February 19 weekly technique
How to build healthy habits that stick
Ever force yourself to do something you disliked over and over because it was supposedly “good” for you? Science says there’s a better way.
Try this!
Let’s dive a little deeper…
Think of this technique like a loop—but the kind you’re OK getting stuck in, not the plot of a horror movie. It starts with a cue (lunchtime), which signals your healthy behaviour (pre-tracking dinner), which leads to a positive impact (you feel in control and happy about one less thing on your to-do list). Then it all repeats the next time 12 p.m. rolls around.
If your behaviour has an immediate positive impact, consider it a bonus. Those actions are even more reinforcing, meaning we’re more likely to want to do them again. And the more we repeat a simple behavior at the same time using the same cue, the more likely it’ll become a habit.
There are so many different ways to reach your goals—you don’t have to force anything that gives you the ick. Hate lima beans? Dread the treadmill? Take them off the roster. Test out different behaviours and focus on things you enjoy. And if it sounds “too easy,” that’s the point. Habits—like the rest of this journey—don’t have to be complicated.
