{"id":393,"date":"2021-12-28T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-28T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=611208"},"modified":"2021-12-28T15:14:12","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T14:14:12","slug":"the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"The science of healthy habits: how to establish new routines as part of your training plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Mark Bailey\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 28 December 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

When Dr BJ Fogg, director of the behaviour design lab at Stanford University, decided to improve his strength, he started by doing two press-ups after each trip to his bathroom at home. Over time, he added more press-ups, ending with a celebratory fist pump each time. Sometimes he did three press-ups. On other days he did 10.<\/p>\n

But the volume was irrelevant, what mattered was that he was nurturing one of our most potent neurological weapons: a habit. Today, without thinking about it, Dr Fogg performs more than 80 press-ups every day.<\/p>\n

To develop his habit-building formula, Dr Fogg distilled cutting-edge research in psychology, neuroscience, behaviour change and persuasive technology into a system he calls \u2018Tiny Habits\u2019. It involves starting with small, achievable changes (two press-ups), anchoring a new habit to an existing habit (his regular trips to the bathroom) and celebrating progress with positive emotions (the fist pump).<\/p>\n

Through his online programme, network of coaches and popular book Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything<\/a><\/em>, Dr Fogg has now helped tens of thousands of people, from Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to Olympic athletes.<\/p>\n

Healthy habits are of particular importance to cyclists. If you could rewire your brain to ensure you stick to your training plan<\/a>, stretch every day and eat healthier snacks, the rewards could be huge.<\/p>\n

Tiny Habits coach Gavin Brauer, the CEO of KindHuman Bicycles<\/a> in Toronto, Canada, has helped hundreds of cyclists build healthier habits. \u201cProfessional athletes have talent that surpasses everyday people, but they also have a world-class system of habits that leads to better training and results,\u201d he explains. \u201cSomebody wins a gold medal in the four years before a world championships.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many cyclists want to increase their average speed<\/a> or have goals such as riding a century<\/a>. So, how can you establish the habits that will help you achieve your goals and improve your performance on the bike?<\/p>\n

The power of habits<\/h2>\n
\""Illustration\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Anchor your new habits to an existing habit.<\/span><\/figcaption> Illustration by Spencer Wilson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Many cyclists want to train more often and eat healthier food, but there can be a gap between what we want and what we actually do.<\/p>\n

We beat ourselves up about this fact, convinced that we are lazy or unmotivated. But Dr Fogg says that\u2019s unfair \u2013 unaware of how our brains work, it\u2019s like we\u2019re trying to build a chest of drawers with faulty instructions and missing parts.<\/p>\n

Without knowing how to build habits, we rely on willpower alone, which is a flimsy and finite resource, vulnerable to fluctuations in our moods and energy.<\/p>\n

In a seminal study by psychologist Professor Roy Baumeister, subjects entered a room full of cookies, with some allowed to eat the treats and others told to eat radishes instead. In a subsequent geometry puzzle, participants whose willpower had been drained by resisting the cookies gave up on the task twice as fast. The study showed that willpower, like a muscle, gets fatigued from overuse. This explains why New Year\u2019s resolutions<\/a> invariably fail in the long run.<\/p>\n

In contrast, habits are powerful modes of automatic behaviour driven by deeply ingrained neurological patterns. Every repetition only strengthens these neural pathways to embed the habit further.<\/p>\n

We perform hundreds of habits every day, from cleaning our teeth to switching on the kettle. In fact, research suggests that 43 per cent of our daily behaviour is performed out of habit.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever left your house and suddenly wondered if you turned off the cooker, that\u2019s because you did so out of habit, without thinking about it. And because your habits don\u2019t require conscious effort, they can be incredibly powerful tools.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have to make a decision to train, you\u2019re not going to make the same decision every day,\u201d says Brauer, who has a degree in kinesiology and psychology. \u201cBut if you can turn your training into a habit, so it\u2019s automatic, you\u2019ll do it without thinking about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the thing about BJ\u2019s method. The rest of the world says: let\u2019s focus on motivation! But motivation is unreliable. You need something that is reliable; you need good habits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brain games<\/h2>\n
\""Illustration\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Starting small will ensure the habit becomes ingrained through repetition.<\/span><\/figcaption> Illustration by Spencer Wilson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Habits serve a valuable evolutionary function, enabling us to complete important routine activity without using up energy.<\/p>\n

Neuroscientist Dr Ann Graybiel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has researched the basal ganglia \u2013 the brain area associated with habits. In one experiment, rats (whose brains are similar in structure to those of humans) were taught the habit of finding a chocolate that was placed in the same part of a maze every time they heard a certain sound.<\/p>\n

