Bad habits are undesirable behaviors that seem to slowly creep their way into our regimen. The problem is this: we usually don’t recognize it’s a bad habit until it’s in our rearview mirror.

College is the land of opportunity. SBBryan, a CollegeThrive author, discusses the hidden curriculum in 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was A Freshman (The First Time). The title may seem like it airs a precautionary tale, but he focuses on the potential for personal development and positive experience.

He writes, “Enjoy the Ride!” and I couldn’t agree more.

However, the reality is there are also hidden temptations too. I am not suggesting you go about your entire college experience looking over your shoulder, but it’s good to be prepared. If you happen to meander off of the beaten path, here are three tips that will help.

Image Credit: ChicagoGeek

Carry around a small notepad. Keeping a log of your activities, feelings, and thoughts will help you understand your day-to-day routine. You’ll be able to look back at what you’ve done and curb any vice accordingly. A notepad that fits in your back pocket is fine. I take mine everywhere.

Be social. A healthy dose of socializing with other people is good for the mind and body. Naturally, you feel good about yourself amongst friends. Being social also places another barrier against the unwanted behavior. For instance, if friends know you’re trying to quit smoking they’ll likely do everything in their power to make sure you don’t smoke.

Substitute a bad habit for a good habit. Trick your mind into thinking you’re receiving a reward for your efforts. This is particularly helpful when dealing with addiction. Let’s say your goal is to stop eating junk food. Every time you resist temptation reward yourself. Something as simple as putting a dollar in a jar towards something you want to buy can help cure a bad habit and give you a sense of accomplishment.

In college, temptation always seems to be knocking at your doorstep and it can be hard to resist. These tips are more theoretical, but that’s the point—they can be adapted to any circumstance, so play around with them.

And if all else fails have someone squirt you with a water pistol and point their finger in your face while saying, “No.”