Sometimes we try a technique to fix a bad habit and we fail. We attempt diets and exercise routines that don’t work. We move on to the next best option to see if that helps, but relapses occur. If you can’t seem to make a bad habit stick, it’s time to conduct a postmortem and get to the root of the problem.
Photo by Andrew Dyson
Elizabeth Grace Saunders, writing for productivity and ideas blog the 99u, explains how you can learn from these failures to change:
To experience lasting habit change, you need to look at the situation as an opportunity to learn what you can do to create a different outcome in the future. Instead of overreacting to the blip, step back from it, see it as an incident instead of an indictment, and then examine it like Sherlock Holmes looking for clues.
For example, you could ask yourself: What happened before the slip? Did I encounter a specific trigger event such as a last-minute client request? Was there an unusual circumstance such as sickness? When did I first notice the reversion in my behaviour? Is some part of this routine unsustainable and if so, how could I adjust it to make it more realistic?
If you ask yourself those questions, you should be able to get to the root of the problem and then figure out if you can use the same technique with some adjustments or if you’re the one who needs adjusting.
What to Do When You Fall Back Into Your Old, Less Productive Ways [The 99u]
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