They say old habits die hard. Well, breaking from “old you” is often necessary to achieve your highest potential, to live a fuller and more robust life. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just flick a switch and never revert to these habits that serve us no good?

If you are looking to shed habits that tend to hold you back from achieving full potential, here are some few suggestions you might want to try.

Look for a good habit to fill the gap

Start off by creating a good-for-you practice or habit that’ll fall right in place of the old one. If you are looking to break away from an old habit, continuing with life, as usual, is a big no-no. You need something helpful to fill in the huge gap; otherwise, you will revert to your old ways. By putting some effort in creating the new habit, you might find the old one fading into oblivion without much hassle.

Start with baby steps

Take some time to consider the steps you need to take to achieve your newfound habit. If it’s something that seems somewhat “impossible,” you may want to slice it down into manageable bits. This way, you can focus on moving in the right direction rather than getting usurped by the whole thing.

Understand what trigger your old habits

Now that you are ready to change, it’s high time to evaluate what actually takes you back to your old ways. Ask yourself tough questions. We often tend to relapse to undesirable habits because the trigger is always unchanged. Is it your friends? It helps to be aware of these triggers so you can keep them at bay.

Start the Change Immediately

Here’s the thing: the best time to give up old habits was years ago, but the next best time is now. You will be surprised how easy it is to come up with myriad excuses not to act right away. Don’t fall prey to these excuses; just do it right now! If you have been shopping impulsively, for instance; start off by cutting your unnecessary credit cards.

Recommit yourself whenever you falter

Don’t worry if you revert to old ways; the best of us do. The trick is to recommit to your new habits immediately this happens. There is simply no reason to bear the brunt of beating over it.

Make it enjoyable

Breaking old habits shouldn’t be boring. In fact, you shouldn’t beat yourself over it. Get creative about it; perhaps add a social touch to it. You can invite your pals or family to join you; it’ll make the whole process a breeze.