SEASON 1 - EP. 02: DISSECTING HABITS 

* Time-saving tip* Listen to the episode at 1.2 - 1.5 speed
            [ I find comprehension to be compromised at faster speeds, but you know your listening speed. ]

* Take action tip* Stop and jot down any notes as you are listening.

In this episode, we continue the Mini-series on Habits [ Eps. 01 - 03 ] 

What if I told you that your intuitive understanding of habits might actually be what is keeping you from crafting ones that actually stick long-term?

Lucky for you, in this mini-series, we are going to take a deep dive on habits and upgrade your understanding of these often oversimplified, yet very powerful little guys. 

 🔍 In this episode we will look at: 

• How habits are different from behavior and why that does for us 
• Where habits and behavior live in the brain
• A habits four main parts (so we can begin to spot habits in our own life) 
• What "hidden habits" are 

✍🏽 Some homework to work on your habit game after the episode: 

• Take two habits you engage in and run them through a habits 4 main parts. Choose one that serves you well and one that doesn't serve you well. 

🤓 Other things: 

>> 📲 Connect with me on IG @Megzirger  ( Social butterfly here, don't be shy 😉) 

>> 🔑Unlock my Habit Inventory workbook to uncover the habits you engage with ( including the hidden ones ) so that you can start building new ones @ megzirger.com

>>  🤓
 -- Check out my chapter on habits “Habit building for the “non-habit types” available for purchase at  https://superhumanplaybook.com/

-- Check out Atomic Habits by James Clear https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
(Not an affiliate, just spreading amazing knowledge)

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* Expanded show notes coming soon *

Behavior: conscious decisions that we make that primarily live in the pre-frontal cortex.

Pre-frontal cortex: Responsible for high-order thinking (executive functions) focusing making decisions,  planning, being creative, managing emotions 

>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefrontal_cortex

Habits: are automatic (or nearly automatic behaviors) which take place in the subconscious. Take up less energy and primarily live in the basal ganglia. When we repeat behaviors we strengthen neural pathways which allow the brain to amp down. 

>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_ganglia

Habit Dissection (Based on James Clear's work) 

The problem phase: 

Cue — Something in your environment brings a problem to be solved to your attention 

Craving — Solve an issue or change an internal state 

The solution phase: 

Response — Something you engage in to satiate the craving 

Reward — The good feeling (and dopamine rush) you receive from engaging in the response

Habits are not inherently good or bad.  Good habits are habits that serve us in their place / time. Bad habits are ones that don't.