Every morning, my dog waits for her treats. Like most dogs, she is an absolute paragon of routine. Everything from morning treats, to a daily nap, and an early evening walk, she follows a rhythm, repeated daily.
This morning, in appreciation of the cooler air in Houston, I had the back door open. When my son handed her a treat, despite her normal routine of eating “in her room,” she immediately took it and head outside towards the open door.
For a dog who is conditioned to follow her routine, this change in behavior fascinated me. It implied that she defined a preference and very easily, modified her routine because of it. Short of asking her, I can only assume it was a combination of opportunity, desire, and the compelling reason of cooler air.
What drives us to change our routine?
We tend to think, I have a desire to do this and thus, it will get done. If it’s a simple change, like my dog deciding to take her treat outside, most of us will have the discipline to follow through with the desire as it is. But just as my dog has to wait for the opportunity of an “open door,” and “cooler air,” we also need more.
This of a new desire as a directional arrow. It helps frame which way you want to go but that is not enough. As desire heightens in difficulty or magnitude of change, we need to evaluate what other drivers we can find to make our shift easier. So many of us get caught up in the pursuit of changing a habit or our routine without considering that for a routine to change, “something different,” must precede it.
This “something different,” is the catalyst and the push we need. It’s rare that we wake up one morning and for no reason decide to do a New Habit. Without a catalyst, the idea is merely a thought, not a goal. A catalyst helps it to stick.
For our example, assume that I’m a coffee lover that wants to quit drinking coffee. What are the drivers that can work to change this behavior?
Better Drivers to Change
These four drivers are the best ways to drive change for more complex behavioral shifts. When we connect with one of these types of drivers, we can support the change beyond desire alone.
Necessity
“Coffee is no longer available.”
If we are forced into a change, that is the fastest and easiest way often to get us to change a habit. Usually external factors, out of our control, support this type of change. This is a situation where all the complaining and/or discipline in the world will not change the situation. We are forced to accept it.
Preference
“For some reason, I no longer like coffee and therefore, am going to stop drinking it.”
When we have a shift in heart or have defined a change in preference, this is another effortless way to make a change. Usually this works best for things that we are giving up or deciding to no longer do because we don’t want to do them, not because we are forcing ourselves or being forced to change it.
New Data
“I’ve just learned that drinking coffee leads to blindness, battiness, and belligerence, and I believe it!”
When we receive new information about the habit that we are trying to change, this can be an important factor driving us to change. The nature of the data, however, must be compelling and must be accepted by us.
An Opportunity or a Compelling Situation
“I’ve just inherited a coffee plantation so I can drink all the coffee I want,” or “I’ve just learned that I’m pregnant and caffeinated coffee can have adverse effects on my unborn child.“
Similar to new data, a compelling situation can come from circumstances changing or elements changing, thus creating an opportunity or some type of trigger that easily and effortlessly supports a change, leaving reason, excuses, and every other complaint behind.
Before starting down the path of trying to change a routine, find one of the four factors: necessity, preference, new data, or a compelling situation/opportunity to help solidify your chance of achieving that change. It’s a way to strengthening and supporting the change in a way that is effortless and provides a much higher degree of success for follow through. Good Luck!