#705 - Spencer Greenberg - The 5 Most Effective Techniques To Hack Your Habits
Nov 11, 2023
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Spencer Greenberg, a mathematician and founder of ClearerThinking.org, reveals powerful strategies for habit formation. He discusses insights from his study involving 450 participants, showcasing techniques like mini habits and the WHOOP method. The conversation dives into the effectiveness of personality tests, comparing Myers-Briggs with the Big Five model. Spencer emphasizes the importance of intrinsic values for a meaningful life and shares the role of intuition in decision-making, blending practical advice with deep philosophical insights.
Personality tests like Myers-Briggs have lower predictive accuracy compared to the Big Five personality model.
Effective habit formation strategies include habit reflection, home reminders, mini habits, involving a supportive friend or loved one, and making a benefits list.
Wisdom entails living in accordance with one's values and beliefs, aligning them with one's actions.
Deep dives
Personality tests and their accuracy
Personality tests, such as Myers-Briggs, have been found to have lower predictive accuracy compared to the Big Five personality model. In a study comparing these two tests, the Big Five demonstrated twice as much accuracy in predicting various outcomes of people's lives. The Myers-Briggs test fell in between astrology (which had 0% predictive accuracy) and the Big Five. The limited accuracy of the Myers-Briggs test may be attributed to its dichotomous nature, which oversimplifies the complexity of personality traits.
Effective strategies for forming habits
A recent study revealed some effective strategies for forming habits. One strategy is habit reflection, where individuals reflect on past habits that have been successful and apply the lessons learned to new habits. Another strategy is the use of home reminders, such as post-it notes, to trigger habit-related actions. Additionally, the concept of mini habits suggests starting with a small, easily achievable version of the desired habit to establish consistency. Lastly, involving a supportive friend or loved one and making a list of the benefits of the habit have also shown to be effective strategies in habit formation.
Wisdom and Consistency
Wisdom can be seen as self-consistency, aligning one's values, beliefs, and actions. It involves living in accordance with one's values and beliefs, ensuring that they are consistent with one's actions. For example, being honest when valuing honesty or pursuing a career aligned with one's true calling. Wisdom as consistency emphasizes the importance of living a life that aligns with one's core values and beliefs.
The Role of Intuition in Decision-Making
The podcast explores the role of intuition in decision-making. It highlights the ongoing debate between those who advocate for intuitive decision-making and those who emphasize rational analysis. The speaker introduces the FIRE framework (Fast decisions, Irrelevant decisions, Repetitious decisions, Evolutionary decisions) as a guide to knowing when to trust one's intuition. The framework suggests that intuition can be relied upon in certain instances, such as fast decisions or when facing repetitive situations that provide valuable feedback. However, it also acknowledges that rational analysis is essential in other circumstances for better decision outcomes.
Wisdom as a Multifaceted Concept
The concept of wisdom is multifaceted, and different perspectives contribute to its understanding. One perspective views wisdom as a virtue, embodying qualities like courage, compassion, and honesty. Another perspective considers wisdom as a search, involving the exploration of essential truths and their application to theoretical and real-life situations. Additionally, wisdom as self-consistency emphasizes aligning one's values, beliefs, and actions. Wisdom as perspective involves viewing situations from multiple vantage points and incorporating the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective. By encompassing these various aspects, wisdom can be seen as a holistic and ongoing pursuit.
Spencer Greenberg is a mathematician, a writer and the founder of ClearerThinking.org
First we make our habits, and then our habits make us. But what is the best way to step into this recursive loop and take charge of the most powerful force in our lives? Thankfully Spencer just completed a huge new study testing tons of different techniques.
Expect to learn how useful personality tests are, Spencer’s biggest insights from 450 people trying every habit strategy ever invented, how you can better integrate your subconscious into decision making, why becoming wise is genuinely important, how useful intuition really is, when you should trust your gut and when you should override it and much more...
