Winter 2018-19

Change bad habits in 2019

Many of us start the new year with high hopes. Exercise more often, eat healthier and save more money are some of the most common New Year’s resolutions. While these may sound like realistic goals, statistics show that 80 percent of resolutions fail by February.

Rather than focusing on developing new habits this year, you may consider changing some bad ones.

The book, The Power of Habit, explains why habits exist and how they can be changed. Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times business reporter, Charles Duhigg, provides a new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation.

According to Duhigg, the key to exercising regularly, losing weight, becoming more productive, and achieving success comes down to understanding how habits work. Routines are part of a habit loop that’s triggered by cues and rewards. Knowing these cues and rewards can help you shake off unwanted habits and transform your life.

Check out the author’s TED Talk to understand how habits function. He explains:

• How habits work and where they reside in our brain
• Why we struggle to change routines
• How paying attention to cues and rewards give you the ability to change any habit in your life

As you start a new year, bad habits don’t have to be your destiny. Understanding how habits work can help you make any change you want in your life.