Great Minds Think Alike!
In this Ted Talk the speaker explains that, unlike what we usually do when we want to change something in our life, we shouldn’t be trying to suddenly change everything all at once but to develop small, everyday habits that we could do easily and without too much hassle. The idea that many small, continuous changes will add up and create the great transformation that one wants is expressed in both Charles Duhigg’s novel, and Bj Fogg’s Ted Talk. Both of them are similar in their way of thinking, be it their opinion on developing small habits, or the structure of how habits develop. However, they seem to disagree on where and how to incorporate those small habits. While Mr. Duhigg says that one should find an already existing habit (with the same cue and reward) and change the routine, Mr Fogg argues that by simply adding a second routine on to the first one would be a better way to go about performing these habits. I personally believe that in this sense they are both right, but in different scenarios.
Scenario 1: If I were trying to lose some weight and was trying to get into the habit of eating healthy, Mr Duhigg’s method would be better. This is because by changing the routine from eating chips to eating healthy foods, you eat healthier by changing the bad food for the good food. However if you were to use Mr. Fogg’s method and were to add a routine on to your already existing habit of eating chips, then you still eat the unhealthy chips in the end. Hence why Mr. Duhigg’s methods would be more suitable in this scenario.
Scenario 2: In a scenario where someone wanted to become better at doing push-ups, Mr. Fogg’s proposal to add the procedure of doing a set of push ups after performing an already existing habit would be better and easier to remember. His example of doing push-ups after using the restrooms is effective (while not very hygienic.) and demonstrates his point well. While Mr. Duhigg’s proposition would not work in this scenario since there is no habit you wish to change.
Moving forward, I think that the best way to implement the advices and teachings that were given to us by these two persons would be to start by making or changing bad habits into little easy habits that are easy to do. To use Mr Duhigg’s method of replacing the bad routine with a new and better one, and to use Mr Fogg’s method when trying to simply create a new habit by making it a part of an already existing habit. All in all, I believe that this would be the best way of going about when trying to make a changing in my life.
Scenario 1: If I were trying to lose some weight and was trying to get into the habit of eating healthy, Mr Duhigg’s method would be better. This is because by changing the routine from eating chips to eating healthy foods, you eat healthier by changing the bad food for the good food. However if you were to use Mr. Fogg’s method and were to add a routine on to your already existing habit of eating chips, then you still eat the unhealthy chips in the end. Hence why Mr. Duhigg’s methods would be more suitable in this scenario.
Scenario 2: In a scenario where someone wanted to become better at doing push-ups, Mr. Fogg’s proposal to add the procedure of doing a set of push ups after performing an already existing habit would be better and easier to remember. His example of doing push-ups after using the restrooms is effective (while not very hygienic.) and demonstrates his point well. While Mr. Duhigg’s proposition would not work in this scenario since there is no habit you wish to change.
Moving forward, I think that the best way to implement the advices and teachings that were given to us by these two persons would be to start by making or changing bad habits into little easy habits that are easy to do. To use Mr Duhigg’s method of replacing the bad routine with a new and better one, and to use Mr Fogg’s method when trying to simply create a new habit by making it a part of an already existing habit. All in all, I believe that this would be the best way of going about when trying to make a changing in my life.