I've been reading a great book by Charles Guhigg, "The Power of Habit".
It was recommended by my friend Niki Mathias on her blog "Five Flat Tires" and it is fascinating to learn more about how humans work, especially our brains. As I started to spend more time working towards being healthier, one of my mantras was "A good habit is as easy to adopt as a bad one". Whether it is eating better or exercising more I figured that I just needed to give myself enough time to let a habit develop and I'd be on my way. Turns out it worked!
Little did I know that there's quite a bit of science behind that simple little mantra. Much of the learning by scientists, physicians, and others has been done in the last 10-15 years, especially with regard to the brain. This is where Guhigg's book is so helpful. It brings the science to me in a way I can understand it and actually spend a fair amount of time contemplating it and how it relates to me.
I want to restate a paragraph from Guhigg's book here to illustrate how important a simple change in a habit like exercise is and the ripple effect it can have on your life and on those around you.
"...Take for instance, studies from the past decade examining the impacts of exercise on daily routines. When people start habitually exercising, even as infrequently as once a week, they start changing other, unrelated patterns in their lives, often unknowingly. Typically, people who exercise start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. It's not completely clear why. But for many people exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change. "Exercise spills over," said James Prochaska, a University of Rhode Island researcher. "There's something about it that makes other good habits easier."
Guhigg notes the specific studies and provides other examples of how habits are so important to us. It is simple but not easy, much like most anything that is life changing. Pick the book up and learn more, it's fascinating!
