Escaping Bad Cycles
In the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is stuck reliving the same day over and over again. This movie is hilarious, and I highly recommend it. However, it might cause some uneasy comparisons for some of us with ADHD. Sometimes, we can get stuck in a negative cycle of the same patterns or behaviors that do not serve us.
Recognize You Are in a Bad Cycle
The old adage “The first step in solving a problem is admitting there is one” is absolutely true. You cannot break out of a bad cycle unless you are aware of its existence. Take some time to identify patterns in your behavior, and see how well or poorly those habits are serving you.
Examine the Problem
Before you dive into solving the problem. Examine it. What is its nature? How does it affect you? What factors lead you to continue this habit? Does this habit hurt anyone besides yourself? How soon does this habit need to be stopped? What piece of the cycle is key to its continued existence? Each bad cycle is unique, and knowing its key features will help you know how to destroy it.
Figure out a Healthy Alternative
Instead of engaging in this self-destructive behavior, what would better serve you? Visualize what you want instead of this bad cycle. Once you know what the end goal will be and what behavior you will use to replace the bad habit, you will have a better idea of how to get out of the cycle. Additionally, knowing what you want to do will help you not do what you don’t want to do. This gives you the option of choosing the healthy behavior.
Make It Fun
Do not make this self-improvement process a grind. Make it something you enjoy doing. Perhaps, make a game out of destroying this bad habit. Anything you can do to increase your desire and interest in replacing a bad habit with a good one will increase your odds of actually doing it.
Team Effort?
Always remember that you do not have to face your problems alone. You can enlist the help of others in overcoming your challenges. When seeking to escape a bad cycle, the aid and support of a friend or someone else you trust will make it much more likely for you to break the habit.
Coaching?
Perhaps, the extra support you need might come in the form of a coach. These are the types of issues on which coaches and their clients work. Reset ADHD is ready, willing, and able to help you if you are looking for a coach. Click here to find out more.