Understanding the Subconscious Mechanics of Habits

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, host Melina Palmer revisits her insightful conversation with Dr. Wendy Wood, author of Good Habits, Bad Habits. This episode dives deep into the psychology behind habits, exploring how they are formed, maintained, and changed. Wendy, a leading expert in behavioral science, shares practical tips and research-backed strategies to help you understand and harness the power of habits in your personal and professional life.

Melina and Wendy discuss the foundational role habits play in our daily routines and decision-making processes. They emphasize the importance of recognizing both good and bad habits and provide actionable advice on how to reinforce the positive ones while mitigating the negative. The episode is packed with real-world examples, including how small changes in environment and behavior can lead to significant improvements in habit formation and maintenance.

In this episode:

• Understand the basics of habit formation and the role of context and rewards.
• Learn strategies to make good habits easier and bad habits harder.
• Explore practical examples of habit changes, such as altering morning routines and fitness habits.
• Discover the impact of environmental cues on habitual behavior.
• Gain insights into how businesses can leverage habit science to improve customer engagement and satisfaction.

00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces the episode and highlights the importance of understanding habits in both personal and professional contexts.

00:04:12 - The Role of Habits Wendy explains the foundational role of habits in our daily lives and how they operate on an unconscious level.

00:09:30 - Context and Rewards Discussion on how habits are formed through context and rewards, with examples like morning coffee routines.

00:15:20 - Disruption and Opportunity The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on habits and how disruptions can create opportunities for new habit formation.

00:21:45 - Practical Strategies Tips for making good habits easier and bad habits harder, including environmental adjustments and rewarding behaviors.

00:30:10 - Habit Formation in Business How businesses can leverage habit science to improve customer engagement and satisfaction, with examples from retail and fitness industries.

00:40:00 - Case Studies and Research Wendy shares intriguing case studies and research findings on habit formation and change.

00:50:30 - Conclusion What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn.

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Connect with Wendy:

• Wendy Wood at USC Marshall
• Wendy on Twitter

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Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books. 

Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:

• Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood
• Indistractable, by Nir Eyal
• How to Change, by Katy Milkman
• Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes
• Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman

Top Recommended Next Episode: Michael Norton Interview (ep 383)

Already Heard That One? Try These: 

• Habits (ep 256)
• Status Quo Bias (ep 376)
• Katy Milkman Interview (ep 151)
• Tapping into the Power of Habit (ep 368)
• Sludge (ep 384)

Other Important Links: 

Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter