101 Ways to Move Forward After a Midlife Divorce

Tip #16. Give up a bad habit. Become aware of how often you do this thing. What bad habit should you give up? For me, it’s picking at my lips. I have no idea what psychological secrets that particular tic reveals, but I have had a tendency to “bother” with my lips. Freud would say something about my “oral” hang-ups, I’m sure. What is the habit that’s intruding on your daily life? Whining? Picking your fingernails? Complaining? Not putting things away? Interrupting others? Is there some phrase you over-use? Keep a journal and every time you do that thing, put a mark down. By this time next week let’s each be less a prisoner to our habit than we are today. Every day we should have fewer and fewer marks on the page. Some experts say you can change a habit in ten days. Getting control of your big post-divorce life can start with something as small as overcoming a little (probably annoying to other people) repetitive habit. Let’s learn to master our minor (?) annoyance, and then we can tackle any really physically destructive habit we are letting dominate us.