The Neuroscience of Habit Building

The serotonin system tends to bias you toward a more sedative state or calm state, maybe even a more creative state. Try and put the habits you're trying to form into the times of day in which those will actually be easiest. If there's something that you're really trying to adopt, more exercise is running a certain distance in a certain amount of time. The other thing is that if you look at the science of goal setting, there are clear data. Fear is the more powerful motivator. But provided you can still think clearly, you don't want to put yourself into a state of panic.