 For those of us thinking about our New Year's resolutions, self-improvement is generally the goal. Given the chance to reflect on our past year, we may find that we have gained weight, neglected to exercise, eaten poorly, or just didn't take good care of ourselves. While some of us might resolve to get a better job, save some money for the future, or find our true love, many will simply want to eat better, get in shape, improve our health, and break some of those bad habits. A habit is an acquired behavior that is repeated so many times it becomes an ingrained, unconscious action. Habits can be good or bad depending on how they affect your life and those around you. All bad habits are difficult but not impossible to eliminate. A combination of strategies is often needed to be successful in overcoming undesirable behaviors. Recognition is the first step on the road to good intentions. You will need patience and persistence as breaking a habit can take anywhere from two weeks to eight months, with an average being about 66 days. Commit to change. Establish a plan to get where you want to be. Identify the triggers that make it easy to fall back. Constant awareness is necessary if you want to block your usual actions and reach your personal goals. For some, this may mean changing the environment to avoid situations that can trigger bad habits. Having a friend or a loved one to support and share your goals provides both motivation and accountability. Essentially, a bad habit cannot simply be broken but must be replaced with a good habit. We are most likely to give in to old habits when we're tired, hungry, bored, or sad. But don't be too hard on yourself if you do slip up. And remember, changes take time and effort so don't judge yourself, feel guilty, or stop trying. In fact, you may fail several times before you succeed. To help you stay on track, reward yourself for any changes you are able to make, no matter their size and keep resetting your goals as you reach them. For support to help break your bad habits, please visit professionalsupplementcenter.com or call us at 888-245-5000.