Tests showed that when the rats were learning to find the chocolate, they experienced lots of neural activity because finding the chocolate required effort. But when the habit became ingrained, the neurons fired only at the \u2018cue\u2019 of that habit \u2013 the sound \u2013 and again at the \u2018reward\u2019 \u2013 eating the chocolate. During the performance of the habit itself, their brains were on autopilot.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s as though somehow the brain retains a memory of the habit context and this pattern can be triggered if the right habit cues come back,\u201d explained Dr Graybiel. \u201cWe are hopeful that this may be key to understanding how to treat bad habits like addiction, and also how to encourage good habits that benefit health and happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Research suggests that by focusing on the \u2018cues\u2019 and \u2018rewards\u2019 at the start and end of the \u2018habit loop\u2019 \u2013 similar to the \u2018prompts\u2019 and \u2018celebrations\u2019 used in the Tiny Habits system \u2013 we can learn to form new habits. For example, placing your bike by the door before you go to bed (the nightly cue) and enjoying the post-ride buzz (the reward) could inspire you to commute by bike<\/a> more often.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the morning I\u2019d get stressed and run out of time,\u201d says Brauer. \u201cSo I focused on building the habit through the starter stuff: just putting on my cycling shoes and packing my bag. I knew once I\u2019d started, I\u2019d follow through.\u201d<\/p>\n

Think small<\/h2>\n

Dr Fogg says it\u2019s essential to start with small goals because habits are formed through a \u2018B=MAP\u2019 system. \u201cBehaviour can be changed when you have a convergence of Motivation, Ability and a Prompt,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are the three elements. But behaviour can happen even if motivation is low, so long as the action is easy (so you have the ability to do it) and you have a prompt to remind you to do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t make your first behaviour tiny, you\u2019ll probably fail. By starting out small and succeeding, you\u2019ll improve your motivation by the release of positive emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n

A focus on building small habits \u2013 such as doing one yoga stretch<\/a> every time you get out of bed, or taking an apple out of the fridge after breakfast each morning \u2013 will ensure the habit becomes ingrained through repetition. Over time, you\u2019ll naturally take the next steps anyway: if you get the apple out, you\u2019ll almost certainly eat it later.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I make the effort to put on my workout clothes in the morning, I\u2019m going to follow through,\u201d says Brauer. \u201cAnd if I get on the floor to do one stretch, my brain will quieten down and I\u2019ll finish the routine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starting out small also improves your ability to perform the habit. \u201cAs your ability increases, fear goes away and hope increases because you see yourself succeeding,\u201d explains Dr Fogg. \u201cThat too reinforces the new behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brauer used this approach to improve his diet<\/a>: \u201cI started out by getting an apple out of the fridge. Then I started cutting up peppers. And that was harder because I had to wash it, cut it up and find a container. But by doing that, my knife skills improved and my ability to find a container got better! So it became easy to add in carrots and cucumbers. This morning I was stressed, I had to get my kids to my mom, but I still cut up my vegetables for lunch because I\u2019ve had this habit for six months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simple healthy habits to start today<\/h2>\n

After I get out of bed, I will do one yoga stretch<\/strong>\nHarness your existing daily wake-up routine to build a healthy new stretching regime.<\/p>\n

After I take off my shirt before my shower, I will do two squats<\/strong>\nSlowly add in more exercises over time to cultivate a regular pre-shower workout habit.<\/p>\n

After I put my porridge in the microwave, I will chop up two carrots<\/strong>\nEating breakfast is an ingrained habit, so use this regular time to prep a healthy office snack.<\/p>\n

After the clock strikes the hour, I will drink one glass of water<\/strong>\nYou might forget to drink enough water today \u2013 but the ever-reliable clock will remind you.<\/p>\n

After I open the front door for a ride, I will put out a bucket and sponge<\/strong>\nThis tiny action will nudge you to clean your bike on your return, before you raid the fridge.<\/p>\n

After I upload my Strava data, I will plot one new route to a place I want to visit<\/strong>\nNext time you get on your bike, you\u2019ll have the means and motivation to explore new roads.<\/p>\n

After I lock the door at night, I will lay out my cycling kit<\/strong>\nYour pre-bed security routine is now the trigger to get set for tomorrow\u2019s bike commute.<\/p>\n

After I get home on Wednesday, I will immediately put on my cycling kit<\/strong>\nPulling on your Lycra is the mental trigger to ensure you always bag a midweek turbo blast.<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div> <\/section>

