
In other words, if you’re trying to cut down on calories, try to avoid pizza.Ħ. “If you want to watch TV, the last thing you want to do is sit in front of one and say over and over, ‘I’m not gonna watch it.’”

“You have to minimize the number of opportunities you have access to whatever triggers you,” Anderson said.

So while it may sound trite, take it one day at a time. That makes the long-term goal more tangible.” “If you’re trying to quit smoking, tell yourself each day you’re not going to buy any. “Set some measured goals in the here and now, but also have overarching goals,” Anderson said. So maybe instead of indulging, do something ridiculous and fun.Ĥ. “This also takes your mind off the impulse…but you have to make the alternative appealing to yourself.” “When you feel that urge, respond to it in a consistent way that builds a new link in your brain between the temptation and the behavior,” Anderson said. “You also need to reward yourself for practicing the kinds of behaviors you want to have.” You’re going to be drawn towards something, so it may as well be a good habit,” Anderson said. “Psychologically we’re drawn towards things that are rewarding to us. For example, make the resolution that you want to drink more water rather than you want to drink less sodas. So it’s gonna take some work, but if you follow the other tips, you’ll be able to say:įraming your resolution as something positive instead of negative can make a huge difference. “You have to respect that no matter how powerful your determination is, sometimes that habit isn’t something you can just willpower away,” he said. And while willpower does come into play when trying to overcome an addiction, it’s not the only thing–addictions are much more complicated than that. Certain ones have more of a pull on us than others. Recognize that it’s not all about willpowerĪccording to Anderson, roughly 50% of human behavior is driven by habits. We hope you find this helpful in the coming year.
#Breaking habits statistics how to#
It’s 2018, y’all! In the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, the College of Liberal Arts sat down with the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences’ Brian Anderson to get tips on how to break bad habits. And after the ice is melted, your meeting or training session will be met with less resistance and awkwardness than a cold start.How to kick off a great year of kicking bad habits. They also ease people into a focused and engaged mindset that’s conducive to ideation and learning. Since solo activities tend to appeal to introverted team members and the social interactions energize extroverts, the “Tattoo You” icebreaker can strengthen connections between participants with different personality types.Įffective icebreakers compel interactions between employees and establish a comfort level in the room. People should continue moving around the room until they’ve exchanged tattoo stories with everyone. When time’s up, all participants should find someone in the room and explain the significance of their tattoo.

Start by providing each participant with a blank sheet of paper and markers, and direct them to take three to five minutes to draw a tattoo of something that represents them. It’s ideal for 15 or fewer people at any level in your organization and takes about 15 minutes.

You can use it as a morning icebreaker to introduce new teams or to nudge folks out of a post-lunch food coma. The last icebreaker is called “Tattoo You,” and Seton Hall University in New Jersey is rumored to use it when introducing new students and faculty. In your own company, use it to get senior leadership in the positive habit of seeking out opportunity in the face of negative news. HBO and Merck have used “That’s Fantastic!” as a way to practice turning adversity into opportunity.
