A few years ago, an allergist told me that I was allergic to the aspartame in Diet Coke and that I’d be better off drinking regular Coke. So, I took his advice and switched.

What I have come to realize is the number of calories and sugar in the regular Coke, so I decided that I was going to stop drinking that too. Since March 1, I haven’t had a Coke. (I did cheat once and have a can of the new Coke Zero.) Wow, I can’t believe how hard it is! I normally only drink one a day and not every day, but trying to not drink it at all has been a challenge. It led me to realize how easy some habits are to get started and then how hard it is to stop that habit.

I’m not that religious, but I think it probably has something to do with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden being told not to eat the apple and then eating it. Temptation is probably creeping in somewhere.

I haven’t decided whether I think it’s harder to start a habit or stop one. It’s also difficult to determine whether a habit is a good one or a bad one. I happen to have a habit of hanging blouses and shirts facing the same direction. Is that a good habit or an obsession? I’m also very particular about how sheets and towels are folded. One time, my sister-in-law was helping me fold some towels and she would tell you that I re-folded every one that she folded. Good habit or bad? (I’m pretty sure she’s never helped me fold towels again.)

During tax season, we are also faced with our spending and saving habits. Some of us are better than others. Thank goodness! We all know what we need to do, but frequently, one of those gremlins gets the better of us and we go on some little spending spree and then are frustrated later when the bills start to pile up. Again, old habits die hard.

I would like to have better eating habits, exercise habits and a habit of meditating on a regular basis. I know that each of these habits would be good for me, but somehow I always seem to get easily side tracked.

Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People says, “Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny, the maxim goes.” He also states “Habits are powerful factors in our lives. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character and produce our effectiveness… or ineffectiveness.”

So, I think that it is very important that we pay close attention to our habits. It’s important that we consciously decide what habits we chose to develop and what ones we chose to stop.

I would challenge you to make a list of your habits (good and bad) and make a conscious decision to change at least one for the better. They say it takes at least 21 days to make a change, so give yourself some time. Solicit some support if necessary. You might even want to consider working with a coach (click here).