Habits fuels our goals • 3 min read
Neuroscientists have traced our habit-making behaviours to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia. It is responsible for many things including our emotions, learning and behaviours.
When a behaviour is not automatic, we need to make decisions using a different part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex.
When a behaviour becomes automatic (a habit), we no longer need to think and the decision making part of the brain goes into sleep mode.
Introduction
Goals and motivation are the ingredients to get us started, habits are what keep us on track.
Each one of our habits serve us in some shape or form - even the "bad" ones - that's why we always go back to them.
Typically, our "good" habits will result in us achieving positive outcomes, while "bad" habits will result in us achieving negative outcomes.
The multiplication effect
Many of us try to make changes to our work practices but the results are not immediate so we go back to the way we've always operated. This is perfectly natural, it happens to all of us!
Whether we need to manage our team better, hit a target, or find a better work-life balance, we often rely on big moments or transformations that will bring about our desired outcome.
Our key message is that good things take time and whatever area we need to develop, it will require hard work and dedication.
Think big, act small
We want you to continually think big and act small. "Why small?" you ask. Well, success, however we define it, rarely comes about with ground breaking change. It's the small changes that may seem trivial or unimportant at first that translate into extraordinary results. This is because the effects of our habits multiply over time as we repeat them.
Let’s look at how habits can work for and against us.
The multiplication effect in practice
1. Positive multiplication
a) Recognising good work from a colleague is useful on occasions, but if applied consistently, it can improve their morale, performance and commitment to the company.
b) Posting an article is a small feat in any given day but it can turn you into a thought leader, if done on a regular basis
c) Meditating once does not suddenly make you "zen", but practicing it consistently over (just!) 8 weeks can increase the gray matter in parts of the brain that are responsible for learning, memory, and emotional regulation
2. Negative multiplication
a) The more negative self talk we harbour, the more it negatively impacts our self-belief, esteem and ability to achieve our goals
b) Common causes of stress in the workplace are manageable by themselves, but if these persist over time they can lead to serious health issues
c) The less you help out colleagues, the less they will want to help you
Key takeaways
Goals and motivation are the ingredients to get us started. Habits are what keep us on track.
The effects of our habits multiply over time as we repeat them. They can either have positive or negative outcomes.
Good things take time and whatever area we need to develop, it will require hard work and dedication.
Think big. act small
Identify one positive habit that could have a significant impact on your performance or wellbeing.
What positive outcome could that bring about if repeated over time?
What can you do today to begin developing that positive habit?
Content sources
Atomic Habits, James Clear
Forbes, How To Develop Positive Compounding Habits As A Leader, Jon Dwoskin
National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Cortical and basal ganglia contributions to habit learning and automaticity, Gregory Ashby, Benjamin Turner and Job Horvitz
Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density, Sara Lazar et al
The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg
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