Here are easy steps you can take to help you get rid of guilty pleasures.
We all have activities we love or foods we crave that we think of as “guilty pleasures”, things that aren’t good for us, or that we feel would embarrass us if anyone else knows about them, but that we enjoy anyway.
However, it is not impossible to overcome a guilty pleasure if you really want to—especially if you are sincere about doing so.
Don’t Give in to Your Guilty Pleasures Instantly
When you think you’re hungry, it does not always mean you actually are, so keep that in mind if food is your guilty pleasure. You probably only feel that way because you make it a habit you instantly go to the fridge or have food delivered once you feel any sign of hunger.
Despite the fact that eating your favorite food whenever you want can be energizing, there are several reasons to break this habit, most notably for health reasons. To get rid of this guilty pleasure, what you must do is not give in to it—at least right away. Of course, this applies to other guilty pleasures as well. Whenever you get the urge to indulge, remember that you don’t need to indulge, and you have the full power to say no to it.
You can make a list of different things you can do at home to make this easier for you. Walking around the house, singing, making a friend call, or mopping the floors are all examples of simple activities that can be done. Put each activity on a strip of paper and store them in a jar or any container.
Choose a strip from the jar whenever your cravings become overwhelming, then engage in your chosen activity. The majority of the time, you’ll discover that temporarily diverting your attention helps the urge pass.
Get Rid of the Things That Trigger Your Guilty Pleasures
Compulsive buying is also one of the common guilty pleasures people now have. Numerous online shopping apps are now available as a result of e-commerce’s growing popularity. They make our lives more convenient, but they also make it simpler for us to make regrettable purchases. There’s nothing wrong about treating yourself with stuff you want like shoes, bags, or clothes.
You earned it, after all, you earned it. There is a thin line between healthy and unhealthy spending habits, so it’s important to stop if you frequently find yourself consistently going over budget.
There are many ways to get over your vice of shopping. The most extreme is deleting your phone’s shopping apps. One of the main factors that drive you to use and ultimately make a purchase from those online shopping apps is seeing them readily available on your device. You won’t be easily triggered into using them by uninstalling them, as it will take you extra steps just to reinstall the app.
Before making a choice, you can also list all the benefits and drawbacks of a product. You can then decide if a purchase is actually necessary. Additionally, you should wait at least another week before making a purchase rather than doing so immediately. You won’t likely enjoy that item as much, preventing you from making a regrettable purchase.
Understand the Consequences of Your Guilty Pleasures
Some guilty pleasures seem harmless, like spending all weekend in pajamas or watching your favorite animated movies as an adult. However, some of them may cause us unnecessary stress or are just not healthy habits to have—such as eating greasy fast food, going to bed late at night, and procrastinating.
You need to be aware of the effects and how they affect your health if you want to stop engaging in such unhealthy guilty pleasures. Take procrastination as an illustration. It’s one of those things you can say you don’t like or are proud of, but you still do it. You might not want to complete a task right away for no particular reason, or you might have another motive entirely.
You will be inspired to give up this vice, though, once you fully comprehend its effects of it. For any guilty pleasure you have, figure out and understand all their possible consequences. Are those repercussions worthwhile? If not, make that your motivation to get rid of whatever guilty pleasure you have.
The Dollar Email Challenge
Take $50 in one-dollar bills from the bank and place some in your wallet and some on your desk. Make a deal with yourself that you won’t check your email other than during designated times and at most twice per day.
Outside of these hours, you are permitted to check your email, but you must first donate $1 each time. So locate your office coworker or go outside and distribute the dollar. This will stop you from checking your email, and it will also give you a fun way to express kindness and generosity to those around you.
Okay, now it’s your turn. Think of a vice you have, then come up with a clever way to look for other ways to satisfy it. Just keep in mind that the more entertaining and fun your solution is, the more likely it is to succeed.
The Most Common Guilty Pleasures
While you may not want to admit you’d sleep until noon on your perfect day, there are thousands of other people out there who feel the same way. There’s no use in muttering around embarrassed by your guilty pleasures because it’s likely most other people enjoy it as well.
The 15 most popular sinful pleasures are listed below.
- putting in a delivery order for food.
- Procrastinating.
- reality television binge-watching
- consuming half a gallon of ice cream.
- snooping around on people’s social media.
- Sleeping in late.
- Scrolling on Tik Tok.
- watching your preferred kid’s movies in adulthood.
- watching cheesy love stories.
- playing a tune that is catchy repeatedly.
- a glass of wine after work on a weekday.
- checking out the most recent celebrity drama.
- humming along to the music as you drive to work.
- Taking selfies.
- YouTube conspiracy videos.
Conclusion: Get Rid of Guilty Pleasures
Though it may not be simple, it is possible to give up guilty pleasures. You can do it and improve your life as long as you’re committed to quitting an undesirable habit. Just keep in mind not to give in to your vices easily, get rid of things that might cause them, and be aware of their effects so you can get rid of them quickly and successfully.
The real problem with Guilty Pleasures is that they’re guilty. You hide your behavior from your friends, family, and even yourself because of the guilt, which makes you feel bad about yourself. You shouldn’t feel guilty about your guilty pleasures, though, for the most part.