Don’t Make A “Don’t Do…”List
Behavioral psychology will tell you that you can’t just stop a behavior; you have to also find a replacement behavior. For the New Year, make list of the things you want to stop doing, then write down a list of things you will do instead.
Even better, make sure your replacement actions relate closely to what you want to stop doing. For example, if you want to stop biting your nails, spend a few minutes a day manicuring them instead.