Chapter 6 and recognizing another bad habit
I had a busy day of what looked like not much. Took out the trash. Did laundry. Ran the dishwasher. Watched another module of Practical SQL Server Security, Compliance and Auditing. Drank coffee before 12, then tea after that. I read the rest of the book that I put down a few weeks ago, called "The Obstacle Is the Way". While I still agree with my original thoughts, I found it a bit more helpful this time around due to an issue that recently arose in my life. Things will always get in my way, and by being calm and having a plan to continually move forward despite having set backs will allow me to get over the obstacle and flourish because of it.
I forgot how during the weekends I tend to snack in order to avoid doing things. Don't want to write in the blog? Well, you shouldn't do something when you're hungry... and I am a little bit hungry. (Goes to eat two bowls of cereal.) Time to finally turn off the TV and do the laundry? Well, it is 7PM, and I should eat dinner. (Eats several tacos and some guacamole and chips and maybe another bowl of cereal while watching more TV.) I felt guilty for not doing the things I should be doing, and was gaining useless weight because I was using eating as the way to delay the things I needed to do.
After starting the No Added Sugar challenge, where I am also logging what I'm eating, I find I certainly am eating less, but the weekends are still difficult. Today, for whatever reason, I'm finding very difficult to not have any added sugar. I really want a bowl of cereal. But, I'll keep plodding on. I'll finally finish the last of the chicken tacos for dinner, then play piano for 15 minutes per my new habit of "After dinner, I will play piano for 15 minutes."
Chapter 6 in the Atomic Habits book discusses the importance of environment for habit creation and continuation. By putting 'good' cues or choices that lead to the right habit out in front, there is a larger chance that a person will choose the option that will resonate with their identity and is easiest to do.
Chapter Summary:
Small changes in context can lead to large changes in behavior over time.
Every habit is initiated by a cue. We are more likely to notice cues that stand out.
Make the cues of good habits obvious in your environment.
Gradually, your habits become associated not with a single trigger but with the entire context surrounding the behavior. The context becomes the cue.
It is easier to build new habits in a new environment because you are not fighting against old cues.
Now, I'm off to eat dinner, play piano, and then I think I'll play a bit of Minecraft.
I forgot how during the weekends I tend to snack in order to avoid doing things. Don't want to write in the blog? Well, you shouldn't do something when you're hungry... and I am a little bit hungry. (Goes to eat two bowls of cereal.) Time to finally turn off the TV and do the laundry? Well, it is 7PM, and I should eat dinner. (Eats several tacos and some guacamole and chips and maybe another bowl of cereal while watching more TV.) I felt guilty for not doing the things I should be doing, and was gaining useless weight because I was using eating as the way to delay the things I needed to do.
After starting the No Added Sugar challenge, where I am also logging what I'm eating, I find I certainly am eating less, but the weekends are still difficult. Today, for whatever reason, I'm finding very difficult to not have any added sugar. I really want a bowl of cereal. But, I'll keep plodding on. I'll finally finish the last of the chicken tacos for dinner, then play piano for 15 minutes per my new habit of "After dinner, I will play piano for 15 minutes."
Chapter 6 in the Atomic Habits book discusses the importance of environment for habit creation and continuation. By putting 'good' cues or choices that lead to the right habit out in front, there is a larger chance that a person will choose the option that will resonate with their identity and is easiest to do.
Chapter Summary:
Small changes in context can lead to large changes in behavior over time.
Every habit is initiated by a cue. We are more likely to notice cues that stand out.
Make the cues of good habits obvious in your environment.
Gradually, your habits become associated not with a single trigger but with the entire context surrounding the behavior. The context becomes the cue.
It is easier to build new habits in a new environment because you are not fighting against old cues.
Now, I'm off to eat dinner, play piano, and then I think I'll play a bit of Minecraft.
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