9 Really Simple Tip for Removing Bad Habits

One of the best ways I’ve found to break a bad habit is to make it harder to reach.

Here’s what happened to me. After I started blogging, I got stuck in the habit of checking my traffic and income numbers several times a day.

A lot of bloggers do this. We all want to see growth, so we keep refreshing our stats over and over. But this constant checking breaks focus, wastes time, and usually leaves us feeling let down. Even if a site is growing, it takes time. Looking too often only creates disappointment, doubt, and sometimes the urge to quit.

So I asked myself what I could change. My answer was simple—I deleted the bookmarks to my stats page.

You can use the same trick for anything you find yourself addicted to. Maybe it’s a forum, a blog that updates all the time, or a game.

Without shortcuts, you’ll have to type the address or search for it every time. If it’s a game, you’ll need to open the folder where it’s installed. That small extra step makes the habit much harder to feed.

1. Remove Easy Access

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that bad habits survive when they’re always within reach.
When I first started blogging, I couldn’t stop checking my traffic and income reports.
I would open them several times a day, hoping for good news.
Most of the time, it only distracted me, slowed my work, and left me feeling disappointed.
So I deleted the bookmarks.
That one action forced me to take an extra step if I really wanted to check.
And more often than not, the urge faded before I even got there.
Making something less convenient can make a huge difference.

2. Replace, Don’t Just Remove

I noticed that when I tried to quit a habit cold turkey, I often replaced it with something just as bad.
The trick wasn’t only removing the habit—it was replacing it with something better.
For example, instead of scrolling on my phone first thing in the morning, I started reading a short article or writing down one goal for the day.
It gave me the same sense of “doing something,” but without draining my energy.
If you take something out of your life, give yourself a healthier option to put in its place.

3. Start Small and Build

I used to think I had to change everything at once.
That always backfired.
The truth is, small steps stick longer.
When I wanted to cut down on junk food, I didn’t throw everything out of the house overnight.
I simply stopped buying soda for a few weeks.
Then I moved on to chips.
Over time, the craving faded.
You don’t have to fix everything in one day.
You just need to prove to yourself that you can make one small change, and the rest will follow more easily.

4. Notice Your Triggers

Every bad habit has a trigger.
Maybe it’s boredom, stress, or even certain people.
I realized I always checked social media when I was stuck on a hard part of writing.
It wasn’t about wanting to scroll—it was about avoiding the work.
Once I saw the trigger, I could pause and ask myself, “Am I really bored, or am I just avoiding this task?”
That question gave me the space to make a different choice.
The more you pay attention, the more you notice the moments that lead to the habit.

5. Change Your Environment

Your surroundings shape your actions more than you realize.
When I kept candy on my desk, I ate it constantly.
When I moved it to a high cupboard, I forgot it was even there.
The same goes for digital habits.
If I kept my phone next to me while I worked, I reached for it every few minutes.
So now, I leave it in another room during focused work time.
A small change in your environment can make a habit harder to start, which means you’re less likely to fall into it.

6. Set Simple Rules

Rules sound strict, but they can actually make life easier.
I gave myself one rule: no checking email before 10 a.m.
At first, it felt uncomfortable.
But after a while, it became automatic.
The rule took away the decision-making.
I didn’t have to ask myself, “Should I check now?”
The answer was already decided.
If you make a clear, simple rule for yourself, you take away the constant battle in your head.
The fewer choices you have to make, the easier it is to stay on track.

7. Track Your Wins

Bad habits make you feel stuck.
That’s why it helps to see proof that you’re making progress.
I started tracking small wins, like “Didn’t check stats today” or “Skipped soda at lunch.”
Seeing those checkmarks build up gave me motivation to keep going.
It reminded me that change was happening, even if it felt slow.
You don’t need a fancy app.
A notebook, a calendar, or even a simple list works fine.
What matters is giving yourself visible proof that you’re moving forward.

8. Ask for Support

Breaking habits feels easier when you don’t do it alone.
I once told a friend I was trying to stop checking my phone late at night.
She would ask me how I did the next day.
That little bit of accountability kept me honest.
Sometimes just knowing that someone else cares makes you want to push harder.
It doesn’t have to be a big group or a formal system.
One supportive person can make a huge difference.

9. Be Patient with Yourself

This one is hard but important.
I used to think messing up once meant I had failed.
If I broke my streak, I would give up completely.
Over time, I realized that slip-ups are normal.
What matters is getting back on track quickly.
A bad day doesn’t erase all your progress.
Every step forward still counts.
The process takes time, and that’s okay.
Being kind to yourself makes it easier to keep going.