The Golden Rule of Habit Change

Habit change for myself and my clients is a major part of what I do with Wholesome Days Wellness and I am fascinated daily by this. I done a lot of reading on the topic but nothing surpasses this wonderful book I'm going to share an extract from...

This is an extract from the book...The Power of Habit - Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

How do habits change?

There is, unfortunately, no specific set of steps guaranteed to work for every person. We know that a habit cannot be eradicated - it must, instead, be replaced. And we know that habits are most maleable when the Golden Rule of habit change is applied: If we keep the same cue and the same reward, a new routine can be inserted.

But that's not enough. For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible. And most often, that belief only emerges with the help of a group.

If you want to quit smoking, figure out a different routine that will satisfy the cravings filled by cigarettes. Then, find a support group, a collection of other former smokers, or a community that will help you believe you can stay away from the nicotine, and use that group when you feel you might stumble.

If you want to lose weight, study your habits to determine why you really leave your desk for a snack each day, and then find someone else to take a walk with you, to gossip with at their desk rather than in the cafeteria, a group that tracks weight-loss goals together or someone who also wants to keep a stock of apples, rather than chips, nearby.

The evidence is clear. If you want to change a habit, you must find an alternative routine, and your odds of success go up dramatically when you commit to changing as part of a group. Belief is essential, and it grows out of a communal experience, even if that community is only as large as two people.

We know that change can happen. Alcoholics can stop drinking. Smokers can quit puffing. Perennial losers can become champions. You can stop biting your nails or snacking at work, yelling at your kids, staying up all night, or worrying over small concerns. And as scientists have discovered, it's not individual lives that can shift when habits are tended to. It's also companies, organisations and communities.