Episode # 106: Ashdin Doctor Talks About Habit Hacking Techniques

✍️ Episode Overview:

In this enlightening episode of The 5 Core Life podcast, host Will Moore sits down with habit coach Ashdin Doctor to explore powerful habit hacking techniques that can transform your life. With over 700 episodes of his own podcast and years of experience coaching clients, Ashdin shares invaluable insights on making lasting changes without relying on willpower.

The conversation delves into the science behind habit formation, dispelling common misconceptions and offering practical strategies for success. Ashdin introduces his three golden rules for habit creation and explains why traditional approaches often fail. He emphasizes the importance of starting small, removing friction, and maintaining consistency.

Throughout the episode, Will and Ashdin discuss the role of accountability, the power of community support, and how to leverage habit hacking techniques across all areas of life. They also explore the concept of identity shift and how it relates to long-term habit success. Whether you're looking to improve your health, relationships, career, or overall well-being, this episode provides actionable advice to help you build momentum and achieve lasting change.

📖 Chapter Summaries:

1. Defining Habits and Their Impact (2:32 - 3:42) Ashdin explains his unique perspective on habits, emphasizing that they encompass both actions and thoughts. He highlights how our habitual thought patterns significantly influence our lives, setting the stage for understanding the importance of habit hacking techniques. Ashdin delves into how seemingly small habits can have far-reaching consequences, shaping our daily experiences and long-term outcomes. He challenges listeners to become more aware of their unconscious habits and provides strategies for identifying areas ripe for positive change.

2. The Three Golden Rules of Habit Formation (7:24 - 8:04) Ashdin introduces his three golden rules for successful habit creation: make it stupidly small, make it extremely easy, and never miss two days in a row. These habit hacking techniques form the foundation of his approach to sustainable behavior change. He elaborates on each rule, offering practical examples and explaining how they counteract common pitfalls in habit formation. He emphasizes that these rules are designed to work with our psychology, rather than against it, increasing the likelihood of long-term success. Listen to our podcast on Habit Formation Model

3. The Importance of Intention in Habit Formation (6:43 - 7:23) Ashdin discusses the critical role of intention in habit formation, distinguishing it from mere inspiration or motivation. He emphasizes the need for a deep understanding of why you want to make a change, which is essential for implementing effective habit hacking techniques. Ashdin provides guidance on how to uncover your true intentions and align them with your habit goals. He explains how this alignment can provide the necessary drive to persist when faced with challenges or setbacks.

4. Accountability and Community Support (11:55 - 12:50) The conversation shifts to the importance of accountability partners and community support in habit formation. Ashdin shares his methods for incorporating these elements into his coaching, demonstrating how social connections can enhance habit hacking techniques. He discusses the psychology behind why external accountability works and offers strategies for finding and maintaining effective accountability partnerships. He also touches on how community support can provide motivation, inspiration, and shared learning experiences.

5. Leveling Up Your Habits (14:40 - 15:48) Ashdin explains the concept of growing with your habits, emphasizing that while starting small is crucial, it's equally important to progressively challenge yourself. This approach to habit hacking techniques allows for continuous improvement and long-term success. He provides insights on how to recognize when it's time to level up a habit and offers strategies for doing so without overwhelming yourself. Ashdin also addresses common obstacles in this process and how to overcome them.

6. Top Habits for Transformation (18:15 - 20:23) In this final key section, Ashdin reveals two of the most impactful habits he's observed: establishing a solid morning routine and cultivating a practice of gratitude. He also discusses the power of learning and teaching as a compound habit, providing listeners with concrete habit hacking techniques to implement in their own lives. Ashdin dives deeper into each habit, explaining why they're so transformative and offering specific strategies for incorporating them into daily life. He also shares success stories from his clients who have implemented these habits.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

1. Habits encompass both actions and thoughts. Recognizing and reshaping habitual thought patterns is a crucial habit hacking technique that can lead to significant life improvements. By actively monitoring your internal dialogue and replacing negative thought habits with positive ones, you can create a more supportive mental environment for achieving your goals and implementing other habit changes.

2. The three golden rules for habit formation are: make it stupidly small, make it extremely easy, and never miss two days in a row. These habit hacking techniques reduce friction and increase the likelihood of long-term success. By breaking down your goals into tiny, manageable steps and ensuring consistency, you create a solid foundation for habit formation that can withstand obstacles and setbacks. You should read about the 21/90 rule

3. Intention is more powerful than motivation or inspiration when it comes to habit formation. Understanding your deep "why" is an essential habit hacking technique that provides the foundation for lasting change. Take time to reflect on your core values and long-term aspirations, aligning your habit goals with these deeper motivations to create a stronger commitment to change.

