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How to break a bad habit
What is a habit?
The definition of a habit is:
"A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up."
We often practice our habits subconsciously as it's become part of our routine
~Thread~
What is a habit?
The definition of a habit is:
"A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up."
We often practice our habits subconsciously as it's become part of our routine
~Thread~
First, we need to define what our bad habit is
Eating too much junk food?
Snoozing your alarm?
Smoking?
I'll use snoozing the alarm as an example
We then need to figure out why this has become a habit
Eating too much junk food?
Snoozing your alarm?
Smoking?
I'll use snoozing the alarm as an example
We then need to figure out why this has become a habit
1. Cue
The cue is what triggers the start of our habit(s)
In this example, it would be the alarm going off
The cue is what triggers the start of our habit(s)
In this example, it would be the alarm going off
2. Routine
As soon as the alarm goes off, we snooze it for 5/10 minutes as our body craves more sleep
As soon as the alarm goes off, we snooze it for 5/10 minutes as our body craves more sleep
3. Reward
Our reward is the extra 5 minutes in bed that we so desperately wanted, even though we know we should be getting up
Snoozing your alarm now becomes associated with the nice feeling of extra sleep
How to break this
Our reward is the extra 5 minutes in bed that we so desperately wanted, even though we know we should be getting up
Snoozing your alarm now becomes associated with the nice feeling of extra sleep
How to break this
1. Be aware of what is making you action this habit
In this case, it's the want of more sleep
This could be fixed with a lifestyle change
E.g, going to sleep earlier will allow you to wake easier in the morning
In this case, it's the want of more sleep
This could be fixed with a lifestyle change
E.g, going to sleep earlier will allow you to wake easier in the morning
2. Make it hard
This could be a simple idea of moving your phone away from your bed, meaning you have to get out of the bed to turn the alarm off.
Once you're up, you're ready to go.
This could be a simple idea of moving your phone away from your bed, meaning you have to get out of the bed to turn the alarm off.
Once you're up, you're ready to go.
3. Make yourself accountable
Set up a 'contract' with whoever you live with & if you break the contract, you owe them a 'fine'
For example, every time you snooze your alarm you owe ÂŁ/$20 to the person
Set up a 'contract' with whoever you live with & if you break the contract, you owe them a 'fine'
For example, every time you snooze your alarm you owe ÂŁ/$20 to the person
