Know yourself and find the good habits that suit your nature
Editor’s note: This article is excerpted from “The Secret of Good Habits” by Gretchen Rubin.
Habit is an invisible structure in daily life. Almost every day we repeat about 40% of our behaviors. It can be said that habits shape our way of living and our future.
If we can change our habits, we can change our lives.
It’s easy to imagine that if we copy the habits of productive and creative people, we can achieve similar success.
In fact, everyone must develop habits that are effective for themselves. The most important thing is to know yourself, and then choose the strategy that suits you.
Are you a lark or an owl?
Research shows that people who like to get up early (i.e. the lark type) and people who like to stay up late (i.e. owl Type) is really very different. Most people fall between these two types, but people at these two extremes (the two types are measured by the midpoint of sleep) do exist.
The specific time periods when these two types of people are most efficient and active each day will be different.
Many people who believe that the owl type can become a lark type as long as they try to go to bed earlier, but studies have shown that this type of sleep habit is actually innate, and genes play a big role. , And the influence of age is also relatively large: young children are mostly lark-shaped; adults are more inclined to owl-shaped (at the time of this habit change, women mostly appear at about 19.5 years old, and men mostly appear at about 21 years old); More inclined to the lark type.
Interestingly, studies have shown that lark-type people are happier, healthier, and more satisfied with life than owl-type people. Owl-shaped people fall asleep later than lark-shaped people, and according to their work and life arrangements, they need to get up earlier. Therefore, owl-shaped people generally sleep less, which makes them feel that life is very hard. .
Lark type, Owl type and other people in between, consider their own nature when trying to form a habit.
“Owl” shouldn’t bother to develop the habit of getting up in the morning, and “lark” shouldn’t arrange a two-hour writing task after dinner.
Are you a long-distance runner or a sprinter?
For work habits, find out Chu people’s work pace preference is very important.
Some people are long-distance runners who like to work at a slow and steady pace, and don’t like deadlines—in fact, they often finish their work early.
In comparison, sprinters tend to concentrate and work with explosive power. They will deliberately wait until the deadline is approaching before starting to work, using pressure to sharpen their thinking.
For example: Never prepare speech materials in advance, until everyone is seated, and he will start to conceive speech content when he is about to step onto the podium. Only in this case can he be inspired.
Another example: I like to be completely immersed in a project in a short period of time, so that I can concentrate and work more efficiently. Concentrate on tasks and time, and work efficiency will increase.
Sprinters and long-distance runners generally feel good about their own way of working, but procrastinators are different.
Procrastinators may be somewhat similar to sprinters because they also tend to start work when the deadline is approaching, but these two kinds of people are actually very different.
Sprinters choose to work at the last minute because the pressure of the deadline makes their thinking clearer; but procrastinators hate the pressure of the last minute, they just hope to force themselves to be at the deadline Finish the work before the date.
Unlike sprinters, procrastinators are often bored with things they haven’t started yet, which makes it difficult for them to make the most of their time to act. They may run around and do urgent things in this way to escape from what they must do.
Sprinters call long-distance runners “inefficient”, long-distance runners call sprinters “responsible”, butThere is no absolutely correct way in the world. If procrastinators can change their work habits and work more steadily, they will be happier.
Do you like shopping?
People who don’t like shopping hate shopping and shopping, while shopaholics love shopping and shopping.
Shopaholics will find various reasons to let themselves buy things. They will stock up a lot of office supplies, small kitchen items or travelpacking appliances, thinking “maybe it will happen someday Used it”.
When trying to develop a new habit, shopaholics will buy a lot of equipment or services that they feel help maintain the good habit. People who don’t like shopping will think, “I don’t have to buy running shoes, these old tennis shoes can still be worn.” Shopaholics will think, “I need to buy a pair of running shoes, I have to prepare another pair, and I have to buy a reflective vest. , A pedometer and a book about running.”
Understanding the tendency to buy less or more can help us identify opportunities to buy or not, and help us develop good habits. Those who do not like shopping should keep in mind that it is worthwhile to spend money on shopping to support a good habit, and shopaholics should keep in mind that consumption alone is not enough to develop a good habit.
Do you like simplicity or plenty?
People who prefer the simple will be fascinated by the idea of ”less”: empty, unobstructed countertops and shelves, rare choices, and generous wardrobes.
Throwing away things makes him happier than owning them. Noisy sounds, messy objects, or many things happening at the same time, these can easily upset him.
