Vladimir Kazankov
WOOP/MCII Strategy
Introduction to WOOP/MCII Strategy In 2022, a new scientific paper was published in the official journal of the Gerontological Society of America, with support from Oxford University Press. This paper presented a revolutionary method for changing habits, known as WOOP/MCII. Let’s look at how the…
Mental Contrasting
Mental constrasting is focusing on obtaining a clear picture of the cue that triggers one’s habit.
Implementation Intentions
Studies demonstrated the effectiveness of implementation intentions in increasing the likelihood of behavioral enactment. Example of Implementation Intention for Exercise Milne, Orbell, and Sheeran (1998) demonstrated that 91% of people who formed an implementation intention concerning when and where to commence physical exercise during the…
Self-Regulation and Self-Control
“Self-regulation or self-control (terms used interchangeably here) can be defined as the capacity to enact control over one’s behavior. Self-control is needed to override dominant behaviors that may be self-destructive, irrational, or undesirable in the long term. Examples of typical self-control problems include not exercising…
Exercise Habits
According to ‘The Power of Habit’, “for many people, exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change“. “When people start habitually exercising, even as infrequently as once a week, they start changing other, unrelated patterns in their lives, often unknowingly. Typically, people who exercise…
Food Journaling
What could be the keystone habit for people who want to lose weight? Is it strict dieting? Joining a gym? Or perhaps altering daily routines, such as opting to take the stairs instead of the elevator? The long-term effectiveness of these methods tends to be…
Habitual Use of Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is frequent and has been associated with fatigue in uncontrolled trials. This is the first double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of per os vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) in treating fatigue among otherwise healthy persons with low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)…
Habitual Cocoa Intake
Most results support an anti-diabetic effect of cocoa flavonoids by enhancing insulin secretion, improving insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues, exerting a lipid-lowering effect and preventing the oxidative and inflammatory damages associated to the disease. While it could be suggested that daily consumption of flavanols from…
Keystone Habits
We should initiate our transformation by focusing on developing our keystone habits, as these are what distinguish the ‘extraordinary’ versions of ourselves from the ‘regular’ ones. Keystone habits create a domino effect, leading to the formation of other good habits and significant improvements in many…
How to Make Consistency a Habit
How to Turn Grit into a Lifelong Habit “Grit ” is defined as the tendency to work “strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress”. Jonah Lehrer, “The Truth About Grit,” The Boston Globe, August 2, 2009.A….
Focus Habits
How to Build Focus Habits How to Stay Focused with Pomodoro Crafted by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, the Pomodoro Technique is a time management blueprint aiming to boost productivity and minimize distractions by dividing work into manageable time parcels. This method involves 25-minute…
Anger Habit
How I use WOOP/MCII to manage anger As you may have noticed, lately I’ve been writing a lot about the revolutionary habit change technique WOOP/MCII, which I’ve recently discovered. Its creators have been applying this technique for over 10 years, but for me, it’s still…
Habits That Are Trauma Responses
James W. Pennebaker and Cindy K. Chung talk about how trauma affects our health. Surprisingly, the opposite can be also true. Most people deal with traumatic experiences quite well, with no major changes in their mental or physical health. Why is it that some people…
Homework Routine
What is a Homework Routine How I Established a Productive Homework Routine When I deliberately addressed my homework frustration while learning a second foreign language from scratch, I still found it challenging. Previously, the difficulty was in starting at all, but now it lies in…
Knowing Your Limits
Limitations often dwell within us, hidden from sight. We might not pay heed to them or be compelled not to, for they can be perceived as terrifying. The Cost of Ignoring Limitations Yet, to disregard them demands immense mental effort. When your mind is preoccupied…
Homework Habits
This Is How I Improved My Homework Habits I started learning a foreign language from scratch with a tutor for the first time. The most significant challenges in language learning are: I initiated an experiment to develop a habit of doing homework since it leads…
Ivy Lee Method
What is the Ivy Lee Method Imagine a productivity hack so simple, yet so powerful that it has stood the test of time. Meet the Ivy Lee Method, a brainchild of the legendary productivity guru, Ivy Lee. It’s like having a personal assistant to organize…
Neuroplasticity
Definition of Neuroplasticity Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt its structure and function in response to new experiences, learning, and changes in the environment. This adaptation occurs through the formation and strengthening of new connections between neurons (brain cells). When we…
Dual Process Theory
What is Dual Process Theory The Dual Process Theory provides a framework to understand how habits relate to behavior. It posits the existence of two parallel systems for processing information and generating behavior. We become aware of these impulses as urges when something blocks or…
Cravings
The role of cravings in habit loops Explore the relationship between cravings and habit loops, and how they influence our everyday behaviors. You will learn about the connection between cravings and emotions, factors influencing the intensity of cravings, and the components of a habit loop….
