Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

How to form habits effectively (with Jim Davies)

Aug 10, 2022
Jim Davies, a cognitive science professor and author, dives into the fascinating realm of habit formation. He emphasizes starting small with specific goals, like doing just one push-up, to build momentum. Rewards and enjoyment are key to making habits stick, while flexibility is crucial for long-term success. The conversation also touches on the ethics of animal consciousness, prompting reflections on dietary choices and empathy. Finally, Davies discusses the balance between cost-effective charitable donations and the moral implications of animal welfare.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ADVICE

Habit Importance and Replacement

  • Curate your habits for self-improvement, as they guide your actions when your mind is occupied.
  • Replace bad habits with competing good ones triggered by the same cues.
INSIGHT

Habit Triggers

  • Habits are triggered by five cues: humans, activity, bearings, internal states, and time.
  • These cues, easily remembered by the acronym HABIT, subconsciously prompt automatic responses.
ADVICE

Replacing Bad Habits

  • Identify your bad habit's trigger and create a new, competing habit with the same trigger.
  • Consciously choose the new habit over the old one until the new one becomes stronger.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app