Anchors & emotions<\/h2>\n
\""Illustration\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Preparing your kit in advance of a training session means you\u2019re not relying on willpower alone to start the workout.<\/span><\/figcaption> Illustration by Spencer Wilson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Research suggests one of the best ways to build a new habit is to \u2018anchor\u2019 it to an existing habit already encoded in your brain. That\u2019s why Dr Fogg recommends using \u2018recipes\u2019 such as: \u2018After I brush my teeth, I\u2019ll do two squats\u2019. Or, \u2018After I turn on the coffee maker, I\u2019ll take my vitamins\u2019. Existing daily habits \u2013 eating breakfast, checking social media, arriving in the office \u2013 serve as the cues that\u2019ll ensure you repeat your new habit every day.<\/p>\n

A sample recipe for cyclists could be: \u2018After I answer my phone, I\u2019ll stand up and stretch\u2019. If you get 10 calls per day, you\u2019ll soon develop a fantastic daily stretching regime.<\/p>\n

Another recipe could be: \u2018After I turn on the kettle, I\u2019ll do two sit-ups\u2019. Your regular tea and coffee breaks will now provide the framework to make core training<\/a> part of your daily routine.<\/p>\n

You can use this system to rewire bad habits, too: if your 3pm break is a trigger to raid the cookie jar, make sure you have a bowl of nuts to hand instead. The cue is still your 3pm break, but now you\u2019ve turned an unhealthy habit into a positive one.<\/p>\n

Dr Fogg says it\u2019s important to celebrate the completion of each small habit, in order to cement the habit with positive emotions \u2013 the all-important reward at the end of the habit loop.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to celebrate your success to fire off those emotions right there,\u201d says Dr Fogg. \u201cOver time, the positive emotion reinforces that behaviour until it becomes automatic. It makes you want to do the tiny behaviour again. You think: everything is going wrong today but that felt good.\u201d<\/p>\n

We Brits might struggle with a flamboyant fist pump, but you can say \u2018Good work\u2019 to yourself or conjure up a positive mental image of feeling stronger after those squats or sit-ups. And you need different celebrations for different scenarios.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring races, when you\u2019re in a pack and you need to be in the right spot, you can use Tiny Habits to ensure you always react in the right way after you see someone go off the front,\u201d says Brauer. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to throw your hands in the air to celebrate in the pack, so use an internal celebration instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winning mindset<\/h2>\n

Habits can be psychological as well as physical. We\u2019re often held back by fear or doubt, but you can replace negative thoughts with a positive mindset, insists Brauer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you see a steep hill, if you\u2019re an elite athlete, you think: \u2018Fun! I\u2019ll crush that!\u2019 If you\u2019re less confident, your response is: \u2018Oh shoot!\u2019 Which mindset is going to perform better? So I started practising the recipe: when I see a steep hill, I\u2019ll think: \u2018I am light\u2019. And I will celebrate. And all of a sudden, climbing felt easier.<\/p>\n

I also built a habit around: \u2018When it\u2019s raining, I\u2019ll remind myself how fun it is to ride in the rain\u2019. The other day, I rode home in a storm and had so much fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

The more healthy habits you can introduce this year, the better. That\u2019s because positive habits trigger a domino effect. One study in the British Journal of Health Psychology<\/em> showed that when people made exercise a regular habit, they also made fewer impulse buys, missed fewer appointments and even did more washing-up.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll our behaviours are interconnected,\u201d insists Dr Fogg. \u201cWhen you change one behaviour, you find it much easier to change other habits, too.\u201d<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Mark Bailey Published: Tuesday, 28 December 2021 at 12:00 am When Dr BJ Fogg, director of the behaviour design lab at Stanford University, decided to improve his strength, he started by doing two press-ups after each trip to his bathroom at home. Over time, he added more press-ups, ending with a celebratory fist pump […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":394,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"11"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/12\/the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan.jpg",1600,1066,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/12\/the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/12\/the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/12\/the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/12\/the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan-1024x682.jpg",800,533,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/12\/the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan-1536x1023.jpg",1536,1023,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/12\/the-science-of-healthy-habits-how-to-establish-new-routines-as-part-of-your-training-plan.jpg",1600,1066,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Mark Bailey Published: Tuesday, 28 December 2021 at 12:00 am When Dr BJ Fogg, director of the behaviour design lab at Stanford University, decided to improve his strength, he started by doing two press-ups after each trip to his bathroom at home. Over time, he added more press-ups, ending with a celebratory fist pump…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/393"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}