Be honest… what’s one habit you’d like to leave behind this spring? (Checking your phone too much? Procrastinating? Eating snacks at midnight?)

Spring is the perfect time to start over – and not just with your body or your space, but with your English habits too.

Let’s explore how to break bad habits and build new, better ones – in English.

Step 1: Identify the Habit (in English!)

Naming your habit is powerful. And it’s also great practice for self-expression.

Useful language:

• “I have a bad habit of…”
• “I always forget to…”
• “One thing I want to change is…”

Common bad habits (to describe and discuss):

• Saying “umm” too much
• Translating before speaking
• Avoiding difficult conversations

Step 2: Replace, Don’t Remove

It’s hard to just stop a habit – but easier to replace it with a better one.

Ideas for English learners:

• Swap 15 minutes of scrolling for 15 minutes of English audio
• Change “I can’t speak well” to “I’m still learning, and that’s okay.”
• Replace silence with simple sentences: “I don’t know the word yet but let me explain.”

Vocabulary tip:

• Shift: small change in focus or action
• Drop: to stop doing something (“I dropped the habit of translating everything.”)
• Stick to: keep doing something (“I’m trying to stick to my study plan.”)

Step 3: Talk About It

Talking about your habits – and goals – in English builds confidence, reflection, and fluency.

Fun phrases to try:

• “Old habits die hard.”
• “I’m a work in progress.”
• “Progress, not perfection!”

Challenge: Write down one habit you want to break and one you want to build – in English.

The Fresh Start You Need

Breaking bad habits is easier when you feel supported – and when your goals are connected to real life.

Want to speak better English AND feel better about yourself? Join LanguageWize. We help you create small, daily shifts that grow into something beautiful.

Because the new season deserves a new you – in any language.

Heidi Nel

28 May 2025