Use Other People’s Behavior As Clues to Create New Habits
Creating new habits is difficult, even with a few tricks in hand . The Cue-Routine-Reward system works great if you can find your cues. If you have problems, try using someone else’s replica.
In The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin explains that you can change a habit by watching someone else’s behavior as a signal:
- you can eat ice cream, but only when your spouse is eating it
- you can use the device only when your children use it; Many people want their kids to spend less time on devices, so this can be a good deterrent.
- Before making a purchase over $ 50, you must call your brother and let him know.
This approach takes away some of the responsibility from you, but it also takes the pressure off you. You can tell the person that this is your reply out of courtesy, but you don’t have to. Eventually, you will change your habits and create your own personal cue instead of relying on others.
One Way To Use Someone Else To Reinforce Your Good Habits | Happiness Project