Habit Rewards
In a previous post, Triggers, I discussed a method of helping you remember to do various actions. That is really only one step one of the process of creating a habit.
Another step that is very important is rewarding the process that you want to create into a habit.
If we do something, even an action that we want to turn into a habit, and we don't reward ourselves, the positive feedback that wires our brain isn't as effective. To make a stronger habit circuit in your brain, it's important to add a habit reward to the process.
Habit Reward
So what is a habit reward?
It's very simple. When you do something that you want to turn into a habit, something that you want to do automatically, you have to rewire your brain circuitry. This is done in the brain with neurochemical transmitters (enough biology for this post...) creating a positive feedback loop. The best way of doing this is to reward yourself after doing something you want to make a habit.
A habit reward can be anything that makes you feel good about what you just did. It can be something physical (i.e. giving yourself a cookie) or it can be psychological (i.e. giving yourself a "mental" atta-boy!)
The important part about this is to (a) actually GIVE yourself a reward that means something to you and (b) give it consistently after the behavior and (c) give is immediately after the action you want to reward.
Immediate Rewards Foster Behavior and Habits
I use rewards to help create the habits that I want in my life. I use it to help me create these blog posts on a regular basis.
Now that I am done with this post....it's time for a cookie.
How will YOU reward yourself for the habits you want to create?
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