simple life habits

May 2011

#9 Seeking to Change a Behavior Forever, and Not for a Short Time

by Jonathan 05.30.2011
Short term Myki smartcard ticket, issued on a ...

While there are bad habits that we want to abolish forever, we would do better off if we settled on focusing on changing most behaviors for a fixed time. I believe, that the reason that most of us do not make long term changes is because it is difficult for us to give up something [...]

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#8 Focusing on Abstract Goals Instead of Concrete Behaviors

by Jonathan 05.24.2011
Goal Setting

Setting goals is not as easy as most people think. In fact, most people do not put the effort into goal setting as much as they should. While writing down your goals is a good step to take, getting absolute clarity on your goals is essential. You cannot just write down general goals and expect [...]

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#7 Believing That Information Leads to Action

by Jonathan 05.21.2011
Image representing Penzu as depicted in CrunchBase

There is another myth that many of us have boughten into without even realizing it. It is a deceiving quality that is dressed up like progress but underneath is procrastination. It is so subtle that we can go for months or years without realizing that it is taking over our lives. In many ways, our [...]

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#6 Underestimating the Power of Triggers

by Jonathan 05.19.2011
Example of an American grocery store aisle.

Have you ever made a commitment to making a change in your life only to go back on that commitment days if not hours later? After we engage in that bad behavior, we wonder how can we so easily go back on our word. This is especially frustrating if this has gone on for years [...]

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#5: Blaming Failures on Lack of Motivation

by Jonathan 05.18.2011
Jogging with dog at Carcavelos Beach

There is another deadly trap that we set for ourselves when it comes to changing bad behaviors and habits. This trap is one that we set for ourselves. Oftentimes it even makes us feel better to sabotage ourselves in this way. You didn’t realize that you are your biggest enemy at times? Yep that is right. [...]

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#4 Trying to Stop Old Behaviors Instead of Creating New Ones

by Jonathan 05.16.2011
Bad Habits store

So many of us have wanted to change things in our life that we were not too happy about. Maybe it was a bad habit, a routine that no longer worked for you, or just bad choices that you seemed to make over and over again. Whatever it is, focusing on it does not help. [...]

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#3 Ignoring How Environment Shapes Behavior

by Jonathan 05.13.2011
Stanford University Quad Sky

I recently read that up to 90% of what we do everyday is habitual. In other words, a great majority of your day is a sum of habits that you do. Think through what you do every morning when you wake up and how you go about your day. Life is a sum of your [...]

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#2 Attempting Big Leaps Instead of Baby Steps

by Jonathan 05.12.2011
goal setting mistakes

Let’s face it making big changes in our life is very hard. There is a phenomenon that we have discussed on this blog before. It is called habit gravity. Habit gravity referes to the intense amount of pressure that you feel early on when you are trying to make changes. It is almost as if someone [...]

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#1 Relying on Willpower Will Not Change Your Bad Habits

by Jonathan 05.10.2011
Jogging in the Fifth Avenue

Stanford University recently did a lengthly study in behavior change. All of us have things that we wish we could change about ourselves. Have you ever wondered why you cannot change the negative habits in your life? Join me as we discuss the top 10 mistakes to behavior change. This will open your eyes to [...]

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5 of My Favorite Motivational Quotes

by Jonathan 05.09.2011
Zig Ziglar

Motivational quotes can help us when we are feeling down. Oftentimes when we get depressed it is because all we are looking at is our circumstances. Inspirational quotes can get you out of the downward spiral that you are experiencing and help you to change your perspective. Today, I want to share with you a [...]

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