Help Your Students Develop Posive Habits

Researchers are learning that stable habit cues are essenal to organizing our mental space. Over me, repeon reorganizes our brainandbecomesitsownreward.

self-talk with posive self-talk is a “habit hack” that simply works. For example, students can create the posive mental habit of repeang to themselves, “I got this…I can do this.” werepeatedlydo.”

Yet recent research tells us that educators overlook the role of habits in student self-regulaon

Four “habit hacks” that work

4.

S. J. Sco recently wrote a book tled 'Habit Stacking' The idea is that we should link together a harder habit to an easier habit For example, encouraging students to do their chores (a harder habit) while listening to music (an easier habit).

A second hack is leveraging the powerofcommitmentTherealityis that all of us, at one me or another, have broken a promise we've made to ourselves. That's why we may need to share our habit plan with someone who will hold us accountable, such as a friend,parent,orteacher Makinga commitment to someone we know and trust is oen the fuel we need todevelopaposivehabit. Athirdhackisdiscoveringourhabit tendency Developed by author Gretchen Rubin, the core idea is that each of us needs to understand more acutely how well we respond to internal and external expectaons. While some people absolutely need accountability for habits, other people must understand why the habit is important before they feel movated to pursueit. Finally, when it comes to habit formaon, every student should learn about the power of posive affirmaons Refung our negave

5. Seng goals and sheer willpoweraren'tenough

Emergingresearchisshaeringour long-held myths that seng goals and exercising self-control are the twin peaks of habit formaon Intenons alone don't change behaviors.Moreover,willpowerisa muscle that depletes over me. No onecanleadalifefullofself-denial. In addion to having long-term goals,studentsneedto“plan”their habits. The research is clear: Preparaonisthekey.Asthesaying goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail ” Habit planning is far more important than movaon and willpower

Creang a new posive habit is form of human engineering that requires students to discover their opmal cue/acon paern (if X, then Y), as well as the intellectual humility to ancipate a weakness or flaw in their habit design. For example, some schools encourage studentstodeveloptheirowndaily habit of gratude. Students would have to idenfy a cue/acon paernthatworksbestforthem(in the morning or before bedme), as well as to think crically on what could prevent them from developingtheirgratudehabit. Habits are about geng 1% beer every day. Aristotle got it right when he wrote that “we are what

That's why it's me for parents and educators, especially during these stress-filled mes, to work together to help all students harness the energy and power of posivehabits.

Let's imagine a future where 12th graders are talking to eighth graders about habits, with the older students sharing one posive habit they now consistently pracce.Orwhereeverystudent,atthe beginning of the school year, is encouraged to share with their teachers and peers one habit they would like to strengthen by winter break. These are just a few ideas to inspire and equip young people to intrinsically form their own habits ofmind,heart,andacon.

I'd love to learn your ideas and suggesons to help our students form a habit mindset. Please reach meatcmsharmaldh@gmail.com.