Breaking bad habits
Of course, we want to break our bad habits. Most of the time.
The question to the group was, “What "bad habit" do you want to quit the most?”
The first day of voting, and 65 votes:
Video games: 6%
Snacking: 52%
Smoking; 12%
Fast food: 29%
Dan voiced a sentiment of perhaps many: NONE!
I like my bad habits.
I try to balance my bad habits with good habits.
A study by Go Smoke Free ( A vaping website, btw) compiled a list of habits Americans want to quit the most:
From the release:
Americans search for ways to quit playing video games more than eating fast food and scrolling on social media combined.Eating fast food ranks second, with more than 1.69 million people googling ways to quit their unhealthy habits every month.
A new study has uncovered the habits Americans are most keen on quitting, with playing video games coming out on top.
The study by analyzed Google search volume for more than 820 search terms relating to habits that people most want to quit across every state, these included things such as smoking, drinking alcohol, playing video games, and even watching porn.
The results revealed Americans want to kick their video game habit more than any other, with around 1.95 million Google searches for ways to quit a gaming habit being submitted every month. This habit was the most popular habit to break in 37 states, which include California, New York and Washington.
This trend extends to watching game streams; March 2024 data from TwitchTracker highlights the lowest streamer-to-viewer ratio since December 2020, indicating a significant shift in viewer engagement over the past decade. In March 2024, there were 23.8 viewers for every streamer, compared to March 2014, which was 38.4.Eating fast food ranks second, with more than 1.69 million searches for ways to quit this unhealthy habit every month. Fast food was the top searched habit to break in 13 states, which include Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Nevada. Interestingly, none appear in the top half of the states with the highest obesity rates, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Snacking ranks third, highlighting a significant concern among Americans, with 489,993 Google searches on average from people seeking help to stop snacking each month.
Texas leads this effort in monthly Google searches for ways to stop snacking per 100,000 residents, supported by similar interests in states like California and Arizona, indicating a nationwide push towards healthier eating habits and improved dietary choices.Smoking ranks fourth, accounting for 305,771 Google searches each month. With its well-documented health risks, smoking remains a major habit that individuals across America appear determined to quit.
Below is the top 50 list of ugly bad habits we want to quit:
The bad habits Americans most want to quit
Google searches (monthly average)
Video games: 1,945,680
Fast food: 1,693,457
Snacking: 489,993
Smoking: 305,771
Masturbating: 253,075
Bullying: 194,201
Lying: 170,178
Social media: 136,588
Drinking energy drinks: 130,738
Popping zits: 112,671
Burping: 107,414
Sports betting: 98,523
Drinking alcohol: 92,109
Gossiping: 87,335
Leaving things to the last minute: 87,113
Gambling: 86,448
Stealing: 79,729
Watching porn: 75,450
Swearing: 53,392
Shoplifting: 48,310
Hoarding: 40,678
Binge eating: 40,480
Chewing gum: 38,778
Yelling: 37,539
Biting nails: 34,365
Binge-watching: 30,916
Complaining: 23,588
Rambling: 22,763
Daydreaming: 20,632
Sleeping in: 18,609
Bragging: 18,192
Overeating: 17,323
Smoking weed: 16,210
Scratching: 13,690
Emotional shopping: 13,448
Cracking knuckles: 13,405
Biting: 12,343
Slurping: 12,104
Being lazy: 11,104
Eating sweets: 10,919
Sleeping too much: 10,431
Littering: 10,288
Interrupting: 9,541
Speeding: 9,322
Smoking cigarettes: 9,252
Drinking soda: 8,644
Slouching: 7,757
Talking to yourself: 7,166
Popping my back: 6,025
Self-criticism: 5,827
Let’s talk to our AI friend Claude on this topic…
What bad habits do people most want to quit these days?
Claude: Based on surveys and research, some of the most common bad habits that many people struggle to quit these days include:
Smoking - Despite increased awareness of health risks, quitting smoking remains a major challenge for millions addicted to nicotine.
Excessive smartphone/social media use - Overuse of phones, tablets and social apps can negatively impact productivity, relationships and mental health.
Unhealthy eating habits - Fast food, junk food snacking, overeating and poor nutrition persist as hard-to-break habits.
