The Other Half of the Picture
With all this talk about breaking negative habits it can be easy to forget that
every habit isn't bad. The habit of running in the morning, as my good friend
will tell you, is a healthy routine to be stuck with.
Every day around six o'clock, when rain isn't waiting to pelt her in the face and
ice hasn't turned her path into a death trap, she walks to the closet, puts on her
running shoes, and sets off for thirty minutes.
Like most addicts, she's hooked. Missing a day of running is like missing a trip
to the mall for a shopaholic; the world just doesn't seem right. For someone who
wants to keep in shape, can you think of a better problem?
If you want the same problem, try out these tips to turn a positive behavior
into a habit:
1. Make a list of incentives. What's so good about what you're doing? What are
the benefits? Though the next steps will put your subconscious to work, it helps
to begin with consciously chosen motivators. These will come in handy as your
habit takes hold.
2. Follow the same routine. My friend runs through the same pattern every
morning before she runs. After rising at the same painfully early time, she
walks through the ritual. And that's what you have to do.
You have to reenact as closely as possible the pattern you follow. This will
develop strong links in your brain that will grow to become an unconscious habit.
3. Continue for at least 21 days. Of course the exact timeline will be different
for every person and every activity, but in general your habit will be in place
if you can maintain your routine for at least 21 days in a row.
Doing the same thing, the same way for three weeks, all the while taking in the
benefits you listed in the first step, will develop a thick chord in the wiring of
your brain. The behavior will soon become automatic.
Remember, not every habit is bad. The right one may just save your life, or at
least make it a little more enjoyable.
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