18 Jul 2024
Today, we delve into the intricate dance of habits and their impact on personal growth. Do you sometimes feel like your life is a comfortable monotonous routine, where days blend into each other?
For many their life is a series of habits—wake up, work, eat, sleep, repeat. It can be safe, yes, but also uninspiring, keeping you from exploring the unknown, learning new skills, and ultimately, from growing.
Today, I would like to explore the concept of dishabituation, which is a process that can help us see life from a new perspective.
Good for: Breaking the monotony of our daily routines and responses.
Best use by: You
Originating from the psychological study of habituation, dishabituation is the process of reintroducing a stimulus after a person has become accustomed to ignoring it, leading to a renewed response.
Professor Tali Sharot from University College London has shed light on this intriguing concept, suggesting that it can play a critical role in personal growth by breaking the monotony of our daily routines and responses.
What is Dishabituation?
This strategy can be likened to the refreshing splash of cold water on your face in the morning—it jolts you awake, demanding attention and action. It's about reintroducing novelty and surprises into our lives, which can reignite our sense of curiosity, enhance learning, and improve adaptability.
In a world where routines dominate, finding ways to dishabituate can challenge our brains, forcing us to adapt, learn, and grow in new directions.
When we're exposed to the same thing over and over, we tend to get used to it, and our responses decrease over time—a process known as habituation.
Dishabituation occurs when something changes in the environment or the stimulus itself, making us notice and respond to it again as if it were new.
For example, if you live near a train track, you might find the noise of passing trains disruptive at first. Over time, you get used to it and may not consciously notice it as much—this is habituation.
If the train schedule changes, making trains pass at unexpected times, or if a louder train than usual passes by, you might suddenly notice and be bothered by the noise again. This renewed awareness and response is dishabituation.
Dishabituation, then, serves as a reset button for our perceptual systems.
Our Perception
Perception involves the interpretation of sensory input, and this process is heavily influenced by our expectations, past experiences, and habitual ways of interacting with the world. This is a useful mechanism that allows us to conserve cognitive resources for novel or changing stimuli that might require more attention.
Dishabituation, then, serves as a reset button for our perceptual systems, encouraging us to see and interact with the world in new and different ways.
Examples
Changing your commute: Switching up your daily route to work or school can transform a mundane drive into an opportunity for discovery, potentially uncovering new places and changing your perspective on the daily grind.
Experimenting with new recipes: Breaking away from the routine of cooking the same meals every week can not only enhance your skills but also turns meal preparation into a creative and enjoyable process, adding variety to your diet and life.
Revamping your social routine: Instead of defaulting to the usual hangouts or social activities, organising different experiences with friends or family, like hiking, visiting a museum, or attending a workshop, can deepen relationships and enrich your social life.
Adjusting Your Morning or Evening Routine: Modifying the first or last activities of your day, whether it’s trying a new form of meditation, journaling, or even just changing your skincare routine, can have a profound impact on your mood and outlook, setting a positive tone for the day or a peaceful closure for the night.
How to dishabituate?
Pinpoint areas of your life where routines have become monotonous and no longer serve your growth.
Actively look for new ways, experiences, activities, or knowledge that differ from your current habits.
Gradually introduce these new elements into your daily life to avoid overwhelm and ensure sustainability.
Regularly assess how these changes impact your feelings, productivity, and personal growth, and adjust as necessary.
Strive for a balance between novelty and stability, ensuring that while you seek growth, you also preserve the routines that serve your well-being.
"Change is the end result of all true learning." - Leo Buscaglia
A Reflective Question
How can introducing small, unexpected changes in your daily routine inspire you to see the world differently?
The original article that inspired my thoughts - New Scientist
Thank you for reading!
Dionne
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Remember you can find more reflections and thought-provoking questions like this on the Reevew personal growth toolkit at reevew.co.
