One of the simplest ways to change is to replace your 'bad' habits with 'good' ones.

A 'bad' habit is one that does not serve your best interests. You find yourself doing something regularly without thinking about the harm it might be doing you and those you care about. When you find that some of the things you are doing are causing concern, then you have to accept that you are choosing to hang on to that habit. You are creating your own future.

With a bit of commitment, consistency and patience you can unlearn a damaging habit by replacing it with a good one.

It's a simple fact - negative habits breed negative consequences. The experts tell us it can take a minimum of 21 days to form a new habit. Old habits can take a bit longer to break as more effort may be needed.

When you think about it, almost everthing you do in the course of a day is some kind of habitual behaviour, what you eat, the way you go to work, how you dress, how you read the newspaper. If you are not happy, then the place to look is at your habits.

Which ones are generating negative energy? Doing something positive to change them can be challenging. Be realistic, get focused and don't take on too much change at once.

So, how should you go about developing new habits?

1. Be honest with yourself and seek feedback from others to focus on a habit that you accept needs to be changed. This will jump start the process and give you the support you may need to stick at it. Consider the long term effects if you don't change.

2. Clearly define the new habit you want to develop and list the rewards or benefits of achieving it. The more vividly the better.

3. Define three steps you will need to take to make your new habit a reality. Get focused, be specific and draw up a plan.

It's simple to say, but obviously more difficult to do. Why not give it a go. Whatever you lose you stand to gain more in its place.

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