Ritual practices are intentions made material or concrete. Our ritual practices matter because they don’t just represent the commitments we openly acknowledge or declare. Habits reflect our implicit intentions as well. Policies are the material expressions of our core values. Budgets are a way to externalize priorities using the unit that this culture seems to […]
Using technology to shift habits
Most of the coaches I’ve read over the last few years are fans of automation technologies. Whether they focus on finances or consulting or health and wellness or writing, they’re also behaviorists. Behaviorism is a school of psychology that focuses on what people do, not what they say they plan to do or which meanings they assign to […]
Automate. Don’t Surveil.
When I write about surveillance, I’m typically writing about states and businesses surveiling citizens and other members of the public or voluntary organizations using the logic of state surveillance to regulate their members. I’ve also recommended Janna Malamud Smith’s book Private Matters a number of times on this site. In the book, Smith uses psychology, […]
Charles Dugigg on the Power of Habit
Read Charles Duhigg on the Power of Habit Making sustainable life changes is about studying yourself, not just what other people say is good for you, or what other people believe you should do. Study yourself, your drives, your customs, your triggers, and your personal reward system. (Your personal reward system is about what makes […]
