Behavior Hacking

mpcahn

What are some of the best hacks for unwanted behaviors like procrastination, self-sabotage, etc?

Gamebounty

Meditation works wonders on everything psychological.

strictdiscipline

I have found yoga to be very useful in getting rid of bad habits 

Stevo

Get a thick rubber band and put it around your wrist. Every time you notice yourself doing the negative behaviour, snap the band.

demented_broomstick

I have some similar issues. I first started trying to incorperate some meditation whenever I have time, and I have a hypnosis video with visualisation and that and has positive reinforcement elements to it. It helps but it is not immediate for me - i have to work at it

 

I have been diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety issues which results in a lot of bad self-talk, fear of rejection and strange people pleasing manifestations.

 

I am about to embark on a course of visits with a psychologist who utilises EEG neurofeedback so hopefully this will help as well.

mpcahn

Get a thick rubber band and put it around your wrist. Every time you notice yourself doing the negative behaviour, snap the band.

 

That is actually quite clever.

Stevo

Thanks, not my idea though. Have a look at this article, I'm sure there are plenty more: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/The_Rubber_Band_Technique.html

 

I've read elsewhere that a habit takes around 21 days to form, so I'd guess it might work the other way as well.

demented_broomstick

I bet you there's a link there that ties to the reaction time issue you were mentioning in your other post, to much backround noise.

 

 

 

I think you are probably right as well - indeed most of my practise I have trouble being fast because I cannot just "be in the moment" (an external analysis from a coach of my problem)

 

Ironically I do best in competitions where my mind compeltely changes - i tend to be able to completely focus and although I am not actively thinking at all, I am much more responsive.

 

Although this is the case , to improve competition play it is useful to be able to reach that same kind of focus at training. Instead, like you said, there is too much noise and I start to get anxious about how little progress I am making and into the downward spiral we go.

Gamebounty

Get a thick rubber band and put it around your wrist. Every time you notice yourself doing the negative behaviour, snap the band.

 

Haha I've been doing that for a few weeks! It first started as a "complaint free" band. Then i decided to take it a couple steps further. Sometimes I forget that I did something negative and won't snap it. Gotta work on being more assertive with it. But so far it's definitely helped me become more mindful of bad behaviors.

chunkbutler

Pommodoro Technique - superb procrastination cure

Yamabu

"Magic Dots" similar to Pommodoro, but I like better... 6 min increments good for us .. ADD types..

 

http://blog.sethroberts.net/2012/07/04/magic-dots-quasi-reinforcement-helps-get-things-done/

pnewcomb

"The Power of Habit" is a good book you should check out.

mpcahn

I just got this book: http://www.amazon.com/Procrastination-Why-You-What-About/dp/0738211702 very interesting.

bxhacks

The best hack for reducing/eliminating a problem behavior or increasing/adding a goal behavior is to create a Personal Change Project using the evidence-based method of Positive Behavior Support. Once you understand the process you can hack any behavior. It's not a magic pill. It takes work (I'm studying applied behavior analysis and I use it personally and professionally on a daily basis) but it will produce measureable results. www.bxhacks.com is hosting a free tutorial on how to use this behavior change method. Check it out. Best of luck.