Biohaking the masses: how to get rid of bad habits with the help of science

Sometimes we want something with incredible force - literally vozhdeleem. These attachments - the result of programmed behavior. And the program is always working on the same algorithm.

I do not want it to be so. Therefore I spent a lot of time observing and studying these programs and find ways to rewrite.

I was able to overcome the dependence on social networking sites and poker, I stopped arguing with people on the Internet. A little while, and I give up sweets, watching TV series and video games.

Why "break open" themselves

Many say that social networks like Facebook or Instagram we "crack", changing our behavior. This usually causes a disturbance or even negative, in spite of the overwhelming evidence.

A more constructive approach - to accept reality as it is. And accept yourself for who you are: bio-robot living on customized programs.

Learn how these programs work and find ways to reprogram yourself. That is biohakingom enjoy a "hack" themselves for the benefit of their own purposes, as it does the same Instagram, until you laykaete someone's photo.

What I mean by preferences

Things that I really want to, even though I know they are bad for me. Sometimes they become paramount, and is very hard to refuse.

What I crave

Now I want to eat sweet, watch TV series and playing video games. These desires appear only at night, when specific triggers are activated and will power weakens.

Why I want to get rid of it

Sugar is bad almost as much as cigarettes. TV series and video games take away an hour or two of time, I would like to spend on more useful things: socializing with friends, meditation, reading, sleeping, listening to podcasts, going to the spa. If I can replace one another once and for all, it will be a great victory for me.

I like the prospect of personal growth. I want to reprogram themselves and facilitate the process of internal change. It is obvious that the work on their habits similar to the activity in the gym: it's like a muscle that you want to pump. And each time, when we manage to cope with the same addiction, I became a lot easier to work on yourself more. It is very cool.

What happens when passions run program

I have it always works on one algorithm:

1. The trigger starts the program

Supper, I am going to bed or just come home at night. I did not name the more obvious reasons such tasteless food, because situational triggers are much more difficult to eliminate.

2. born fantasy

I can imagine how I go and order a dessert, or downloading the game. This seems to be a distinctive feature of any desire. When I long meditateThen I think about how to get up and feel the pain of the legs. Discuss your thoughts with a therapist, I realized that this is a widespread phenomenon.

Includes motor centers of the brain, and the body receives a signal to play the situation on the physical level. I come up with an excuse. For example:

• The restaurant is marked by a Michelin star, and I need to eat dessert there.
• I've been training for two hours, and Dr. Peter Attia says that after this sweet food less harmful, so I have to eat it right now.
• My brilliant co-founder of playing video games. Elon Musk fucking playing video games! I want to be like him, so go and turn on the console.

Funny how my mind is trying to pass it off as rationalism.

3. I am disappointed when I understand that you get the desired

The idea that, after training, I do not see a favorite cartoon series, upsets me. Just 20 minutes to the series! Although, of course, it is never limited to such a small time.

If I run the program now, it repeated tomorrow. As a result, I get a multi-day relapse or try to fight again.

If for several days, I allow preferences to prevail, they became stronger and won. Only if you do not happen to something more serious, that made me refuse this.

When I was able to resist a craving for preferences weakened. But exactly as long as an external factor forced me to give up and go back to them. As a result of weeks of relapse were followed weeks of struggle.

What makes toss from side to side

Things that draw me to the "dark side":

• Anything that weakens the will power. This stress, jet lag, colds and the like.
• Powerful situational signals. For example, if I'm in a steep restaurant, do not try the dessert would be a crime. It should at least be broken again, as it happens relapse.

But it helps to go back to the path of struggle and resistance:

• Powerful situational signals. I went to visit my grandmother, whose Alzheimer's disease. My doctor said that sugar is probably one of the causes of this disease. Or I read a studyPrecis of breakdown will the loss of willpower. It says that if you eat sweet today, continue to do so in the future. And it will affect the nature of the resistance, and in other areas of your life, I think it is absolutely unacceptable.
• Meditation. Five-minute observation of tastes makes them disappear. Even if they are incredibly strong at this point.

How to reprogram yourself and get rid of bad habits

My very good experience - the rejection of Facebook. I was very dependent on the social network, but to remove it from your life: edited files on the host computer to change the password and gave them to their friends, to remove the application, and so on. The first week I was almost sick. I opened the browser and annoyed because he could not get what you want. And I just did not know what to do with the free time that I had.

But for years I do not hang out in Facebook, and to me this is no longer desirable. In addition, I have used the same techniques to stop arguing with people on the internet and in the comments to my articles. And it's getting easier and easier. The same goes for an addiction to online poker, which I did.

To get rid of addictions, watch yourself and look for patterns in their behavior. They may be different from mine, but they are.

You - biorobot. A product of evolution, which can be programmed. Accept the reality and himself. You have to "hack" to yourself to get what you want.

This is what works for my templates:

1. Remove all the triggers that can only be

The home screen of my phone is:

Triggers that contribute to relapse, no. This messenger, Instagram, and more. But there is something that encourages beneficial business: books or podcasts. It is a pity that you can not put a filter on the outside world to stop to want sweet.

2. Learn to feel the moment in which there is a craving for anything

It's a simple program, the progress of which can be observed. Meditate for five minutes, and the desire to disappear.

3. install barriers

Uninstall applications that take a lot of time, ask the hotel staff did not serve you dessert, even if you are banned in the online casino.

4. Remember the last situational signals, so that they do not interfere in the future

Someone will say: "Yes, you just have to be careful, if a cold or just had a different time zone, so as not to fall apart!" Stupidity. You become a completely different person in a stressful situation. If you try to think in a normal state, that is made in the critical moment, it will fail.

Do not deny the algorithms by which the brain performs a program until fantasize about how to become independent and strong-willed person.

5. Determine the signals that lead to resistance

And surround yourself with them. For example, such a crazy idea: hang on the wall a poster with cancer cells and an article on the Warburg effect (it is that sugar feeds cancer cells). The main purpose - to bring the dates of your triggers in everyday life.

6. Remember the situation that lead to relapse

And to prevent them. As I have said, a restaurant with Michelin stars - my trigger. With all friends tell the waiter that you do not need to bring breadAnd ask to replace dessert with nuts or something useful. If you eat something from the forbidden list, everyone will know that you are weak and a hypocrite. Usually, it motivates.

Find something that will work in the context of your life. Watch and repeat!

see also

• 10 biohakov that will help unleash your potential and make a difference →
• How dangerous biohaking - body and mind to upgrade →
• 5 steps on the path to change in yourself and life →