{"id":434,"date":"2012-02-22T04:00:12","date_gmt":"2012-02-22T09:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ellenpainterdollar\/?p=434"},"modified":"2012-03-20T20:24:14","modified_gmt":"2012-03-21T00:24:14","slug":"lent-2012-breaking-the-cycle-of-bad-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ellenpainterdollar\/2012\/02\/lent-2012-breaking-the-cycle-of-bad-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"Lent 2012: Breaking the Cycle of Bad Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I\u2019ve been in a bit of a rut recently.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sad about what\u2019s happening with our dog<\/a>. While I\u2019m excited about my book finally being out in the world, I\u2019m intimidated by how much effort goes into marketing, with results that are rarely immediate or even noticeable. Every week, I have a manageable to-do list. Every week, Friday rolls around and the list has not gotten much shorter.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s New York Times<\/em> magazine featured a cover article<\/a> about how retailers such as Target collect information on shoppers\u2019 habits, and use that information to gear promotional mailings to customers\u2019 habits and needs. The article included this explanation of the three-step process involved in ingrained habits:<\/p>\n

First, there is a cue<\/strong>, a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and which habit to use. Then there is the routine<\/strong>, which can be physical or mental or emotional. Finally, there is a reward<\/strong>, which helps your brain \ufb01gure out if this particular loop is worth remembering for the future. Over time, this loop \u2014 cue, routine, reward; cue, routine, reward \u2014 becomes more and more automatic. The cue and reward become neurologically intertwined until a sense of craving emerges.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I have developed several bad habits that are influencing my mood, health, and productivity. These bad habits include:<\/p>\n