Those who prefer abundance are obsessed with “more”: the feeling of flooding, extra, abundance or full pantry. Being rich still cannot satisfy them, they always want more.
They like noise, collect things, and have more choices.
People who prefer simple and those who prefer more have different preferences for the environment. For example, those who prefer simplicity may work more efficiently in a quiet and simply decorated office; while those who prefer ample work can be more efficient in a vibrant and well-decorated office.Work well.
When changing habits, people with simple preferences may be attracted by actions designed to eliminate or simplify, such as canceling cable TV services or quitting online shopping to save money. Those with abundance may be interested in additional and diverse behaviors, such as starting a freelance career or learning how to invest.
Are you a terminator or opener?
Some people like to end a thing (Terminator), and some people like to start a thing again (Opener). This statement has both literal and metaphorical meaning.
Terminators like the feeling that the project is completed, they will use up the last drop of liquid in the shampoo bottle; the opener will be excited about starting a new project, and they will feel like opening a new tube The toothpaste is a very happy thing.
If we know whether we are a terminator or an opener, then we can adapt our habits to this.
For example, when you are ready to develop the habit of blogging on a regular basis, you set up a blog and publish a blog post 6 days a week; when one day’s blog post is published, the work is done for you Up.
As a typical opener, he bought more than 300 URLs and operated 12 sites. This is still not enough, he is always thinking about building new sites, which is in line with his desire to keep opening up.
Terminators focus on their ability to get things done, so they may be extra cautious about forming new habits; and starters may be overly optimistic about their ability to form new habits.
Do you prefer familiarity or novelty?
Some people like familiar things, while others like novel things.
For those who prefer familiarity, it becomes relatively easy to do things when the habit becomes familiar.
Those who prefer novelty may accept it before the habit is formed.
For example, some people may think: “I see the same faces every day when I go to work, which makes me feel dull, so one day a week I will work in another office to experience some changes.”
In fact, those who prefer novelty may do things better through a series of short-term actions.
For example, for a 30-day challenge, they will not try to establish a long-term, mechanized habit. Some people will think: “I like to arrange my daily schedule and keep making plans to develop new habits. Deep down in my heart, I have always rejected doing the same thing in the same way, and the hectic state of trying new things will Makes me feel good.”
YouDo you like gradual progress or rapid progress?
Many people like to make progress while doing something at the beginning, which makes it easier to succeed. A series of small and tangible results can give people confidence and move on.
B.J. Fogg, a well-known behavioral research expert, put forward the view of “small habit”: People can start a new habit by reading a book and other simple behaviors, and through these small steps, they can take a long-term habit. This slow accumulation of small successes can be exciting and sustainable. Making changes gradually in smaller steps can make it easier to stick to new habits and avoid the exhausting frustration that we always want to do overnight.
Similarly, through small steps, we can gradually adapt to incorporating certain habits into our daily lives. The habit of forming a habit is more valuable than the habit itself. For example, the habit of recording expenses every day is more valuable than any one-time expense calculation. Maintaining good habits can strengthen our habitual behavior.
Of course, some people will perform better when they are ambitious. Sometimes it is easier to make big changes than small ones.
If the process of changing a habit is very slow, we may lose interest, may give up under pressure, or even think that the change is irrelevant and stop taking it in mind.
There are no magic formulas that can be applied. We cannot make ourselves more creative or more effective by copying the habits of others. We must understand our own nature and understand what habits are best for us. .
This book summarizes 7 strategies for changing habits and 9 ways to strengthen habits without deliberate practice. The book provides practical and feasible methods to help us gradually reshape our habits of eating, sleeping, work, etc., so that we can find the most suitable method for ourselves, develop good habits, and gain healthy diet and sleep. A good life without delay.
Book Title: The Secret of Good Habits
Original title: Better Than Before: Mastering Habits of Our Everyday Lives
Author: [US] Gretchen Rubin
Publisher: CITIC Press
Author Introduction
Gretchen Rubin
Graduated from Yale University with a law degree. The best-selling author of The New York Times, one of the most influential experts in the field of global habits and happiness, and the author of the best-selling books “The Philosophy of Happiness” and “Happiness Ending”. Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and her global sales have exceeded one million copies.
She served as Justice Sandra Day of the U.S. Supreme Court. Aokang’s assistant, also Served as an advisor to Reed Hunter, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. One of the world’s three major commercial media brands, “Fast Company” magazine, included Gretchen Rubin on the list of “Most Creative Business People”.