Creating a habit

Why do I always react the same way to a certain situation? Analyzing our behavior becomes an arduous task that we must perform day in and day out. The same mental patterns that led us to make a "mistake" could be the triggers of a new failure.

To be able to guide other people in their subjective search for happiness you first have to fight against the resistance to change that they have and the only way we have to do it is through self-knowledge and analysis of the advantages offered by the environment to carry out that dreamed goal, a goal for which the creation or restructuring of a habit becomes indispensable.

Types of motivations.

We all have an internal clock that will delimit that action destined to be repeated, taking into account how motivated we are while we do it.

The intrinsic or internal motivation is proper of the person. Everything we do with the greatest will in the world, taking into account interests, tastes or hobbies. I study a university career because I want to find the satisfaction of fulfilling my dreams in being a great veterinarian. There are no external conditioning factors. No one forces you to study.

Extrinsic motivations, on the other hand, are all the external demands or influences of society on our actions, not always conscious. Example, I will work overtime so that my mother has the quality of life she deserves. Both motivations do not have to be isolated in time. You can begin to motivate yourself, from the external level, to get good grades in some subject, without any affective involvement.

You have only one purpose, to get home and be congratulated for your academic success. However, while you study the subject and understand its true foundations, you manage to fall in love with it and from that moment on studying to pass becomes only a secondary objective, because you are already internally motivated.

Influence of habit on our motivation.

To create a habit and adopt a different lifestyle, we need motivation. According to Edward Lee Thorndike, one of the leading exponents of behavioral psychology, the law of effect refers to the feeling of satisfaction we have when we perform an action while motivated, thereby increasing the likelihood of repetition.

Don't claim victory just yet. The connection that begins to develop to create a habit, even if you are motivated, is too thin. What do I mean by this? If you want to start getting up at 7:00 am every day, it is not enough to predispose yourself only on Monday. You need 21 days to strengthen that fine connection. I'm sorry if you didn't want to hear it, but you do need discipline. Learning a trade, reading a book, or even watering the plants need dedication, time, space and willingness to learn.

Even so, if you decide to invest your time and energy watching the anime series you like so much, don't complain about not being able to move up in your job. Don't blame your boss anymore. Say NO to self-deception. You get what you give. It's only logical, buddy!

Trust yourself.

Albert Bandura, psychologist in social learning, recognized that if you positively reward an action of yours, it has the same effect, or more, than one reinforced by external laws. That is to say, if I usually incentivize in myself the joy that comes from finishing an exercise routine, I may be able to adopt the muscle tone I long for, but not if the only motivation to start my diet is to be called "fat".

Do not set your goals too high all at once. It is about starting to trust yourself. If it is too tedious to go to bed early, try to understand yourself. You created a habit before without having wanted it. You got into the habit of changing your sleeping hours. Eventually, you will reach an intermediate level of difficulty and you can have fun while teaching others who are just starting out.

Double learning for your little brain! Remember the fine line of habit? It will be thicker by now, because you've practiced over and over again.Eventually, you'll reach an intermediate level of difficulty and can have fun while teaching others who are just starting out.Double learning for your little brain! Remember the fine line of the habit? It will be thicker by now, because you've practiced over and over again.

Steps to follow to reinforce a habit.

Now, let's nuance, what are the steps you need to keep in mind to reinforce a habit?

• Step 1: Be realistic.

  You can't expect to lose 100 pounds in a month. You are not a wishing lamp. Exercise and start setting small goals little by little and for that you have to keep in mind WHAT you want to achieve.

• Step 2: Focus.

  If necessary write it down or draw it. Whatever it is possible so that it is stated on a specific paper or medium. Many times we imagine thousands of things and by not focusing we lose sight of them and we are left wandering in oblivion.

• Step 3: Analyze your conditions.

  How fit do you think you are going to be to diet and exercise if you spend 24 hours a day working at a buffet table, or surrounded by obese friends eating junk food? Don't tempt your willpower. It is very delicate, especially in the beginning. What you can do is to avoid, decrease or clearly express your limits, because I don't mean changing friends or quitting your job.

• Step 4: Learn.

  You should always be willing to learn. Technology is constantly modernizing, and so are human beings. Don't get stuck in old ways of thinking. Don't try to follow an old, outdated line of action just because a friend of a friend worked for him. No. Try your method and if you still don't see results. Learn another way to get it. Google exists, take advantage of it.

• Step 5: Congratulate yourself.

  If you've been accomplishing small goals for weeks now, congratulations! It's time for a little tap on the shoulder. Don't be intimidated by rigid discipline. Your congratulations and joy will help motivate you.

• Step 6: Time for big goals.

  Great, you've already set small tasks bit by bit. If you think you can now join new challenges, go ahead!

• Step 7: Have a plan B.

  Keep in mind that there are things you can't change. Don't stop setting secondary goals. It often helps to have a Plan B in case something happened that got out of your control. Believe in yourself. And also understand that we are human and that you didn't count on your cell phone being stolen, so giving up Android development is not your fault.

Reward yourself.

Once you have seen the steps to reinforce the new habit to implement, we will give you a series of options with which you can cover those small "rewards" that you are going to offer. Because you are worth it.

The first thing is to find out what you like. Whether it's a sweet treat or a favorite food. There is no one-size-fits-all recipe. There are people who like chocolate and others who like that in the top 10 list of sweets ¨no, thank you¨. Choose what you love and every time you complete an activity or goal I give you permission to give it to yourself.

Another element to consider is the hierarchical order of your responsibilities. Some people prefer to prioritize those difficult things in first order, and then have a state of relaxation during the day. It's up to you. Become your own genie of the lamp. You know that the list of priorities you write down must be accomplished. Yes or yes.

Of course, if one day you didn't do anything, don't cross anything off the list. Who are you kidding? That in the long run will not respond to any emotion and therefore no effect. And if you've been trying for several days and don't see progress, find the perfect method for you. No excuses. Don't give up the cause, never give up. Giving up only means that you don't want to achieve the end result. You can do it and you know it. You will see the results, just start enjoying the process.

Educate yourself.

Please. If you continue on the couch watching series and making a thousand excuses, you will continue to reward yourself but negatively and having emotions, all of them remarkable for their self-destructive power. And it would be very cruel for you to throw away everything you have achieved. Neither you nor I want you to punish yourself, don't we?

Instead, scold yourself like a little child. If you keep snacking, I won't give you that dessert you crave at the end of the meal. And voila. You're not punishing yourself, you're just educating yourself. Use behaviorism to your advantage, it's not for nothing that psychologists like Boris Frederick Skinner researched it to make your life easier. Don't take this method as a regular one, educate yourself first in a positive attitude, let's leave the bad and negative for Z plans.