Recently, I found an article online that I found interesting. I'm one of those people that get side-tracked very easily. In fact, I've been on Facebook a few times already while writting this blog. The article that I found actually gives different suggestions on how to avoid and fix behaviors like this one, by doing simple tasks that will help eliminate the urge to do the unwanted behavior.
The article gives five different ways of avoiding or changing a behavior. The five ways are: introducing an incompatible behavior, interrupt the behavioral pattern, putting the behavior on cue, eliminating the benefits of the unwanted desire, and eliminating the source of the unwanted behavior.
To use an example, my Facebook useage should probably be cut down quite a bit. If I wanted to introduce an incompatible behavior, I could have someone look at my browsing history every week to see what I have been looking at. For me, it would be embarrassing having someone see how many times I visit facebook a week, and it would probably encourage me to visit the website less often.
If I wanted to interrupt my behavioral pattern, I could delete the application for the website on my phone or have the website stop sending messages to my email when something new happens on my Facebook page. This would eliminate visual cues, and I may not be encouraged to check my account as often as I do.
By putting the behavior on cue, I could tell myself that I am only allowed to visit the facebook website after 9:00pm, and only if all of my homework is done. I would still be able to spend time on facebook, but my life wouldn't be consumed with it.
Eliminating the benefit of the unwanted desire might be me telling my friends not to Facebook me or invite me to Facebook Events. If I know that no one will be writting on my wall or inviting me to events or groups, there will not be as great of a need to get on to my account.
Finally, if none of the above methods would work, I could also try eliminating the source of the unwanted behavior. For this method, I could simply deactivate my facebook account, or get rid of my computer all together. This would probably be the last possible choice with most behaviors.
If your interested in the website here it is: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2004/11/behavioral-conditioning/
Has anyone tried one of these methods for an unwanted behavior?
Did they work?
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