Take Advantage of Fresh Starts
On average, Americans move every 11 years. We switch jobs every 4 years. I am in the process of doing both in 2 months.
Major life changes like these come with habit disruption. When you take away stable environments, behavior cues go with them. This disruption leads to initial stress.
What's my new route? Which one is the knife drawer? We have to rethink what was once automatic.
It’s also an opportunity for a fresh start. A blank slate.
With that being, here are some thoughts on how moving to a new apartment affected five of my habits.
Morning Meditation (Fragile Habit)
My journey to creating a blog and newsletter came from the success of building this habit. I use brushing my teeth in the morning as a cue. This became so routine that brushing and meditation turned into a single sequence for the past 1.5 years. Could I keep it up at the new place?
I consider meditation a fragile habit that needs continuous monitoring. Doing a bit of pre-planning was important. I would still start it after brushing but "where" needed to change.
I now share my bedroom with my partner. I couldn't do it in my bedroom. Finding a different location was key. The most logical choice was my new office located right next to the bathroom. I thought about proximity and other distractions if I moved it to the living room. I even rehearsed pretending to wake up, brushing my teeth, and walking into the second bedroom. It's been a flawless transition.
Shoes Off (New Habit)
I now keep my shoes outside the apartment door. Sounds easy but my brain has associated shoes come off after entering. I keep walking in, closing the door then realizing my shoes are still on. Old habits die hard. This is a work in progress.
Missing Smart Speaker (Habit Slips)
Habit slips are when we act out old habits in the wrong contexts. It's a slip-up. A funny error. It's the perfect example that habits aren't just repeated actions. Context cues matter.
At my old place, I had an Amazon Alexa speaker in my bathroom. I would ask it things while doing my business. Now she is gone but the cue is still strong. I keep getting internal signals from my brain to say "Alexa, what time is it?" then realizing no one is listening.
Turn off The Lights (Bad Habit)
There are some habits that we aren't aware we do. I have a bad habit of not turning off my bathroom light. I have become more aware now that my partner has noticed it. 😬
No Phone in the Bedroom (Improved Habit)
I already left my phone charger in the hallway at my old place but now it's even further away in the living room. Distance is friction. It's now rare that I bring my phone into the bedroom since it means walking even further.
It is a one-time action (moving charger) that will continue to pay dividends in the long term.
Sleep Procrastination (The Power of Others on Habits)
I procrastinate with sleeping. I know I should go to bed, but I stay up. It is one of my bad habits.
My partner has better self-regulation when it comes to bedtime. I still tend to get into bed after her but she is pushing me to bed earlier from her mere presence. Don't underestimate others on your habits.
3 takeaways From My Fresh Start
Planning and awareness ensure good habits persist. Think about contextual cues. Not motivation or willpower.
Your brain always wants to go on autopilot. Steer it in the right direction during this critical time.
A true blank slate doesn't come often. Take advantage of it. Or be cautious of it. Good and bad habits can form during these times.
🍲 Fasting For Simplicity
Everyone talks about the health benefits of fasting but I do it because it makes life simpler.
One less meal to think about.
No prepping an extra meal or buying one.
Helps me avoid snacking at night
I don't skip breakfast. I delay it a few hours then skip lunch. Lunch is my least favorite meal. This is easier since WFH became a thing.
I fast on weekdays and do a 16:8 fast; which means eating my first meal at noon and my last around 8 pm. On weekends, I cycle off. I want to enjoy brunch with my partner and socialize at night with friends.
Fasting isn't for everyone. Some people have strong hunger in the morning. Others have low blood sugar if they don't eat. And fasting is complicated for females.
You do you. However, learning to go without is something you develop. Both in terms of what society tells you is normal (three meals a day) and understanding how hunger works (it fluctuates).
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As always, thank you for reading. Be well.
Irfan
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