By Sunny Simon
Remember that old Lay’s potato chip commercial wagering you could not eat a single chip and walk away? The slogan was, “Bet you can’t eat just one.” Actually I could win that bet because I’m not a huge potato chip fan; however, a bag of buttered popcorn was once my undoing.
Whether it’s wasting too much time on social media, overindulging in your favorite Ben & Jerry’s treat or spending your downtime watching mindless TV, we all have soft spots requiring change. The key is learning how to break through the barriers preventing us from achieving our objectives. Obviously, if weight loss is one of your major goals you need to deal with how to approach that bag of crispy chips in your pantry. If the folks at Lay’s would win the bet, the answer appears simple. Remove the temptation completely and during future shopping excursions avoid the snack aisle. Yes, I know, it’s really not that easy but keep the faith. There may be a formula for learning to understand your cravings.
In his book, “The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg, explains the key to eliminating your potato chip habit begins with recognizing the cue. Start by identifying what happens that drives you to rip open and dive into the chip bag. Perhaps you find yourself in couch potato position at night and boredom sets in? To break the monotony, you go to the snack cabinet and out march those tasty thin slices of fried spuds. The “cue” in this case was boredom, and the reward or answer to the cue is eating. Once you understand the cue, experiment with a different activity. Get off the couch, go for a walk, play with the dog or start on that project topping your “to do” list.
Changing your habits, especially those offering temporary contentment is not an easy feat. Perhaps the best answer for some is moderation. I fall into that group. There was a time when I could not fathom going to the movies without a hefty portion of buttered popcorn. Once I realized the cue was not hunger but the delicious aroma, I quickly bypassed the snack counter and headed for the theater. Now when I am truly hungry I buy a child-sized portion. At other times I forego the treat altogether. Admittedly, it had better be an engaging flick or boredom may drive me back to the concession stand. But if I’ve learned one thing from Duhigg’s principles, it’s how to recognize the cue.
Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com
