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Old habits die hard, don\u2019t they?<\/p>\n
Think about it. You have a certain set of habits now. Don\u2019t just think about your energy-savings behaviors.<\/p>\n
Consider all your behaviors.<\/p>\n
If you have to suddenly form a new habit, it\u2019s not easy, is it?<\/p>\n
This holds true even if you know the new habit will replace one that\u2019s not so good.<\/p>\n
You may even have tried to break an undesirable habit. But you might have wound up with no success whatsoever.<\/p>\n
…Welcome to being human!<\/p>\n
Everyone does this. Despite what our consumerist society tries to lead you to believe, change never comes easily or quickly.<\/p>\n
So, how do you engage in a new habit and make it your norm? Try following this approach:<\/p>\n
1. First, Identify the Habit <\/strong><\/p>\n Of course, you have to start with the behaviors you want to change. Make a list of a few (you\u2019ll identify more as you get further into energy savings).<\/p>\n Don\u2019t turn this into an opportunity to shame yourself for not being good enough. That will take your motivation to change away and keep you engaging in the same behaviors.<\/p>\n Look at your habits objectively.<\/p>\n You have some ways you can change your behavior so you save energy.<\/p>\n That\u2019s it. These are just factual observations at this point.<\/p>\n 2. Figure Out the Cause<\/strong><\/p>\n You engage in every behavior you do for a reason. You may not be aware of it at the time.<\/p>\n But you have a reason for doing that behavior.<\/p>\n For example, you might crank the thermostat to hot because you just got home from a long day at work and you want to feel warm and comfortable right now.<\/p>\n Or, you might feel stress from work, and the warmth may help you relax.<\/p>\n 3. Remove the Cause, If You Can. And If You Can\u2019t… <\/strong><\/p>\n You may or may not have the ability to remove the cause of your behavior.<\/p>\n But, you may have the ability to use new strategies to deal with it.<\/p>\n For example, you might use exercise, drinking warm tea, or any of a number of other things to help you cope with work stress.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t necessarily need to remove the cause forever. This can be until you feel confident your habit changes will last.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/powermepronto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/1124px-Hallig_Hooge_Germany_view_from_the_Backenswarft.jpg\")
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