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  • Essay / 500-a word on behavior change: things I would like to change about myself

    Changing behavior is even more intimidating because many habits are learned from a young age. One habit I would like to change, addressed in this essay, is what I call instances of poor time management, which results in stress, psychological reactions, and a variety of emotions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Several environmental factors affect the way I manage my time regarding appointments, school, family, and friends' activities. I have identified specific parameters that lead me to mismanage my time. The first is my ability to be distracted when using my cell phone. It is very easy for me to lose track of time because many stimuli can distract me. In the morning, I usually check my email, text messages, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., and before I know it, the fifty minutes I thought I had was reduced to fifteen minutes to get ready. The second environment that corrupts my time management is my tendency to take a lot of time to prepare before leaving. By that I mean I take a lot of time trying to figure out what to wear. Even though I know it will take me time to get ready to go somewhere, I don't give myself enough time and I always end up stressing out. Behavior change is challenging, but these are things I would like to change about myself to improve my overall time management and reduce stress. I don't like to be rushed. When I look at my watch and realize that class starts in forty minutes and I'm still at home deciding what to wear, I slowly start to panic. I struggle to perform optimally under pressure and I struggle to make thoughtful decisions when I feel rushed. Physiologically, I feel surges of stress when I think I might be late, and feelings of stress increase exponentially if I know for sure that I will be late. I don't want to be seen by others as disrespectful for wasting time late, especially in my academic and social life. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay I'd Like to change these behaviors and reduce the stress they cause. To move from contemplation to preparation, I chose self-reassessment, environmental assessment, and stimulus control as the process of change. First, self-reevaluation will involve considering the pros and cons of changing myself and adjusting my self-image with and without these stressful behaviors. I will rationalize that I prefer to be punctual and stress-free for social and health benefits. Second, the environmental assessment will come into play after the self-assessment. I will streamline my environment to recognize what leads to a feeling of rush and how to manipulate that. This brings me to my final change process, stimulus control. Actively avoiding losing track of time, setting alarms throughout the day, keeping a close eye on the clock, and planning what I will wear are all ways to control stimuli. Best of all, I can prepare before checking my cell phone and do it while I'm on the SkyTrain. Works Cited Oaten, M. and Cheng, K. (2006). Improved self-control: The benefits of a regular program of university study. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 28(1), 1-16. doi:0019486