What Are Unwanted Habits (also called Bad Habits)?

Unwanted habits, also referred to as “bad habits”, are undesirable thought, emotion, or behavior patterns that often feel beyond one’s control.

There are countless unwanted habits people struggle with. Common thought- and emotion-related habits are worry, rumination, comparison, moods, anxiety, jealousy, and insecurity. Common behavioral-habits are things like hoarding, gambling, overspending, over-working, over using technology, and nail biting. Common substance-related habits are over using alcohol, smoking, drugs, and overeating or binge eating.

While there is no single definition of a bad habit, if you find yourself engaging in unwanted thoughts or behaviors, with overwhelming urges to act on these habits or a feeling of the thought or behavior being outside your control, you may have an unwanted habit.

What You Might Be Experiencing – Features of Bad Habits

    • Overwhelming urges to engage in one’s habit
    • Racing thoughts
    • Irritability or low mood
    • Hopelessness
    • Fatigue
    • Secretive behavior
    • Guilt or shame
Unwanted habits

What You Might Be Experiencing – Features of Bad Habits

    • Overwhelming urges to engage in one’s habit
    • Racing thoughts
    • Irritability or low mood
    • Hopelessness
    • Fatigue
    • Secretive behavior
    • Guilt or shame

You Are Not Alone

Almost everyone has had one or more bad habits at some point in their life. People of all cultures and demographic backgrounds have unwanted habits; both men and women struggle with habits, as do people of all ages, from childhood through adulthood.

Many people who struggle with unwanted habits feel out of control. They would like to change their bad habits, but are rarely successful in doing so. They typically don’t feel as if they are choosing to do their habit; they feel almost hijacked, as if they are driven to act on their habit. Habits can lead to low mood, guilt, regret, and feelings of hopelessness.

You are not alone
Unwanted Habits

What Can I Do About It? – How to Change Bad Habits

Traditional treatment for unwanted habits varies greatly, depending on the particular habit. Common bad habits are treated with psychotherapy, support groups, and in some cases, medication. However, traditional treatment for unwanted habits is not nearly as effective as we’d wish it to be

Thankfully, there are newer, less traditional approaches that are incredibly effective. The No-Willpower Approach that I outline in my bestselling book, The Little Book of Big Change: The No-Willpower Approach to Breaking Any Habit has helped countless people find lasting freedom from a wide range of bad habits.

The No-Willpower Approach is an insight-based approach that helps you see yourself and your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a radically new way.

Habits Are Changeable

Although nearly everyone has struggled with one or more habits at times, habits are very changeable. You do not need to “cope” with, or “manage” habits long-term. No matter how long or how often you’ve been engaged in your habit, there is enormous hope for complete freedom.

Habits are not about a lack of willpower. They are not flaws or signs of weakness; they are about a few simple misunderstandings about how our thoughts, feelings, and habits truly work.

Freedom comes from the inside-out, from seeing yourself, your thoughts and feelings, and your habit in a brand new way.

Habits Are Changeable

Hi, I’m Amy

I struggled with several habits including binge eating, smoking, and anxiety for most of my life. I was told by many well-meaning professionals that I would likely struggle with this forever; that I could learn to cope, but that this habit might always come back when I was feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth today. I have been completely free of binge eating for 10 years and anxiety and smoking for much longer, with no effort or coping necessary. In that time, I’ve shared what helped me find freedom with people all over the world in my books, videos, online school, and my podcast, Changeable.

I’ve trained over 70 coaches to be experts in the no-willpower paradigm through my Change Coach Training Program. I’ve been a regularly featured expert on The Steve Harvey Show and Oprah.com, as well as in The Wall Street Journal and Self magazine.

Dr Amy Johnson

REAL PEOPLE, REAL CHANGE


Samantha

Samantha

“Before The Little School of Big Change, I was so caught up in the cycle of my chronic illness. I over-thought situations and interactions. I truly believed that external factors determined my feelings.

After finding Amy and her school, I feel a sense of lightness and realize my own thinking was responsible for my feelings. I was no longer scared of my feelings as I knew they would pass. I no longer find myself scrambling when a problem arises and I’m more aware of my wisdom.”


Dido

Dido

“Before The Little School of Big Change, I struggled with eating disorders. All of them! They had run my life for more than 10 years and as a result, I lacked any peace in myself and any form of self esteem. I felt like I was always going to want to be someone else. Living felt too hard.

After coming across Amy, I instantly felt that there was something different, some possibility that life could be better. After feeling like I’d tried everything and spent years of my life trying to work out how to fix myself, there was hope. Then I joined The Little School of Big Change and gained so much from it, way more than just help with eating disorders. Slowly, I’ve left behind old habits and everyday I see more about beliefs, what is really going on, and how exciting life is!! It’s a complete change. Thank you Amy, for everything!


William

William

“Before The Little School of Big Change, my tendency was to worry about what others think of me. This caused me to be self conscious and not contribute when my input would have been worthwhile. I didn’t like “playing small”.

Since doing Amy’s work, I feel much more confident and really know my sense of well-being and self-worth. I know “who I am” and how the mind works, and I look forward to the unfolding of the future. I approach each day as a new moment and am excited to realize how much I now actually love myself and others. I finally feel and know I am “home”… within myself!”

What Can I Do To Change My Unwanted Habit?

Free unwanted habits webinar
  • Presents a new paradigm for freedom from unwanted habits
  • Shares why willpower rarely leads to lasting change
  • 90 minutes long

WATCH NOW

No-Willpower Approach Habits Course

Come to see any habit in a completely new way

  • Digital course – go at your own pace
  • This is a perfect course for those struggling with any habit
  • Learn the brain-based reason we have habits, and how they are illustrations of our innate wisdom
  • Roughly 90 minutes of video content

SIGN ME UP

A smiling man studying at a laptop
  • LSBC Self-Study – go through Dr. Amy’s flagship course at your own pace
  • 19 video lessons that bring this paradigm to life
  • 1000s of students have found freedom, including unwanted habits
  • Option to upgrade to guided course

LEARN MORE

The Little School of Big Change

About The Little School of Big Change

My bestselling book, The Little Book of Big Change, and my online school, The Little School of Big Change, have helped tens of thousands of people in 50+ countries find their own freedom from binge eating and other habits without therapy, revisiting the past, medication, or willpower.

The Little School of Big Change is a highly supportive 6-week course that shares a groundbreaking new paradigm in mental health that has helped hundreds of thousands of people around the world to tap into their natural health and resilience.

The school helps you see yourself and your psychology in a radically new way—a way that leads to freedom from what holds you back.