What to read if you need to change your habits
It's a complicated matter of the brain, but the payoff is life-changing.
Good morning wordicorns and scribblers,
Today is about habits—bad ones, ones that don’t serve us (whether they are good or bad).
We slip into habits so easily as humans. Our brains make a pathway without us knowing it most of the time. It’s how we can go from just this once to every day (about anything from social media to alcohol).
We’re told that old dogs can’t learn new tricks.
Here’s the thing: we aren’t dogs, we’re never too old to learn, and also, dogs are super trainable at almost any age with diligence. Kind of like us, despite us not being like them.
Neuroplasticity is not a commonly known word, but it basically means our brains are malleable. We can make and remake pathways—change habits and thought processes, grow, learn, get better at all the things—long after we’re teenagers, long after we’ve gone gray, even.
But the work is work.
Are you ready to change those habits, like start writing more often, get off social media, wake up at the same time every day, stop spending money that makes you feel bad, or get ahold of life so you can start doing more creative things or events or just sleep better?
Here on A Million Ways, we talk about this now and again—sometimes in a roundabout way, others straight-to-the-point. But there are a lot of voices in the world. Let’s hear from some of them.
I hope at least one of them makes your journey as little easier.
Articles/essays/books of interest
“I just close the door to my office, take steps to cut through the chaos, and try not to let my head get in the way.” —
Check out this whole Substack by
to see if anyone’s note taking system resonates with you. Seriously. Also, it’s just so cool.
More of a recommendation: list of some apps to help you track changes along the way
A how-to sort of article that focuses on mindfulness and kindness to yourself
On stepping away from your phone —
