Helpful Tip for Changing Habits
Dear Friends,
My good friend Jonatan Bogren recently shared a tip on his Facebook page about making/breaking habits that I thought was super helpful. I asked him if I could share the post with all of you. He generously said yes, so here it is!
“You know what really surprised me while reading about habit science?
It turns out that one of the most effective ways to shift a “bad” habit isn’t to anticipate it and stop it before it happens (which, let’s be honest, often doesn’t work, especially if your system is already overloaded).
It’s actually to follow the bad habit with a good one.
Not punishment. Not shame. Just redirection.
Ate more than you wanted to because you were emotionally overwhelmed? Go for a short walk afterward.
Played video games for an hour too long? Close the loop with 3 minutes on the mat, or breathwork, or a gratitude practice.
That alone can start to rewire the loop. The lower the threshold to the ”good habit,” the better.
It’s about learning to say: “Even after I disconnect, I know how to come home.”
And over time, that’s the identity that sticks:
Someone who returns.
Someone who self-corrects without self-punishing.
Someone who knows the way back.
This is one of the most effective ways to decrease the Long Term Potentiation effect of a hardwired bad habit. Over time it loses its charge. We gain more mindfulness and impulse control.
You don’t need the stick to feel better - no shame, guilt or harsh self talk. Just follow it up with self love. Ok I slipped, I’m here now.”
Thank you Jonatan for this powerful tip!
Jonatan is a mentor in the Primal Trust brain rewiring program. Here’s the link for his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/jonatan.bogren
Much love,
Liz
