Record the Habit Triggers
We are constantly bombarded with cues to take certain actions. Sometimes they’re external where a sight, sound, or smell creates a craving. Other times, it’s an internal sensation that sparks this desire.
To make a permanent change, you need to fully understand when and why these “triggers” occur. You can easily do this by recording five pieces of information whenever you feel the need to complete a bad habit:
Location: Record where you are
Time: Write down the exact time when you felt the urge
Mood: Record your emotional state
People: Who is with you or who is around you?
Action: What did you just do? What are you currently doing?
The key to this exercise is repetition. Focus on recording these five data points in the first few weeks of the new habit change. Do this for awhile and you’ll notice a number of patterns that provide amazing insight into your bad habit.
EXAMPLE:
Let’s say you’re trying to curb your consumption of alcohol. On the surface, it might seem like an innocent activity. But this drinking habit has led to a number of problems: arguments at home, decreased productivity at work and even a DUI last month. What was once a fun activity has now turned into a serious issue.
In addition to seeking help from others (more on this later), you’d get insight on this habit by tracking its triggers. After careful recording, you notice that these five patterns stand out:
Location: At O’Brien’s Bar & Grille
Time: 3:13 PM
Mood: Stressed out
People: With “The Guys” – Frank, Bill and Dave
Action: Watching the baseball game
Your goal is to minimize your drinking. So after tracking this habit for a few weeks, you realize that the problem most occurs when you’re stressed out or feel like hanging out “The Guys” and watching the ballgame.
By analyzing these triggers, you now know that your drinking is caused by a desire to feel relaxed and reduce stressed. More importantly, it’s an activity you prefer to share with other people.