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Habits That Stick

The Science of Habit Formation

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About Me

Hello!

  • Founded Mind the Test Tutoring
  • MPhil Psychology & Education, University of Cambridge
  • BA Linguistics, minor in ancient Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, University of Chicago

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Worksheet

In your journal, write Goal 1 on one page, Goal 2 on the next, and Goal 3 on the next. Leave both sides blank for journaling and future check-ins.

Or virtual:

Today's prompts and future check-ins:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Favz5CQJatFit5BgXyCJrTB0_jAlpgCg2xjCr1_4sY/edit?tab=t.0

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Seligman’s PERMA Theory of Wellbeing

Positive Emotion – happy, excited

Engagement – flow, being fully “in the zone”

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Seligman’s PERMA Theory of Wellbeing

Relationships – family, friends, community

Meaning – part of something bigger than yourself: spiritual, political, values.

Achievements – proud, reaching your goals and feeling a sense of competence and mastery (work, physical, hobbies, etc.)

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Bike and playground trips with my toddler. Weekend hot chocolate runs. Choo-choo adventures.

More healthy chocolate baking. Back massage for pain. Real travel with toddler. Make a documentary watch list with husband and work through it instead of random TV.

Buying food from fast food, drive-thrus, muffins. Taking toddler to “the muffin store” because she’s happier at the park.

Playing the trumpet in band. Teaching rather than doing tons of business stuff. Leave phone plugged in/in the car/at home.

Exercise??? Get my morning yoga friends call going again.

Listening to audiobooks/podcasts 24/7. Making up excuses to check phone. Shopping online all the time.

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Inviting new friends for tea. Calling on the phone instead of texting. Setting up facetime calls for toddler and family. Taking health and migraines seriously so I can be awake and present more.

Host a recurring monthly Friday pizza and tea-tasting night open house (no kids) and a recurring monthly Saturday toddler playdate. Make recurring plans with Delaware friends for Wednesdays. Plan in advance.

Being on phone. Not inviting people because I think they won’t want to drive.

???

Yoga with friends. Join the Civic Association.

Running myself ragged trying to save the world.

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Teaching. Using todoist and my weekly priority check-ins. Physical therapy to work toward hiking goals.

Give talks at NTPA conference.

Worrying about money. Beating myself up for not reaching my hiking goals because of health. Doing things with toddler that I know hurt my back.

N/A

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Reflect, Write, Discuss:

What are 3 goals you have for this year?

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Reflect, Write, Discuss:

Envision yourself 1 year from now. You did not achieve your goals. What stopped you?

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Make It Small

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The 2-Minute Rule

“Mastering the Art of Showing Up” with Gateway Habits

From James Clear’s Atomic Habits

  • “When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.”
  • Read a book each month Read one page/day
  • Work out for an hour Do 5 pushups/day
  • Create your identity
  • Spaced repetition

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Reflect, Write, Discuss:

For each goal, what is the smallest 2-minute habit you can think of to point you in the right direction?

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Make It Easy

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The Fogg Behavior Model

From Tiny Habits, by BJ Fogg, Stanford professor

  • Motivation varies, so take advantage when it is high to improve ability

  • If prompts are not salient (visible and obvious), it won’t happen

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Reflect, Write, Discuss:

When motivation is high, how will you up-skill?

What classes/instructional videos/books can you use? How could you buy or borrow something to make it easier, such as a kitchen gadget?

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Habit Stacking

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Neurons that fire together

wire together

Habit Stacking, as described in James Clear’s Atomic Habits and BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits

  • Our brains remember repeated connections by strengthening connections between specific neurons
  • The more we repeat the actions, the stronger the connections become
  • Activities that our brains link together help us remember them

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Creating habit stacks

  • When habit stacking, the more specific, the better
  • Before work, I will work out After I turn on the coffee maker, I will do 5 pushups.
  • I will be a more grateful person “After I sit down to dinner, I will say one thing I’m grateful for that happened today.”
  • I will be tidy “After I finish eating dinner, I will put my plate directly into the dishwasher.”

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Reflect, Write, Discuss:

What daily habits do you never forget to do? For example, getting out of bed, using the bathroom, or brushing your teeth.

Write a habit stack for 3 of your desired habits.

Before/after I (old habit)_______________, I will (new habit)_______________.

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Resources

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How to remember your habits and increase accountability

  • Put a sticky note on your mirror
  • Todoist app
  • Calendar app (Google Calendar); time blocking
  • Accountability buddy (online, friends, etc.)

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Book recommendations

  • Atomic Habits, James Clear
  • Tiny Habits, BJ Fogg
  • Make it Stick, Henry Roediger, Mark McDaniel, and Peter Brown
  • Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal
  • Flourish, Martin Seligman

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Thank you!

Please reach out for college prep tutoring or with any questions: anna@mindthetest.com

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mindthetest.com/blog

Please reach out for college prep tutoring or with any questions: anna@mindthetest.com