Focus
Doing the same thing, at the same time, for the same reason, without questioning. This is the hallmark of a habit. A trigger sets off a routine that pays off a reward. As much as possible, that trigger should not be your mother, wife, husband, or child yelling to remind you to brush your teeth, pay your credit card, go for a run, or stock the fridge. Often that trigger is an uncomfortable feeling that has you jumping into the shower, onto your bike, or reaching for a bag of chips and a tub of ice cream. Because habits help us cope, they propel us through the day, they protect us and preserve our mental power. They can be angels or devils.
Well said
"We become what we repeatedly do." Sean Covey
Fact
45% of our daily behaviors are automatic (Duke University, 2006)
Spotlight
Cue the sunrise and bring in my morning coffee. This is my happy start to the day. But is this a healthy habit? Consider this - coffee is our primary source of antioxidants and, because it causes our blood vessels to expand, it is good for our circulation. Better circulation is good for our brains and our hearts. And the data supports this - coffee drinkers live longer, have a reduced risk of Alzheimers and strokes, and are less likely to be obese, have heart disease, or have cancer. But coffee is not for everyone and if you don't like it, there are other ways to consume antioxidants and improve your circulation. Coffee should also not be a vehicle for sugar and dairy, which negate its beneficial effects.
Practice this
Make habits work for you. Embed healthy habits in your day and build your health. Identify "bad" habits that are undermining your health (physical. mental, or emotional) and rewire your brain with a positive alternative. A habit cannot be deleted, but it can be overwritten. Understand what is triggering the behavior you want to change. Watch for that trigger and mindfully act differently (this is difficult, because everything in you will be screaming to fall back to the habit). Most importantly make sure you have a reward for the new behavior. Trigger. Behavior. Reward. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Recipe
This is just about the only way I can get my family to eat carrots, but it is a great one. I substitute cranberries for the raisins -https://www.straightupfood.com/blog/2012/04/22/carrot-cake-donuts/
Comments