to eliminate a bad habit out of your system. Their support and encouragement may just provide the boost you need to hold on to that resolution.

You probably heard the saying “man is a creature of habit”. The quote emphasizes the importance of fostering good habits in having a more rewarding existence. So do all you can to break free from bad habits to move forward in life and to achieve your full potential.