Mower Refreshed

The human heart has the ability to change the world; the changes typically begin with small decisions that are often driven by our needs or desires, fueled by our heart, the things we are passionate about.  We explored in Refreshed Living last month the importance of our environments (our kitchen cupboards or fridge, work spaces, even your purse or backpack).  How they encourage us in making the desired changes to be healthier or become roadblocks.  This month we are going to add a second action step to improve the odds that the changes you seek to make will stick.

BJ Fogg, a researcher from Stanford University has studied behavior changes and what increases the likelihood that changes will evolve into new lifestyles.  He shares the same conclusion we have regarding the importance of environment, setting yourself up for success by creating environments that support rather than sabotage your efforts to live better.

Fogg adds another factor to increase sustainable change.  Daily decisions we make are another factor that you and I can be empowered by to make the new life habits that lead us to well-living.  Fogg calls these “tiny habits” and challenges us to attach a small habit after a regular event/behavior.  This decision to attach a small habit to something you already do/experience is powerful because it’s not creating more work, another task to remember, or another program to join.  Brushing teeth is (or we hope is) a regular event in our lives…attaching a small habit (action) like drinking a glass of water after you brush doesn’t make for more work and has an actual direct health benefit to it.  After a period of time, it would seem strange to not drink that glass of water after brushing your teeth, it  now is a natural reflex or ritual.

We’ve attached a TED Talk by BJ Fogg that for those who are intrigued might want to take 17:23 minutes from you day to explore more!  Many of our Mower Refreshed team members are taking up this idea and finding after a short period of time that by creating environments that foster success and then attaching a simple action after an existing behavior, has developed a healthy habit as a natural part of their lifestyle.  If you are pressed for time, I’d encourage you to at least start at about minute 13 on the video and hear how we can take tiny habits to create changes we need or desire.

Here’s an opportunity to engage in a practical step:  Create your own tiny habit by using a simple format by Fogg.  We’d love to hear your tiny habits to inspire others!

After I ______________.

I will _______________.

Here’s to creating tiny habits that add up to big changes in the health of our communities and individual lives!