Research shows making one positive change effortlessly leads to others.

 

 

 

Read the article and match the words 1- 7 to their definitions a)-g) below:

https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/want-to-effortlessly-build-a-number-of-new-habits-science-says-use-the-spillover-effect

 

1. spillover effect

2. Achilles heel

3. streamline

4. battle your way through

5. crave

6. over-consume

7. reverse spillover effect

 

a) a person’s greatest weakness, even if they are strong in other areas

b) when one negative action leads to other negative actions

c) to complete something difficult with great effort and determination

d) a situation where one action influences other actions in a positive or negative way

e) to strongly want something, especially food or something pleasurable

f) to make a system or process simpler, more efficient, and more effective

g) to eat, drink, or use more than is healthy or necessary

 

Key: 1d); 2a); 3f); 4c); 5e); 6g); 7b)

 

Now complete the sentences:

 

• My biggest Achilles heel when it comes to productivity is…
• I tend to crave ………. when I’m stressed.
• One small positive change that could create a spillover effect in my life would be…
• When I have to battle my way through a task, it’s usually because…
• A bad habit that sometimes creates a reverse spillover effect in my life is…
• One area of my life where I tend to over-consume is…

Glossary

 

• traits – personal qualities or characteristics that describe someone’s personality or behaviour
• susceptibility – the tendency to be easily affected or influenced by something  
• to piggyback something onto something – to use one existing activity or situation to support or add a new activity
• habit stacking – a technique where you create a new habit by adding it immediately before or after an existing habit
• ripple effect – a situation where one small action causes a series of other actions or results

 

Practice makes perfect

Read this article and choose the best option a)-c) to complete the sentences below:

 

https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/1-weird-trick-helps-you-build-habits-and-reach-your-goals-according-to-behavioral-science

 

1. You want your streak to be ……….. so start with something modest.
a) competitive
b) sustainable
c) dramatic

2. If you don’t track your progress, your motivation may …………. .
a) fade
b) bloom
c) expand

3. She didn’t want to ………….. her seven-year streak.
a) interrupt
b) cancel
c) break

4. Try to fit the new habit into your existing …………… .
a) system
b) structure
c) routine

5. Don’t be too ……………. about your streak.
a) stubborn
b) rigid
c) stable

6. If you miss one day, it doesn’t mean your progress goes back to ……………. .
a) zero
b) nothing
c) start

7. Special occasions may …………… with your streak.
a) disturb
b) collide
c) interfere

8. Putting the pill next to the floss is an example of habit ………….
a) combining
b) linking
c) stacking

 

     

Key:  1b); 2a); 3c); 4c); 5b); 6a); 7c); 8c)

 

Discuss

 

• Why do you think one small positive action can influence other behaviours?
• How are streaks similar to gamification?
• Have you ever been “on a streak”? What helped you maintain it?
• What habit would most improve your life if you were consistent with it?
• Do you agree that willpower is less important than systems (like streaks or habit stacking)?
• The article says habits are easy to break and hard to build. Why do you think that is?

 

Watch and Revise!

Unlocking Habits

The Streak & Spillover Magic

 

https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/KRoNXy5A7zYrWLi

 

(7022)