I must have misread the intentions of the professor. Up to now, I thought we were supposed to create journal entries on our choice of readings (I decided on them all). It appears that THIS is supposed to be the first real journal entry. The requirement is to identify and share specific new habits we think could benefit a doctoral student in the DScIT program. We can use Chapters 4-8 of the Atomic Habits book and other readings to help.
Having already posted my own reflections on the readings to date, I'll focus on the book and point out a couple of habits I think would apply to the program.
In Chapter 4, the author discusses how habits can be subconscious. This is both good and bad. The good is that we can benefit from good habits without expending mental effort. Examples in the book included how people were able to identify things such as a heart problem or incoming rockets by mere sight. In those cases, lives were saved. However, it can mean that things get missed when a habit goes bad. The Japanese train system was identified as an example of how they brought safety to the front / conscious level by forcing employees to point and speak out the steps of their activity to ensure everything was done right. As a pilot, I know this very well. We train to handle emergencies by habit, yet at the same time religiously use checklists and call out the steps to ensure we don't miss anything. For this assignment, a Habits Scorecard of daily studying routine may be a good idea to try.
- Read syllabus =
- Consume an energy drink +
- Read required material +
- Check emails -
- Check instant messages -
- Draft response outline =
- Complete assignment writing +
In Chapter 5, the author makes two points. First, habits are best done with a plan. As my father-in-law would say: "Plan your work. Then work your plan." I'm sure others have heard the famous "Failure to plan is planning for failure." Similar concepts. The second point is to identify things you already do in a day as matter of course. Then, attach your new habits to those activities. This helps to ensure you actually perform the task you wish to be a habit on a regular schedule. As a bonus, you can "stack" the habits by making the conclusion of one activity be the trigger for another.
- After eating dinner, read the syllabus
- After putting the kids to bed, read the material
- Before wife goes to sleep, read your writing to her for feedback
Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (34th ed.). Avery an Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
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