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By Karen riCe | you at your Best This is the year. The year you break that bad habit once and for all. (Really this time!) In a quest for personal growth, eliminating a bad habit or two is usually high on the list of New Year's resolutions. Before you get too down on yourself, it's good to know that habits are more than just weak will. They are actually one of the ways in which the brain establishes patterns for neurons to follow. And that's not always a bad thing. Habits help people work on autopilot some of the time, which can save time and energy, according to Medium.com. Good habits, like showing up to work on time, are worth maintaining. But the bad ones are a different story. Smoking, unhealthy eating and sedentary lifestyles can have serious negative health consequences. Eliminating them can lengthen your lifespan and improve your day-to-day energy and well-being. If you're trying to ditch certain behaviors once and for all, perseverance is key. Here are some tips to help you beat those pesky habits. • Recognize the habit. Be honest with yourself, but be kind to yourself as well. Nobody's perfect, and we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Looking a bad habit in the eye and saying "I see you" is the first step toward breaking it. • Break the pattern by offering a new one. As noted, when a habit is established, neurons form a pattern. Establishing a new, better habit, rather than just trying to quit the bad habit cold turkey, can be an effective way to help the brain adjust to a new pattern, advises neuroscientist Elliot Berkman. He says the brain finds it easier to do something new than to simply stop doing something it's accustomed to. So if you're a nail-biter, do something else with your hands, like play a musical instrument, to create a new pattern. • Penalize yourself within reason. Making a habit painful in one way or another may make it easier to quit. Penalizing yourself by paying a dollar each time you eat a donut, or extending a workout for an extra 30 minutes for each one you miss are some examples of simple punishments. • Reward yourself for beating habits. Rewards for kicking bad habits can be just as effective as penalizing bad behavior. Reward yourself with something unusual and meaningful after you kick a bad habit. • Learn your triggers and avoid them. The self-improvement blog Pick the Brain indicates that every bad habit has a cue that can trigger it. Triggers fall into these categories: location, time, emotional state, other people, and an immediately preceding action. By learning your triggers, you can work to avoid them. If eating junk food comes on the tails of a stressful commute, try a different way home. If you smoke when you're around a particular person, take a break from hanging out with this person. Breaking bad habits is challenging, but it can happen with focus and dedication. Make this the year you do it! Break a bad habit: this is the year! SATURdAY, dEcEmBER 28, 2019 | JAnUARY - RESOlUTiOnS nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST | YOU AT YOUR BEST | 5 MOVING SHOULD LEAVE YOU OVERJOYED NOT OVERWHELMED • Home Sale & Support • Sorting & Organizing Belongings • Packing & Moving Coordination • Organizing Belongings • Liquidation of Assets For more information visit: www.lighthousegroupnwa.com 479-270-4007 MOVING SHOULD LEAVE YOU OVERJOYED NOT OVERWHELMED • Home Sale & Support • Sorting & Organizing Belongings • Packing & Moving Coordination • Liquidation of Assets MOVING SHOULD LEAVE YOU OVERJOYED NOT OVERWHELMED • Home Sale & Support • Sorting & Organizing Belongings • Packing & Moving Coordination • Organizing Belongings • Liquidation of Assets For more information visit: www.lighthousegroupnwa.com 479-270-4007 MOVING SHOULD LEAVE YOU OVERJOYED NOT OVERWHELMED • Home Sale & Support • Sorting & Organizing Belongings • Packing & Moving Coordination • Organizing Belongings • Liquidation of Assets For more information visit: www.lighthousegroupnwa.com 479-270-4007 For more information visit www.lighthousegroupnwa.com, or call 479-270-4007 3105 NE 11th StrEEt, #5 • BENtoNvillE, ArkANSAS sponsor Content The truth. It's what Northwest Arkansas seniors want concerning late-in-life issues like housing, reverse mortgages, 55+ senior living options, selling a house, aging in place and more. These topics, along with others, will be presented in the upcoming Senior Smart Talk seminars (formerly know as Senior Truth Series). These 90-minute presentations will begin in January 2020 at Embassy Suites in Rogers, a new location with easy access for all of Northwest Arkansas. Adults 55+, seniors, and caregivers are invited to attend. This series will be moderated by Alison Van Hecke, a leading authority on issues related to downsizing, late-life relocation and (55+) senior living solutions in Northwest Arkansas. As a Certified Senior Housing Professional, Alison has made it her mission to educate and guide both consumers and professionals on best practices related to post-retirement living. "Seniors and families realize that the market is good right now in Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas. Many people are preparing to sell current homes and move into something more manageable," said Van Hecke. "Many seniors have no idea what is available to them, how much it will cost, or the process for making all the pieces fit together. We want to give them helpful information, introduce them to trusted local resources, and answer their questions. We want them to feel empowered when the time comes to make a major life decision." Senior Smart debuts with "Let's Talk: The Art of Downsizing" on January 9, 2020 followed by "Let's Talk: Enjoying Life to the Fullest on a Fixed Income" on February 20, 2020. There is no cost to attend for those age 55 or older. Registration for professionals is $25. Reservations can be made online at www.senior-smart-talk.com or by calling 479- 717-7710. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Free Senior Smart Talk Seminars provide answers to late-life issues alison Van Hecke, lMsw, CsHp, sres