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2-Per-Specht-ives


Nov 23, 2020

In this week’s episode, David explains why habits matter. Habits are often talked about in a negative context, but he reveals that establishing positive habits can help you.

Three Ways Habits Help You:

  • They can take your conscious mind out of routines, freeing you up to focus on what’s important.
  • They can be set up to trigger your mind into a mode of productivity.
  • They can bring a sense of accomplishment.

While habits are usually referenced in a negative light because there’s a focus on avoiding doing the wrong things, being intentional about setting good habits will lead you in the right direction.

By setting up healthy habits, it takes your conscious mind out of routines. The mind wants to automate as much as possible, so if you develop the right habits then your mind can trust the basics are handled and concentrate on the things that matter.

Positive habits can trigger productivity. Doing something as simple as drinking coffee every day right before work can trigger your brain to be in a mode to complete a project. When you recognize these triggers, you can consciously set them up as habits to create a desired end result.

Set up a habit that brings a sense of accomplishment. Taking the time to make your bed every morning shows that you made something happen, that you do have control over something. 

That habit of accomplishment also allows you to start your day with gratitude. The modern world is filled with so many outside stimuli that can get in the way of how you start your day, but don’t pick up the cell phone until you get that sense of accomplishment and gratitude so you can have interactions that enhance your day. A habit of beginning your day with accomplishment will overflow into your interactions throughout your day, and you will begin finding things to be grateful for. 

Atomic Habits by James Clear notes that building habits is not as simple as doing something for 21 days. It’s creating that positive reinforcement to train your brain to recognize what your trigger is, and that causes you to do something then you get rewarded.

Create a different reaction for your trigger and a new reward. Breaking these cycles causes your brain to lean into the new habit you’ve established instead of following the old one. 

Idle time can cause your brain to wander and get in a place that hurts your productivity. Building the right routines into your daily life means you’re not fighting yourself and the environment around you.