In an earlier post I wrote about how to form a new habit by strategically breaking all the rules. For anyone who's ever adopted a new habit, there comes a moment, more like several moments, when you enounter fierce, internal rebellion. Not a fleeting buckling of the knees, but rather gale force winds threatening to blow you off your feet to even further from where you started. So how can you combat this powerful resistance?

The solution is novelty. Just like we broke the rules to keep the habit going, there are EZPZ ways to use variety to renew your motivation.

EZPZ ways to bring novelty to your habit

1. Change location or timing. If you are feeling burnt out and unmotivated from the same routine, switching up the where or when can give you a much-needed boost. Switch from doing it at home to work. If home works best, try a different room with a different view. If you normally write at the coffee shop, try going to the library or park. The great thing about this is it doens't have to be a permanent of even long-term change. Just one or two sessions from a different perspective may be all you need to get you back on track.

2. Change the style. Can't bear the thought of another salsa class? Sign up for tango. Dreading another night at the gym? Try indoor rock climbing.

3. Planned moratorium. No guilt is the key. And right back at it.
I used to work with a colleague whose mother had "quit" smoking for over 20 years. Her secret was that every Christmas, she allowed herself exactly 1 cigarette at Christmas. Now while this might not comply with her health or life insurer's definition of being a non-smoker, in a way this is a brilliant technique. She knows she can and will have exactly one a year at a given time and date and no more. 
Ken story about cake for dieters

For a bit of inspiration, don't let this new habit you've worked so hard on so far bite the dust!

Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.

What do a Nobel prize-winning psychologist, George Costanza and a Bible verse have in common?

In his TED talk "The riddle of experience vs memory," psychologist Daniel Kanheman tells the story of a man listening to a glorious symphony.

An exquisite feast for the ears till the very end, when there was an awful screeching. Although most of the performance sounded amazing, the few jarring seconds at the end had a pronounced effect. The negative feelings were what he took away in terms of his experience. Dr. Kanheman explains that we have an experiencing self, who lives in the present and only knows the present and a remembering self, who keeps score and maintains the story of our life. As it turns out, how things end are very important and can dominate the story that is told by our remembering self.

George Constanza implicitly understood that once you've done something impressive, you can only go downhill by sticking around. This was his idea of showmanship, which he takes to the extreme by leaving the room as soon as he gets a great reaction that is not likely to be topped. Never mind social niceties or gracious timing. In other words, go out on a high note!

Ephesians 4:26 says, "Be angry without sinning. Don't go to bed angry." Whether you are religious, atheist or something in between, it's good advice not to go to bed angry. Whenever possible, squash the argument with your friend or loved one before the end of the day. This may take humility, courage, grace or all of the above.

Imagine your anger as a snow ball. Squashing your anger is like pouring a cup of hot water on the snow ball. However, when you go to sleep without resolving the anger, you allow the snow ball to grow as each new offense will add more snow. Left unchecked, the bad feelings grow slowly, but surely as one argument rolls into another. Before you know it, you have a giant snow boulder. Now imagine pouring that same cup of hot water on the boulder.

It's not that all problems can be solved by bedtime. Relationships are complicated and some conflicts may take years to settle or may never be fully resolved. But it's good practice to defuse hurt feelings before you sleep. Perhaps agree to disagree and then reaffirm your importance to each other. Have your last memory of the day be a positive one. Or at least not fueled by rage.

So, what do an award-winning psychologist, George Costanza and a Bible verse have in common? All three recognize that not all memories are equal. In fact, the last memory in a sequence is a tremendously significant one. So...organize your vacations to save the best for last, leave audiences on a high note, and do not go to sleep angry.

Next post next Saturday at 6:30 a.m.

Or rather, drink beer like the boss - if you work for Sam Adams. Jim Koch, Boston Beer Company's co-founder and chairman knows a secret about drinking beer on the job.

Most people have a holiday party or wedding story about an out of control guest. Often, alcohol consumption factors into the equation. Storming the helipad? Nice. Inadvertantly letting things best left unsaid out of the "vault?" Ouch. Generally unprofessional behavior towards senior leadership and their loved ones? Boom! That was the sound of your upward mobility being blown to smithereens and if you are lucky, you might remember what you did. 

So there is a sort of tight rope it makes sense to walk between relaxing camaraderie versus potentially making a fool of yourself. Like these two.

In an interview with Esquire, Jim Koch, the face of Sam Adams, revealed his trick to drinking all day without getting drunk.

He consumes active yeast, one teaspoon per beer, right before he starts drinking. Instead of eating a packet of yeast as-is he mixes the white powder with some yogurt. The enzymes in the yeast break down alcohol similar to how the liver metabolizes alcohol.

He ends with a warning, “It will mitigate – but not eliminate – the effects of alcohol!”

Now relax, kick back, and enjoy some music from the one and only "Boss."

Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.