Understanding and Changing Habits

What is a habit?

• A one-time event

• A random action we do occasionally

• A conscious decision made every time

• A fixed way of thinking that leads to automatic behavior

What is the main benefit of having habits?

• They lead to automatic behavior

• They make us rethink our actions

• They always have good side effects

• They prevent us from progressing

What analogy is used to explain how habits are formed?

• A city with roads

• A school with classrooms

• A farm with pathways

• A forest with trails

What does Farmer Joe do every morning?

• Walks to the vegetable garden, then the chicken shed, then the mailbox

• Goes straight to the house

• Checks his mailbox first

• Feeds his chickens first

What is a habit loop?

• A cycle of thoughts

• A one-time event

• A sequence of trigger, routine, and reward

• A random set of actions

What neurotransmitter is released as a reward in the habit loop?

• Dopamine

• Serotonin

• Oxytocin

• Adrenaline

What does Charles Duhigg recommend for changing a habit?

• Ignoring the habit

• Redesigning the habit loop

• Keeping the same routine

• Avoiding all triggers

What should you do if a habit problem gets very serious?

• Keep the same routine

• Ignore the problem

• Increase the reward

• Remove the trigger

What is a suggested strategy for dealing with procrastination?

• Waiting for motivation

• Ignoring the task

• Focusing for short periods and rewarding yourself

• Taking long breaks

What is the key to changing tricky habits?

• Taking many small steps

• Ignoring the habit

• Avoiding all triggers

• Making drastic changes