What new habits have you developed during lockdown?
Living and working in your ‘bubble’ for over a month means you will be well on your way to hard wiring some new habits.
On average, research has shown it takes around 8 weeks to create a new habit in our brains (yes, this is why our Best of Today programme is 8 weeks long!).
With this in mind, be curious about what new habits you could be creating in your ‘bubble’ whilst at home.
Have you found yourself…
Going to bed later and perhaps getting up slightly later also?
Drinking more regularly?
Exercising more regularly than before?
Eating healthier?
Eating more treats?
Making time for people on Zoom/video chat for personal catch ups?
These new habits are not ‘good’ or ‘bad’
Be careful not to label any of your new habits as good or bad, right or wrong. Try viewing them through this lens instead:
Is this habit providing instant gratification or will it provide long-lasting satisfaction?
Here’s some examples of this in action:
A piece of chocolate cake hits the pleasure centre of the brain and gives instant gratification. In contrast, making the chocolate cake takes time and effort, and feels satisfying.
Picture going to a buffet dinner where you can eat as much as you like. You could enjoy eating four different types of desserts (instant gratification), but how would you feel an hour later?
Another way of explaining this is thinking about exercise. Not many people enjoy exercising whilst they are doing it, but nearly everyone feels a deep sense of satisfaction after completing it.
Which new habits are giving you long-lasting satisfaction?
Think about your new habits. Which habits are providing you with extended feelings of satisfaction? Which habits are providing short term ‘hits’ or ‘pleasure’?
Again, remember that this doesn’t make them right or wrong, better or worse. They simply serve you in different ways.
The first step is to be aware of your habits, so you can determine if they are serving you. We can only change the things we are aware of.
Here are some steps to get you started…
Step 1: Increase Self Awareness
Over the next two weeks of Level 3 increase your self-awareness on your new habits of lockdown?
Step 2: Self check-in
By asking this question when the habit arises – “Is this a habit I want to strengthen and hard wire in my brain”?
Step 3: Replace it with another Reward
If your answer is ‘NO’ then interrupt this habit cycle by replacing it with an alternative option for the brain that would provide a longer-lasting feeling of satisfaction.