Break That Bad Habit— For Good

Can’t shake the stress eating? Always fall into a Facebook hole at bedtime? We’ll show you how to clean up your routine once and for all.

- Jessica Migala

We all have at least one not-so great behavior we’ve tried (and tried and tried) to kick: Sucking down super-sweet coffee drinks every morning. Cuddling up to Netflix until “yikes!” o’clock every night. No, you’re not smoking a pack a day (um, you’re not, right?), but these moves still take a toll on your health. This year, it’s time to make a change. You told us your top seven most obstinate bad habits—and we tapped leading experts to find out how you can finally transform your ways. Here’s to a healthier, happier, stronger year ahead. Cheers! (With a refreshing glass of H2O, of course.)

WHY YOU CAN’T SHAKE IT It’s called happy hour for a reason: “Alcohol releases pleasure chemicals, like endorphins and dopamine. When you get that feeling, you want a little more, and more—and that’s why you might ask for another round,” says psychologist Michael Levy, PhD, director of substance use services at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Mass.

THE GOAL While enjoying two or three drinks with friends is OK on occasion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says women should generally aim to have one drink a day at most (seven per week). Regularly going above that can increase your risk of health problems, such as certain cancers and high blood pressure. (If you’re experiencing negative consequences because of your drinking, no matter how much you consume, it may be a problem. Reach out to your doctor as the first step toward getting help.)

CHANGE THE HABIT

TAKE DAYS OFF It’s a good idea to order a mocktail a couple of days a week. “This helps reduce your tolerance, so on days you do drink, one feels like enough,” says Levy.