The Lazy Way to Effectively Break Bad Habits



Issue #408 – Monday, January 29, 2024

The Lazy Person's Way to Effectively Break Bad Habits

By Bill Harris

Here’s the deal. There’s a battle going on inside a part of the brain responsible for habitual action and goal-based action (the orbitofrontal cortex, to be precise, but I didn’t want to make your eyes glaze over.)

When the orbitofrontal cortex is in active mode, you’ll easily set and achieve goals. When it’s under-active, you’ll be in habitual mode.

Scientists learned how to artificially adjust orbitofrontal cortex activity in mice. When activity increased, goal-based action increased. When activity decreased…

…habitual action took over.

Habitual vs Goal-based Action

man brushing his teeth

Both habitual action and goal-based action have their role.

Consider these common activities: driving to work, or washing your hands. You don’t have to think about them to make them happen–you do them automatically.

This is your brain’s “autopilot”. (If you’ve ever habitually turned toward home when you actually meant to go somewhere else, you’ve experienced autopilot mode).

Habitual action can be extremely useful.

Routines allow us to accomplish simple tasks without thinking about them, for instance brushing your teeth. When a new element is introduced – brushing your teeth when you’ve had dental surgery – habitual action won’t work.

We need to switch to goal-based action.

This switching from one mode to the other isn’t always that easy, though. We want to use the best method in every situation.

Sometimes a habit involves a thought, idea, desire, or outcome. Examples include anything from biting your nails or compulsively checking Facebook to addictions and disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive or addictive behavior is caused, in part, by the brain’s inability to switch from habitual to goal-based actions.

The Levers of the Brain

Balancing your brain won’t make your bad habits disappear overnight, but it will make it easier for your anterior cingulate to shift from a habitual to a goal-based mode.
It will also make it easier to break bad habits and form new, good habits.

So, how do we optimize brain function? Good question…

Supplements:

5-HTP: 5-HTP increases serotonin levels. Low serotonin is associated with obsessive-compulsive behavior, depression, and anxiety.

St. John’s wort: also increases serotonin in the brain.

GABA: GABA calms activity in the limbic system.

L-theanine: This is another calming supplement. It reportedly increases alpha waves in the brain.

Glycine: Glycine calms brain activity in several areas, including the anterior cingulate and the caudate.

Inositol: Inositol is another serotonin booster.

Other methods for optimizing brain function:

Exercise: Research shows that short 1-4 minute bursts followed by a rest period, repeated several times, are more effective than longer periods of less intense exercise.

Breathing: Slow breathing calms the limbic system.

Nutrition: Diets that are high in protein, low in carbs, and high in “good fat” (coconut oil, avocados, butter, omega 3s, extra virgin olive oil) help keep the limbic system calm.

Sleep: 7-8 hours of sleep a night helps keep the limbic system calm.

Meditation: Countless studies show that meditation calms the limbic system AND enhances the prefrontal cortex.

The problem with meditation is that few people actually are willing to do it! Meditation is hard to learn, and it takes a long time to see significant results.

Thankfully, it’s now possible to create the same brain changes as traditional methods, in a fraction of the time, using a technological approach. Centerpointe’s Holosync technology does exactly that.

Using combinations of pure sine wave audio tones delivered to the brain through stereo headphones, Holosync…

hands holding a paper cut-out of a human head

Finding Balance

…creates the brainwave patterns of an experienced 30-year meditator.

Holosync is THE easier way to meditate (all you do is listen – no learning curve).

To experience the brain-changing power of Holosync for yourself, take our 5-Day Holosync Challenge.
 
The 5-Day Challenge is fun, it’s free, it takes just a few minutes a day, and you’ll also be able to connect with our support team if you have any questions.


Check It Out!
Breaking the Cycle

No one is immune from bad habits and addiction.

As a matter of fact, every addiction started out as “just a bad habit.”

That’s why we created the first ever Holosync collection that is designed specifically to tackle addictive behaviors before they spin out of control.

And if you’re already stuck in a vicious cycle of addiction, our Holosync technology will empower you to break free!

From internet addiction to substance abuse, this powerful tool will help you conquer any counterproductive behaviors that are getting in the way of living a healthy, happy, fulfilling life.

It’s an investment that the whole family will benefit from for years to come.

This is the key to lasting weight loss you haven’t tried before!





Wise Words

woman crossing a finish line

This Really Happened

Day 4. Thank you for the peace and calm this gives to the
start of my day.
~Linda D.
5-Day Challenge Participant


In Case You Missed It - Listen to It!

Check out our audio recording of the Mind Power essay:

youtube video cover image

By Ryan Standifird
January 8, 2024


We Want to Hear From You!

What bad habit would you like to ditch this year?

Post your story on our Facebook Page.

Not on Facebook? Tell me about the impact that meditation with Holosync has had on your daily life. Stress? Sleep? Weight Loss? Focus? Spiritual Connection? Other? Email your story here.



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