How to Rid Yourself of Excuses

The best way to rid your self of excuses is to stop making them. Stop the habit in its tracks. Although, this is easier said than done. Changing behaviour is a long and tedious process: Success depends on an individual's willpower and how much effort they are going to put into changing. Ridding yourself of excuses is possible however, if you take these simple steps to decrease the frequency.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask the questions. Identify the problem by asking yourself when and where you are making excuses. Does it depend on who you are talking to? Do you only make excuses when you are at work? The answers to these questions will give you insight to why you make excuses in the first place and when it occurs.

• 2

  Rubber bands are cheap to buy and come in a range of colors.

  Sound the alarm. Find a way to alert yourself when you are making excuses. Affix a note to every place that you frequent in your home and your work that simply states; "STOP MAKING EXCUSES". This acts as an easy reminder to your brain to not make any more excuses. Another more invasive solution is to place a rubber band around your wrist and snap the rubber band every time you find yourself making an excuse.

• 3

  Friends help each other in stressful situations.

  Talk about it. Alert your family and friends to your problem and explain that you are trying to kick the habit of making excuses. By telling friends and family, the problem will be out in the open. It is important for others to know what you are going through. Since they care about you, a friend or a family member will be respectful of the fact that you are trying to be more responsible and try to help in any way possible.

• 4

  Reward yourself for a job well done. When you notice that you are no longer making excuses, give yourself a treat. This is an important part of the process, because using a reward as positive reinforcement has been proven to work. Buy yourself something nice or take yourself out to dinner. A reward given to-you-by-you acts a symbol of your growing feelings of self-worth and confidence.

• 5

  Being trustworthy strengthens relationships.

  Get ready for the aftermath. Once the habit of making excuses has been broken, it is vital to stay alert and aware. Don't let yourself get back into the habit, in a stressful situation. Tell yourself that no matter what happens; you will not revert back to old habits. It's important to remember that it might be a life-long process of self-improvement and vigilance.