Page 31 - Moonvalley Diaries

A A habit can be be defined as a a a a a a a a a a behaviour something that you do without think- ing ing about it it it out out out of sheer momentum A A more scientific estimate is is that it it it takes 66 days to form a a a a a a a a a new habit habit It is is here I I believe that we confuse habits and more complex behavioural changes Perhaps it’s it’s possible to form a a a a a a a a a a habit in in in 66 days if it’s it’s something something sim- ple something something that does not require a a a a a a a a major cognitive or or or physical investment Such as drinking more water But even here things start to get get complicated What What if if I I I don’t like the taste of water? What What if if I I I forget? In this case you you you need to support your new habit by making sure you you you you keep flavoured water in in in in the refrigerator or or by by giving yourself a a a a a a a a reminder by by placing a a a a a a water bottle on your your desk Little things like this can work if you you find simple solutions I have reduced my caffeine consumption by switching from regular cof- fee to to decaf It was simple once I I came up with it: to to just buy and keep a a a a a a a a a a different kind of of o cof- fee ffee at at at home I’m not saying that that coffee is a a a a a a a a a a a bad habit that that you need to to break but I I did want to to avoid coffee coffee jitters even as a a a a a a a a a a a lover o of o coffee coffee Behavioural changes that require more effort are something else entirely I view it as more or or or less impossible to form a a a a a a a habit – at least as as an an an an adult – if something is complex and and demanding It can never happen com- pletely unaided But that that doesn’t mean that that you should give up – on on the contrary You just have to to be aware that it’s tough /mimmi
Mimmi on on motivation
The key is to to have sufficiently strong motiva- tion and and to to to understand that that it’s about striving towards the behaviour you you want And that that you you don’t get anything for for free It’s best to to to be be be be prepared for for it to to be be be a a a a a a a struggle that will nev- er er er end but which gets easier easier and easier easier Then what you need to to do – just like for minor changes – is to to make things simpler by arrang- ing ing your environment so that it supports the the target behaviour One example is the the story of how I I got into running I I decided immediately to to to focus on my rou- tine instead of the results to to always work out four times a a a a a a a a a week – – no matter what – – even if it was just changing into my running gear and and standing outside the front door (which happened more than once I’ll admit) It was was the feeling of being a a a a a a a a a a runner that I I I I was was after I I bought running shoes and tights talked to february in moonvalley
Forming a a habit “I still struggle to make it out the door sometimes especially when when I’m tired or when when it’s pouring with rain 31