Behavioral psychologists have done tons of experiments in order to find how the person learns new behavior and how a new habit is formed.
There are so many techniques, out of which we have compiled 4 the most effective ways to stick to a new habit:
- Conditioning
- Modeling
- Trial and error methods
- Using positive and negative reinforcements
Let’s discuss all of them in detail:
4 PSYCHOLOGICALLY APPROVED WAYS TO STICK TO NEW HABIT
1. Trial And Error:
Behavioral psychologists use the technique called trial and error that states you do it once it goes wrong you do it again and again until you reach the point of success. You will fail to adapt your habit one day, two days, three days, weeks, or maybe months. But the consistency of your efforts will make you successful in your achieving your goal one day.
Try, trying, and trying again. The ultimate goal of acquiring a new habit is to not give up and keep trying. The moment you give up you become a loser. The only thing you have to give up is only on the bad things that are going inside you so that your good habits become more efficient, powerful, strong, and difficult to leave. See the good in the bad.
“It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.” ―Benjamin Franklin
2. Modeling Method:
One more effective thing is making a person your role model who has already achieved that habit. Behavioral psychologists call this method modeling. i.e. we intimate the people that we have perceived our role models. Hence making such people role models can highly contribute to forming a new habit
Observation is a skill you need highly in adapting to new habits. First of all, you have to find out all the things that are becoming a cause of failure in adapting to the new habit. After finding the root cause you have to work on it in order to avoid backfire of your new strategy of adapting to the new habit.
“The secret to permanently breaking any bad habit is to love something greater than the habit.” ―Bryant McGill
3. Conditioning :
Psychologists use a technique called conditioning in order to make a behavior learned. Hence you can condition your self too. Another trick to achieve the goal of your new habit is to practice it daily. Because the consistency of your work will make your life more organized happy and comfortable.
For example, if you want to adopt the habit of going to bed early and you find it difficult. Ask your mom to come to your room sharp at 9. Condition your self that when mom will come to my room whatever I am doing I have to leave it and go to bed. Hence using this simple yet effective technique can help you stick to your new habit
“Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.” ―Stephen Covey
4. MAKE SMALL GOALS AND REWARD YOUR SELF:
Try to make small achievable goal while forming a new habit so that it gives you a boost that you are able to do it. Don’t let your spark go away with discouragement.
Let’s take an example of going to bed early if you sleep at 11 o clock you will find it very difficult to sleep at 9 the next day. So you can make a small achievable goal. You can decide to go to bed at 10.30 and when you achieve your goal practice and start to reduce the time until you are able to achieve it.
Psychologists use a technique called reinforcement.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: That is a reward to your self every time you succeed in achieving your goal.
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: that is to punish your self when you fail to achieve the goal.
In the end, just remember:
“The best way to stop a bad habit is to never begin it.” ―J.C. Penney
Now I want to listen from you, which step you will implement first?
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