Habits are hard to break....
Most experts say it takes 21 days to break a habit. That seems like such a short time to rid yourself of a behavior you've been practicing for years. I've tried umpteen times to quit smoking, for example, and have actually crossed the 21 day threshold a couple of times, but inevitably I slink back to the disgusting things after (or during) a night of drinking and debauchery.
This week I've decided to tackle the habit of kitchen-stalking. I didn't even really notice what I was doing until yesterday, but every hour or so I feel this compulsion to wander through the kitchen. Often I open the fridge door and scope out its contents (although since I live alone I don't know why I think anything new will just appear out of thin air). Yesterday I must have done the "circuit" through my kitchen at least 6 times.
When I'm actually physically hungry, I don't "stalk" my kitchen. I am able to very quickly make a choice, put something together, and enjoy relatively simple meals. The wandering comes when I'm not even hungry but rather bored and edgy. I don't know what I need, I just know I need something. These unplanned forays into the danger zone usually result in ice cream, granola, cookies, chips...you name the evil food, I've consumed it.
So this week, I've committed to being mindful about where I am, where I'm going, and what is motivating me. I've already caught myself wandering toward the kitchen 3 times between meals today, and forced myself to turn around. It's like the feeling you get when you inadvertently on purpose check your ex's facebook page to see what he/she is up to. You know you shouldn't, you know it's not positive behavior but for some reason you just can't help yourself....until that one time when you shake your head and think, "what am I really doing here? What am I getting out of this?"
That's the time to call a friend, go for a walk, read a book, enjoy the sunshine...redefine what "needing something" means.
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