Beware of the Shoulder Devils
In the world of habits, triggers are like shoulder devils. There you are, acting
responsibly, and all of a sudden a voice chimes into your ear and lures you toward
old ways.
I remember an old pizza place in college that was down the alley from where I lived.
Just the sight of it sent my synapses singing. Flashes of mouth-watering food
flickered in my brain; delightful scents enticed me with promises of sweet
satisfaction. (O.K., so I liked pizza.)
The sign of the restaurant was my trigger. All I had to do was look at it and my
routine kicked into high gear, leading me to the front door. It didn't matter if I
was thinking about the place before I turned the corner. As soon as I saw it, the
trigger worked its magic.
Had I walked home from class along a different route, I would have eaten there half
as often. Bad for business, good for my cholesterol.
By controlling this issue of triggers, you can take huge strides in getting your
habit under control or even eliminating it altogether. To help you get started,
try out these tips.
1. Be aware. Start to figure out your triggers. What is it that kicks your habit
into motion? Do you see or hear particular things around you? Is it a person that
brings out the bad behavior?
Joe, an ex-smoker mentioned in another article, used to keep his cigarettes in the
center console of his truck. Every time he'd open the door, they were staring at
him. Whether or not he wanted to smoke before getting in, the sight of his
cigarettes triggered the urge.
2. Remove the trigger. I know many young adults who have lost years of their lives
to checking Facebook pages. They log on in high school and finally snap out of it
their junior year in college. The problem for many is that Facebook is their
Internet home page. Seeing the site every time they turn on the computer triggers
the desire to "look around." It's a nice thought.
The solution here is simple: change the home page. It's also simple for Joe,
above. He is an ex-smoker, as I mentioned, and part of his strategy was keeping
cigarettes out of sight. It was a small step, but it helped. Whatever triggers are
bringing your habit to mind, keep them out of sight.
3. If you can't erase it, counter it. Let's say you drive past a row of fast food
restaurants on your way home from work. There is no other route. Every time you
see them, you get the impulse to eat. Often, your willpower fails you.
Out of luck? Not so fast. When you can't remove a trigger, you can counteract it.
Bring a snack on your way home. When you drive past the bait, reach for your
healthy food and squelch the desire for fries and a burger.
With a little creative thinking, you can find a way to dampen or defuse even the
strongest of triggers.
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