Episode 26 – Deconstructing Bad Habits

In this episode of the ‘Shift Happens’ podcast, hosts Robin McIntire and Monique Eckes discuss deconstructing ‘bad’ habits to make the topic easier to talk about. They emphasize normalizing such behaviors to reduce self-judgment and guilt (hence the reason they want you to call habits ‘unwanted’ instead of ‘bad’) for a more helpful attitude towards change.

Common unwanted habits like overeating, overdrinking, and excessive screen time are explored. The idea of separating self-worth from bad habits and aligning behaviors with personal values is a way to soften the path to more successful and healthier habits.

To highlight that sometimes these unwanted habits can spiral into larger issues if not addressed, Robin shares personal stories about how her bulimia started, and later, why she chose to become a non-drinker.

A free worksheet is introduced to help listeners understand and address their unwanted habits by identifying positive associations and creating something that won’t require white-knuckling in order to change a bad habit.

The episode concludes with an action-oriented one-liner encouraging listeners to look at themselves with compassion and journal about their experiences to facilitate change.

00:29 Understanding Bad Habits
01:19 Rebranding Bad Habits
01:50 Normalizing Human Behaviors
03:21 Common Bad Habits
05:33 The Impact of Bad Habits on Energy
08:08 The Spiral of Bad Habits
08:57 The Secret to Deconstructing Bad Habits
13:01 Personal Struggles and Realizations
13:44 Alcohol and Aligning with Values
15:00 Understanding and Addressing Bad Habits
16:14 The Spiral of Bad Habits
17:39 Normalizing and Accepting Human Imperfections
19:45 Practical Steps to Break Unwanted Habits
22:09 Final Thoughts and Encouragement