During these pages of the novel, James Clear provides multiple methods of how to begin a new habit. Chapters 4-7 focus on his first law of behavior change, which is to "make it obvious". His first method is the Pointing-and-Calling method. This is used by many train conductors to raise your awareness levels and point out errors. We can use this in our lives by calling out the items you need before you leave the house.
A second method is implementation intention. This is when you associate a habit you want to begin with a time and location to keep you accountable with performing that habit. For example, if you want to go to the gym, instead of saying you will sometime this week, say you will on Tuesday at five o'clock. Another version of implementation intention is habit stacking, or when you add a new habit to a current habit. An example that he lists is if you want to start reading before you go to sleep every night, place a book on your pillow after you make your bed in the morning. These two methods create obvious cues that trigger your desire to perform the habit.
Aniya Steele
I have often thought that this method may work with helping me get my tasks done. Though it works for me sometimes, I have noticed that it does not help me if I am using my phone at the time that I see the cue. When I am not on my phone, and I am reminded of something that I wanted to get done, I complete it before doing anything else. It is a way of keeping myself busy as James Clear pointed out that it is a way of holding myself accountable. I believe that if I focus more on completing the things that I need to get done when I am not on my phone, I could build this habit with this method.
ReplyDeleteBeginning a new habit can result easier than expected or harder than meets the eye. I really like how you clarified on the methods of beginning a new habit, I find it really interesting!
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ReplyDeleteThe methods you stated are very interesting, and as I was reading them I wondered if they actually work. Implementation intention was the one that caught my attention because many of us want to start new things but never actually put in the effort to begin them. If we constantly speak of the idea, it will stay in our mind therefore we would actually begin the new habits we've wanted to begin.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a interesting read. I tend to use implementation myself however it does not always follow through. I also used the gym method and would set a day and time, but when it came toward that time I would cancel and make an excuse for myself. I also do this with homework, for example, these comments. I wait till last minute with these type of things and that needs to change, I am very interested in the others ways to start good habits and break the bad ones.
ReplyDeleteIt was really helpful that you gave examples of the methods. Habit stacking seems like something that could work for me. Sometimes I have so much on my mind that I forget about certain things I need to do. I actually tried this method a while ago since I wanted to drink more water. I would always make sure to have a cup of water or a water bottle on my nightstand and it actually helped increase the amount of water I drink.
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