I think my habits are automatic feedback loops. They’re hard to beat,
because interrupting them feels uncomfortable. But letting them run
their course delivers a reward feedback.
Case in point: I’m watching tv shows on my laptop. I need sleep so I can do things like an intelligent human. What do I do? Watch more, then get on Tumblr and look at pictures of ducks.
Second case: I have an appointment in another city coming up, and need to book travel and accommodation. The day before rolls around and BAM I’m still in my room. Looking at pictures of ducks.
On the flip side, my head knows what’s best. It remembers how I feel when I do the thing, or stop doing the thing.
It just needs leverage to interrupt the habit loop.
This matters because some of my habits – late nights, heavy drinking, bad diet, lack of exercise – are self-destructive. They all contribute to increasing occurrence, severity and length of a bipolar/cyclothymic episode.And it’s not like I have a choice of going up or down.
So, how do you get your head to beat your habits?