No matter what their Instagram feed may tell you, nobody is perfect. We all have things in our lives we wish were different, as well as bad habits that we struggle with every single day. It may be that you spend too much time on social media, or have trouble summoning up the motivation to exercise. Maybe you drink more than you should or use smoking as a coping mechanism.

Whatever habits or behaviors you may have, you shouldn’t feel bad about them. We’ve all been there in our own unique ways, and everyone is in this together. The fact that you can acknowledge your flaws and seek to improve yourself is admirable. And however engrained your habit may be, there is no reason why you cannot change and take charge of your health.

To help you on your journey, here are three of the most common bad habits and the steps you can take to beat them.

Inactivity

Exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. A few hours of moderate-intensity activity per week is all it takes to keep your mind and body in good shape. Yet for many people, it can be difficult to get into the habit. Perhaps you have tried in the past to start an exercise routine but found it difficult to keep the momentum going. Or maybe you just haven’t got a clue where to begin.

The best thing you can do is to experiment with different activities and find one that you enjoy doing. When you’re having a good time, exercise will no longer seem like a chore. It will become a meaningful part of your life, much like any other leisure activities you take part in. Consider joining a gym and trialing the various classes on offer, or joining a local sports team or fitness club where the company of other like-minded people will help to keep you on track.

Once you have found something you can enjoy, it’s essential you set yourself fitness goals. These will help to keep you motivated, and less likely to give up after a short period of time. Your goals will completely depend on what you want to get out of your exercise routine. You might want to lose a certain amount of weight, or be able to run a 5k. Whatever your target may be, keep track of your progress and enjoy the satisfaction as you get closer and closer to achieving it.

Screen Time

There are very few people out there who wouldn’t claim to spend more time than is healthy staring at their phone. Our devices and apps are intentionally designed to be as addictive as possible, so it’s no wonder you constantly feel the urge to pick it up. But excessive screen time is bad for your health in so many ways. Not only does it waste a huge amount of time you could be spending on more productive activities, but it actually speeds up cognitive decline and can impact on your attention span and memory. Not to mention the increased risk of mental health issues like poor self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

Make a conscious effort to cut down on your screen time. Set time limits on the apps you use most often, and consider deleting those that you can live without. It may help to monitor the amount of time you spend on your phone each day, as the figure might surprise you and shock you into action. Find another wholesome pastime to fill your hours, such as reading or starting a craft project. You will soon realize how much time you were wasting and the things you can achieve by putting down your phone.

Smoking

Smoking is a notoriously difficult habit to quit, but many people have successfully achieved it. Although many people do go completely cold turkey, this is not always the most effective method, particularly if you are a heavy smoker. The best thing to do is to cut down gradually. Lower your daily cigarette count in small increments over time, and you will feel the withdrawal symptoms a lot less. Over time you gradually wean yourself off to complete zero. Another method is to switch your cigarettes for a nicotine patch, or a healthier option like a Delta 8 THC Vape Cartridge. Whatever changes you can make will be a big step in the right direction.

These are just three of the most common bad habits, but there are many more out there. Whatever steps you take towards quitting, be patient with the process and don’t be too hard on yourself if you struggle to achieve your goals. You will get there in the end.