the Unconscious
The unconscious mind is the part of our mind that operates outside of our conscious awareness, influencing our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The unconscious mind plays a significant role in shaping our behavior, including our habits. How the Unconscious Mind Prevents Changing Habits It can…
Productivity Habits
The link between habits and productivity In this article, readers will delve into the world of habits and productivity, exploring how these two concepts are interconnected and crucial to personal and professional success. The article begins with a discussion on the scientific background of habit…
Delegation
How to identify tasks that can be delegated to others In this article, we explore the art of delegation and its significance in enhancing productivity and efficiency at work. You will learn about the benefits of effective delegation and potential barriers to overcome. The article…
Personal Boundaries
In this comprehensive article, you will learn about the importance of understanding and maintaining personal boundaries in various aspects of life, such as physical, emotional, intellectual, and time boundaries. This article will guide you through the process of identifying your own personal boundaries, effectively communicating…
Automaticity
Automaticity is the ability to do things as an automatic response or habit. Habits are patterns of thinking and doing that have become ingrained in our daily routines through repetition. Automaticity, on the other hand, is a characteristic of these patterns, focusing on the fact…
Study Habits
The primary goal of study habits is to create an effective approach to studying that works for the individual, enhancing comprehension, retention, and application of information. These habits include time management, organization, regular breaks, active listening, and effective note-taking, among others. Increasing learning speed may…
Procrastination Habit
Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks or actions, often despite knowing the negative consequences of doing so. People who struggle with procrastination often find themselves stuck in a cycle of putting things off until the last minute. This habit leads to increased…
Reward System
Successfully changing habits is possible by establishing clear objectives, developing routines, recognizing triggers, and leveraging social support. Nevertheless, habit rewards offer powerful motivation for consistent progress. Absence of rewards may weaken the habit loop’s effectiveness. Rewards make the habit change process more enjoyable and fulfilling,…
Bad Habits
Learn about the formation and impact of bad habits on both physical and mental health. Delve into the role of the brain in bad habit formation, the factors that influence bad habits, and the characteristics of bad habits. The impact of these habits on health…
Habit Definition. What are Habits?
Various Definitions of Habits Habit research spans across various fields, such as psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, each of which has different focuses. This leads to the development of multiple definitions regarding habits. Even within psychology, there are different definitions of habits. According to Benjamin Gardner…
Professional Development
Consistently engaging in professional development can be seen as forming a habit. By committing to continuous learning and self-improvement, you establish a routine of seeking professional development opportunities regularly. These opportunities may consist of attending workshops, conferences, webinars, enrolling in online courses, reading articles and…
Habit Formation
Lacking knowledge of habit development might lead to unrealistic expectations and impatience, causing frustration and demotivation due to the absence of immediate results. A strong grasp of habit formation, including how habits are formed and how can habits be changed, is essential for effectively replacing old habits,…
Habit Tracking
Why should we track the process of mastering our habits? It’s simply a method to reward ourselves for the effort we’ve put in. Habit tracking enables me to transition from a daily mindset to thinking in terms of months. When I review my achievements over…
Types of Habits
Classification serves as a catalyst for change. Just as categorizing diseases aids in formulating effective treatments, sorting habits into distinct groups empowers us to devise tailored strategies for habit modification. Categories of Habits by Impact Meta Habits or Keystone Habits There are two meta habits…
Habit Loop
Learn about the concept of habit loops, and how it plays a crucial role in our daily lives. The article delves into the components of habit loops, examples of their presence in everyday activities. The article also provides guidance on breaking and modifying habit loops…
Habit Triggers
Grasping habit triggers is vital, as it eases the process of uncovering the root causes of habits. Without recognizing triggers, breaking the habit loop and avoiding old patterns become daunting tasks. Ignorance of habit triggers may hinder progress in personal development goals. A habit trigger…
Habit Stacking
Opting not to utilize habit stacking while altering your habits make recalling and consistently executing new habits more difficult. Not employing habit stacking could lead to struggling with consistency maintenance, an essential aspect of long-term habit transformation. Lacking this technique might prolong new habit formation…
Good Habits
Consistency and commitment are crucial for good habits. Lack of awareness about consistency’s importance may lead to premature quitting or insufficient maintenance of new habits for lasting outcomes. Good habit formation entails introducing slow, manageable adjustments that endure. Absent this comprehension, one might pursue severe…
Habit of Journaling
Journaling fundamentally changes us because we are observing ourselves. It’s similar to the observer effect in quantum mechanics, where an electron “changes” from a wave to a particle. If we metaphorically visualize our thoughts as streams of electron-waves influencing us, through observation they turn into…
Self-Awareness
Self-Awareness and Knowing Your Limits Self-awareness entails introspection and a readiness to assess one’s abilities objectively. Individuals with self-awareness often possess a deeper comprehension of their emotions and the impact on their actions. This emotional intelligence enables them to discern when they approach their limits,…
Routine
Routines reduce uncertainty. Difference Between Habit and Routine Habits and routines are closely related concepts, but they differ. A habit refers to an automatic behavioral inclination that requires minimal conscious effort. Not performing a habit may result in discomfort, such as skipping your daily morning…
Willpower
In his book ‘The Power of Habit,’ Charles Duhigg says that ‘willpower is the single most important keystone habit for individual success’. Is Willpower a Skill? Is Willpower a Muscle? The Physiology of Willpower: Linking Blood Glucose to Self-Control Acts of self-control deplete relatively large amounts…
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
In this article, readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and its effectiveness in breaking bad habits. The article delves into the principles of CBT, its history, and the science behind habit formation. It presents various CBT techniques that can be employed…
Addiction
Delve into understanding addictions, how they form, and their differences and similarities with habits. Learn about the development of addictions. Get strategies for overcoming addictions. What are Addictions? Addictions are characterized by compulsive, uncontrollable behaviors or substance use, despite negative consequences that impact an individual’s…
Support Groups
A Group Helps to Persist When Things Get Tough In his book “The Power of Habit,” Charles Duhigg shares an intriguing study, one that shines a light on what helps when everything else fails. Researchers were scratching their heads, trying to understand why some folks…
Personal Goals
The Role of Habits in Achieving Goals and Personal Success Gain a deep understanding of habits and their significant impact on personal life and goal achievement. The article discusses the psychology and neurological basis behind habit formation, the importance of positive habits, and strategies for…