Sedentary lifestyle/lack of exercise - The lure of inactive pursuits like TV, gaming and desk jobs makes developing an exercise habit difficult.
Procrastination - Putting things off until the last minute creates stress and reduces productivity at work, home and school.
Television bingeing - With streaming services, binge-watching TV shows is an easy habit to slip into.
Night time tech habits - Using devices too close to bedtime disrupts sleep cycles.
Nail biting - A nervous habit that persists for many despite tried solutions.
Impulse spending/shopping - Easy credit and online shopping enable impulse buying habits.
Excessive caffeine intake - Many struggle to cut back on coffee, energy drinks and caffeinated beverages.
The most motivating bad habits to quit tend to be those with obvious negative impacts on physical/mental health, finances or productivity. But deeply ingrained behavioral patterns are stubborn.
What is the best way to quit a bad habit?
Claude: Here are some effective strategies to help quit a bad habit:
Identify your triggers: Understand what situations, emotions, or environmental cues lead you to engage in the bad habit. Avoiding or managing those triggers can help break the cycle.
Replace the habit: Instead of just trying to stop the bad behavior, replace it with a healthier alternative. Find a substitute activity or action that fulfills the same need in a positive way.
Remove cues and temptations: If possible, remove anything from your environment that enables the bad habit. Get rid of unhealthy snacks from your home if you're trying to break a junk food habit, for example.
Change your routine: Bad habits are deeply rooted in your normal routines. Shake up your daily schedule to disrupt the patterns associated with the bad habit.
Use reminders: Place reminders around you about why you want to break the habit and your motivation for change. Sticky notes or phone alerts can reinforce your commitment.
Get an accountability partner: Having someone to check in with and support you can provide encouragement and keep you on track when temptation strikes.
Practice mindfulness: When you feel the urge to engage in the bad habit, stop and be fully present. Breathe deeply and let the craving pass without acting on it.
Be patient and persistent: Breaking deep-rooted habits takes time and multiple attempts. Don't get discouraged by slip-ups. Refocus and keep trying with a positive mindset.
The key is to have a plan in place to address both the behavioral patterns and the root motivations behind the bad habit. Combining multiple techniques can improve your chances of success.
What makes a bad habit bad?
Claude: There are several factors that can make a habit "bad" or unhealthy:
Negative impact on physical health - Habits like smoking, excessive drinking, overeating unhealthy foods, lack of exercise, etc. can lead to serious health issues over time.
Detrimental to mental health - Habits such as excessive worrying, negative self-talk, social withdrawal, can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
Financially draining - Habits like gambling, overspending, substance abuse can put a major strain on finances.
Relationship damaging - Habits like dishonesty, aggression, possessiveness can hurt relationships with loved ones.
Productivity draining - Time-wasting habits like excessive TV/internet, procrastination make it hard to achieve goals.
Illegal - Habits involving illegal substances or activities obviously carry legal risks.
Ethical issues - Habits that are unethical or exploit others like theft, cheating, manipulation.
Addiction forming - When habits become compulsive and extremely difficult to stop despite negative consequences.
The main hallmarks of a "bad" habit are that it negatively impacts your life in terms of health, relationships, finances, productivity or ethics despite your desire to stop. Good habits enhance your life, while bad habits diminish it in some way.
What happened on May 1 through the years in farming/food?
Claude: Here are some notable events related to farming and food that occurred on May 1 throughout history:
May 1, 1884 - The first volume of the Farmers' Almanac was published by Robert B. Thomas. This annual almanac provided weather forecasts, planting advice, and agricultural information for farmers.
May 1, 1919 - The International Labour Organization (ILO) was established to promote workers' rights, including those of agricultural workers. Over the years, the ILO has set labor standards for the agricultural sector.
May 1, 1933 - The Agricultural Adjustment Act was enacted in the United States as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs. It aimed to raise crop prices by paying farmers to produce less.
May 1, 1955 - The first McDonald's restaurant was opened by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois. This marked the beginnings of the global fast-food chain that revolutionized the food industry.
May 1, 1971 - The first Starbucks coffee shop opened in Seattle's Pike Place Market. It grew into one of the world's largest coffee house chains and impacted coffee consumption habits.
May 1, 2004 - The world's first nationwide ban on genetically modified foods for human consumption went into effect in Zambia due to concerns over potential risks.