We may not want to admit it but all of us have one, two or more bad habits that we'd like to get rid of once and for all. There is a Yiddish proverb that says, "bad habits are easier to abandon today rather than tomorrow." Ok, so, how do we get rid of that bad habit? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Tell your friends and family. If you tell people around you that you will stop smoking or start working out three times a week then they will check up on you and you will feel a social pressure to keep up with your promise now that it is let out into the world. I would recommend only telling people who you think will support you or be neutral. Negative people make things so much more difficult.

2. Make it painful to not go through with it. This may not be for everyone but you could consider making a promise to someone. For example, if you stray off the path to better health by having french fries or a cigarette then you will give your friend 1, 5 or 10 dollars. The point is to add some possible pain to keep yourself in check on days when you may feel a bit tempted.

3. Listen to those who have gone where you want to go. Do not listen to people who have no practical or real idea about what your challenge entails. It is important to get the best advice that actually works in real life. Seek it out in people around you, in the best books on the topic (check for the number of stars and read reviews on a site like amazon.com) and on blogs and forums that seem reliable.

4. Avoid temptations. Know what usually triggers your bad habit: places where you are likely to spend too much money; things in your cupboard that will not help you to get healthier and you should not have at home at all; and people that drag you down and back into your old ways.

5. Replace it. If you stop doing one thing then it can leave a vacuum in your life. It’s easier to not relapse if you replace that space with a new habit. If you had chips and candy at home to snack on then have fruits and nuts to snack on when you feel the cravings. If you stopped checking social media and the internet for many hours each evening then replace that habit and space with reading more books or joining a club, sport or evening class.

6. Don’t remove more than one habit at a time. It may seem like a good idea to overhaul your life all at once. When regular life, stress and lack of energy interfere it usually leads to failure. Don’t try to be Superman or Wonder Woman. Take it easy and remove one habit at a time to increase the odds of real life success dramatically.

7. If at first you don’t succeed dust yourself off and try again. You will probably not succeed the first time you do it. It can take several tries before the habit is finally removed from your life. You fail and you make mistakes when you make changes and try new things. That’s just life and nothing to feel bad about or see as a reason to give up all together.

8. What will this lead to in 5 and 10 years? See your future self vividly in your mind. Where are you going? Are you heading towards massive debt, a heart attack, serious illness and severe restrictions in your future? Do you want go to that place where it is very likely that you will wind up if you don’t make a change? Then see your future self where you have made the positive change. What positive and awesome things has it brought you in 5 years and in 10 years? See it all in your mind. And remind yourself of the positive and negative consequences by writing them down and reviewing them whenever you feel like quitting and going back to your old ways.

Change is never easy. It takes determination, practice, accountability and patience. Confucius once said: "men's natures are alike; it's their habits that separate them." Replacing bad habits with good ones is a life long task and the key to becoming a better you!