We all have habits we’d love to change, whether it’s eating better, drinking less, exercising more, or simply taking better care of ourselves. But if making changes were easy, we wouldn’t find ourselves stuck in the same old cycles. The reality is, our habits aren’t just about willpower or motivation, they’re deeply ingrained in the way our brains work. That’s why breaking them can feel like an uphill battle.
Why Do We Get Stuck in Unhealthy Habits?
Most of our daily habits are shaped by subconscious patterns, built over time through repeated experiences. Many unhealthy behaviours aren’t just choices—they’re ways we’ve learned to cope, comfort, or reward ourselves.
Think about it:
🍫 Craving sugar? That quick dopamine and endorphin hit makes us feel good in the moment.
🍷 Reaching for a drink after work? Alcohol numbs stress and helps us switch off.
🛋️ Struggling to exercise? When exhaustion kicks in, rest feels like the easiest option.
🍫 Craving sugar? That quick dopamine and endorphin hit makes us feel good in the moment.
🍷 Reaching for a drink after work? Alcohol numbs stress and helps us switch off.
🛋️ Struggling to exercise? When exhaustion kicks in, rest feels like the easiest option.
Over time, these behaviours become automatic responses. Without even realizing it, we reinforce them again and again—until they feel like second nature.
So How Do You Start Changing Habits That Feel So Deeply Embedded?
The good news? You have more power than you think. Change isn’t about forcing yourself to be more disciplined, it’s about understanding what’s driving your habits in the first place.
Try this approach:
✔ Pause & Notice. When you feel the urge to fall into an old habit, stop for a second. What are you really needing in that moment; comfort, relaxation, distraction?
✔ Experiment with Alternatives. If stress makes you reach for food or alcohol, could a short walk, journaling, or a breathing exercise help instead?
✔ Celebrate the Small Shifts. Every time you make a positive choice, acknowledge it. The more you reinforce new habits with good feelings, the more natural they become.
With the right mindset, change stops feeling like a struggle and starts to feel freeing. When you understand the emotional and psychological patterns behind your habits, you don’t have to fight against them, you can work with them. And when that shift happens, you no longer need the old habits in the same way.
If you’re ready to explore this process in a way that feels natural and sustainable, I’d love to help.
