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Massive change can start with tying your shoelaces differently
One of my friends recently got interested in clothes. (I think that — deep down — we all want to care about clothes in some way shape or form.) He started watching a few videos on male fashion and changed a few small things.
One of those things was that he changed the way he ties his shoelaces.
It turns out, you can tie them so they sit like this: 8
or you can tie them so they sit like this: ∞
He had been doing the 8 and he wanted to switch to the ∞
Like any form of behaviour change, it takes both:
(a) avoid an autopilot into the old way
(b) remember the steps to doing it the new way
He was mentioning to me that there’s a cross-over point where you can now autopilot into either because both feel natural.
At this point, it’s a bit more interesting because you have to:
(a) remember to start doing it the new way (if you start, the rest of the steps will come because you know them already)
(b) notice if you’ve accidentally done it the old way
In one of my first sessions with Matthew (my psychologist), we were talking about quitting smoking. He said that it would be worth trying to change something smaller: could you get up on a different side of the bed? switch hands for brushing teeth? open the door with a different hand? start going up steps with the other foot?
Why? Because if we never change anything then changing the addiction is like trying to climb Everest without any training. I’m sure some people could but the odds aren’t great.
Eventually, the ∞ laces will just happen any time my friend laces his shoes.
And I’m excited for this.
Because if he can change that, imagine what else he can change.
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By Rosie OdseyOne of my friends recently got interested in clothes. (I think that — deep down — we all want to care about clothes in some way shape or form.) He started watching a few videos on male fashion and changed a few small things.
One of those things was that he changed the way he ties his shoelaces.
It turns out, you can tie them so they sit like this: 8
or you can tie them so they sit like this: ∞
He had been doing the 8 and he wanted to switch to the ∞
Like any form of behaviour change, it takes both:
(a) avoid an autopilot into the old way
(b) remember the steps to doing it the new way
He was mentioning to me that there’s a cross-over point where you can now autopilot into either because both feel natural.
At this point, it’s a bit more interesting because you have to:
(a) remember to start doing it the new way (if you start, the rest of the steps will come because you know them already)
(b) notice if you’ve accidentally done it the old way
In one of my first sessions with Matthew (my psychologist), we were talking about quitting smoking. He said that it would be worth trying to change something smaller: could you get up on a different side of the bed? switch hands for brushing teeth? open the door with a different hand? start going up steps with the other foot?
Why? Because if we never change anything then changing the addiction is like trying to climb Everest without any training. I’m sure some people could but the odds aren’t great.
Eventually, the ∞ laces will just happen any time my friend laces his shoes.
And I’m excited for this.
Because if he can change that, imagine what else he can change.