We all have habits and routines that comfort us in different areas of life, and physical fitness is no exception. Some people have certain pieces of equipment they like to use, certain clothes they like to wear, and a certain order they like to do things in. But when do these particular little quirks and preferences become full-fledged OCD? It's really only a problem if they get so bad they start to interfere with life by taking up excessive amounts of time, causing marital stress, or costing money, say experts. Routines are "A okay" for the most part, but remember that so is a little flexibility now and then.

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Most of us are creatures of habit, myself included. We get sucked in to routines that include doing things at a certain time, in a certain way. Habits are easy to make and hard to break ... and your unhealthy habits are probably contributing to that extra bit of weight you can't get rid of. Some examples? Having a doughnut over your morning coffee, snacking while you watch your evening shows, spending your weekend driving around instead of enjoying the fresh air. For me, I have a habit of craving something sweet after dinner ... and satisfying the craving with chocolate, ice cream or something else that is calorie-laden.

Glee Magazine has put together some tips on breaking your bad habits. The first step is recognizing your bad habits, then replacing them with healthy habits, and reminding yourself to stick to to your new routines. Does this actually work? I don't know ... I have yet to try, but it can't hurt, right?

What are your bad habits?

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Contrary to popular belief, in many ways, being "stuck in a rut" can be healthy for you. Whether it's a simple habit like getting up early so you can relax with your coffee, or more complicated like a series of things you do in particular order before starting or ending your day, routines and rituals have been clinically shown to reduce stress and promote over-all feelings of well-being. Basic, comfortable "ruts" provide a sense of stability and calmness in an otherwise unpredictable and stressful world. As with everything though, it is possible to overdo it. When rituals become excessive, such as in obsessive compulsive disorder, they start doing you more harm than good.

So go ahead and indulge those quirky little routines that you love so much! And next time somebody accuses you of being in a rut, you can smile to yourself and say "yes I am."

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