Change the path, not just the fight
For years I thought breaking bad habits was about being strong. I told myself “don’t do it, resist” and maybe I could hold out for a day or two. But then I slipped, and the guilt hit hard. I started to believe maybe I was just weak.
But weakness was not the problem. The problem was the way I was fighting. Most habits don’t break because of willpower. They break when you change the path that leads to them.
One simple example from my own life: I used to scroll endlessly on my phone before sleeping. I promised myself to stop, but every night I failed. What finally worked was this—I started charging my phone in the living room, far away from my bed. The path was cut. No phone in my hand meant no temptation. And sleep slowly came back.
Another habit was sugary snacks. I wanted to quit, but telling myself “don’t eat them” never worked. The trick was simpler: I stopped buying them. If they weren’t in the kitchen, I couldn’t reach for them. The habit ended quietly, not because I was stronger, but because the trigger was gone.
Habits are like rivers. They flow where the channel is open. If you want to stop them, don’t keep blocking them with force. Shift the flow. Remove the triggers. Change the environment. Replace the small routine that surrounds them. Suddenly it feels less like a war and more like a choice.
So let me ask you—what’s one habit you’re tired of fighting? Instead of relying on willpower, can you change the path around it? Move the phone, clear the shelf, adjust the routine. Try it for one week and see how different it feels.
Breaking bad habits doesn’t need to feel like punishment. Sometimes all it takes is redesigning the path. I’m still learning this myself. Maybe you can walk this with me.
