Sunday, May 31, 2015

Get Into the Habit



"It's just a bad habit" - words that we are very accustomed to hearing...and yet how much thought do we give to our habits, be it good or bad. The truth of the matter is that it is not easy to form a good habit. If it was easy, then life would be a bowl of cherries. We would all be healthy and happy individuals.

Well, lucky for us there are strategies we can use to help us form good habits. It begins with self-knowledge; that is, understanding ourselves. The more self-aware we are about our
behaviours, the more changes (for the better) we can make in life.

Gretchen Rubin, author of the book Better than Before, provides us with a Quiz to help us in our habit breaking or making. This blog is a continuation from the previous blogs.

So simply give it a read through, and whichever 'tendency' you see yourself being - then that awareness will help you in your drive to obtain and sustain favourable habits. 


Quiz: The Four Tendencies

What tendencies do you feel you follow the most?

Upholder Tendency

  •  I feel uncomfortable if I’m with someone who’s breaking a rule. E.g. using a cell phone when the sign reads “No cell phones” – even if that person isn’t going to get into trouble and isn’t bothering anyone.
  • I can meet a self-imposed deadline, even one that’s set somewhat arbitrarily.
  • I’ve made New Year’s resolutions in the past, and I usually have good success in keeping them. (Note: this question is specifically about New Year’s resolutions.)
  • It’s just as important to keep my promises to myself as it is to keep my promises to other people.
  • Other people sometimes feel annoyed by my level of discipline. I’ve been accused of being rigid.


Questioner Tendency

  • If I want to make a change in my life I will make it right away. I won’t make a New Year’s resolution because January 1st is a meaningless date.
  • It’s very important for me to make well-reasoned decisions; in fact, other people sometimes become frustrated by my demand for information and sound reasons.
  • It really bothers me when I’m asked to do something for what seems to be an arbitrary reason.
  •  I like to hear from experts, but I decide for myself what course to follow. Even if I’m given a very specific instruction (say with an exercise routine), I’ll tweak it according to my own judgement.
  • I can start a new habit without much effort, if it’s something that makes sense for my aims. Otherwise I won’t do it.
  •  I question the validity of the Four Tendencies framework.


Obliger Tendency
  •  People often turn to me for help- edit a report, to take over a carpool run, to speak at a conference at the last minute – because they know I’ll pitch in, even when I am swamped myself.
  •  I’ve given up making New Year’s resolutions, because I never keep them.
  • I’ll do something to be a good role model for someone else, even if it’s not something that I’d do for myself: practice piano, eat vegetables, quit smoking.
  • I get frustrated by the fact that I make time for other people’s priorities, but struggle to make time for my own. 
  • In my life, I’ve adopted some good habits, but I often struggle without success to form others.


Rebel Tendency

  • I don’t make New Year resolutions or try to form habits. I won’t cage myself in like that.
  •  I do what I want to do; I’m true to myself, not other people’s expectations.
  • If someone asks or tells me to do something, I often have the impulse to refuse.
  • Other people sometimes become frustrated because I won’t do what they want me to do.
  • I enjoy a challenge as long as I choose to accept it and can tackle it in my own way.
  • If I’m expected to do something – even something fun, like a woodworking class- I have the urge to resist’ the expectation takes the fun out of an activity that I enjoy.