Everyone has certain bad habits they’re not proud of, and they’d be lying if they said they didn’t. Mindfulness can allow you to break the pattern, however. Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of your thoughts, body, and surroundings. It’s an effective way to focus your mind and exercise self-control. Meditation is an important part of mindfulness which also has many proven benefits. Whichever bad habit you’re trying to kick, here are five ways mindfulness can help.

Get to the root of the problem

First things first, you’ve got to get to the root of bad habits. Often bad habits are the result of some kind of stress causing you to overindulge. Be mindful and think about the real reasons behind your habits. Can you think of any triggers that could be the cause? If you can get to the root of the problem it will be much easier to understand and control your habits.

Set yourself realistic goals

It’s vital to set realistic goals that you can actually achieve. If you try to break too many bad habits at once, this could be very challenging. You’re not a superhuman and it’s important to always practice self-care and not be too hard on yourself. A good way to balance it out is by setting some more positive goals, such as starting a new hobby. This will also help to distract you from indulging in your bad habits as often.

Regular meditation

Mediation is an essential part of mindfulness and it’s very useful. There are plenty of meditation benefits for self-control and it’s also used to treat many other issues. If you’re struggling to keep up with your better habits, distract yourself by meditating. This will have a calming effect and could help to keep certain cravings at bay. Meditation is also a good way to deal with stress and other negative emotions.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

Mindfulness has nothing to do with punishment and everything to do with positivity. If you opt for an e-cigarette or an extra treat once in a while don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s important to be kind to yourself and focus on your positive achievements. This will automatically help you to have more confidence and be happier in general. Taking the time to meditate allows you to clear your mind of clogging thoughts as well.

Be honest with yourself and others

If you want to inspire others to live a more healthy life you need to be honest with them, and yourself. Mindfulness is about being aware and true to yourself. Don’t live in denial and try writing down your bad habits or sharing them with a friend. You’ll probably find you have a lot of them in common and can help each other out. It’s important to change your habits for yourself and not for others, however, the motivation needs to come from within. Take a moment to practice mindful meditation every day, and discover your inner control.