4. Accountability partners and community support play a vital role in habit success. Incorporating these elements into your habit hacking techniques can significantly boost your chances of achieving your goals. Consider joining or creating a support group, finding an accountability buddy, or sharing your progress on social media to leverage the power of social connection in your habit-forming journey.

5. Start with small, manageable habits and progressively level up as they become easier. This habit hacking technique allows for sustainable growth and prevents overwhelm. Begin with "micro-habits" that take less than two minutes to complete, gradually increasing the duration or complexity as you build confidence and consistency in your new behaviors.

6. A strong morning routine, including a gratitude practice, can set the tone for your entire day. Implementing this habit hacking technique can create a positive ripple effect across all areas of your life. Design a morning ritual that incorporates activities that energize and center you, such as meditation, journaling, or light exercise, to start your day with intention and positivity.

7. The learn-do-teach cycle is a powerful compound habit. This habit hacking technique not only helps you acquire new skills but also reinforces your learning and benefits others. As you implement new habits, document your process and insights. Share your experiences through blogging, mentoring, or leading workshops to solidify your knowledge and inspire others.

8. Avoid comparing your habits to those of highly successful individuals. Remember that they started small and built up over time. This perspective is an important habit hacking technique for maintaining motivation and realistic expectations. Focus on your own progress and celebrate small wins, recognizing that every step forward is significant in your personal growth journey. You can read more about Habits of Successful People

9. Family recognition of your changes is a significant indicator of success. This external validation can serve as a powerful motivator in your habit hacking techniques. Share your goals with family members and involve them in your habit-forming process when appropriate. Their support and acknowledgment can provide additional motivation and reinforcement.

10. Identity shift is the ultimate goal of habit change. When your new habits become an integral part of who you are, they become effortless. This concept is a crucial habit hacking technique for long-term transformation. Regularly affirm your new identity (e.g., "I am a healthy eater" instead of "I'm trying to eat healthily") to accelerate this shift and make your new habits feel more natural.

11. Patience is key in habit formation. Understanding that results take time is an important habit hacking technique that helps prevent discouragement and quitting prematurely. Set realistic timelines for your habit goals and focus on the process rather than immediate outcomes. Celebrate consistency and small improvements to maintain motivation during the habit-forming journey.

12. Consistency trumps intensity when it comes to habit formation. This habit hacking technique emphasizes the importance of regular, small actions over sporadic, large efforts. Aim for daily engagement with your new habits, even if it's just for a few minutes, rather than intense but infrequent sessions. This approach builds neural pathways more effectively and leads to lasting change.

13. Customize your habit goals based on your current level. What's "stupidly small" for one person might be challenging for another. This personalized approach is a crucial habit hacking technique for setting yourself up for success. Assess your starting point honestly and adjust your habit goals accordingly. Remember that progress, not perfection, is the goal.

14. Use habit stacking to make new habits easier to implement. This habit hacking technique involves attaching a new habit to an existing one, leveraging established routines for easier adoption of new behaviors. Identify strong, existing habits in your daily routine and look for opportunities to "stack" new habits onto them. This method reduces the mental effort required to remember and execute new behaviors.

15. Regularly reassess and adjust your habits as you progress. This habit hacking technique ensures that your habits continue to challenge and benefit you as you grow and change. Schedule monthly or quarterly reviews of your habit goals and progress. Be willing to modify or replace habits that no longer serve your evolving needs and aspirations, keeping your habit system dynamic and effective.

🥇 Golden Habit:

A 'Golden Habit' is the optimal habit to relieve a pain point/replace a bad habit because it's personalized to your DNA, goals, and lifestyle in order to maximally reduce the friction to form it.

The Golden Habit should be: - DESIRABLE: Should be enjoyable and rewarding. - PRACTICAL: Must easily integrate into one's existing routines. - IMPACTFUL: Expected to significantly enhance well-being.

This Episode's Golden Habit: Establishing a morning routine that includes a gratitude practice (Time stamp: 18:26)

Ashdin emphasizes the transformative power of a consistent morning routine, with gratitude as its cornerstone. This habit is golden because it sets a positive tone for the day, aligns with various personality types and lifestyles, and has a ripple effect on other areas of life.

Related Core Area:

This habit primarily aligns with the Mindset Core, addressing the pain point of starting the day in a negative or unproductive state of mind. By cultivating gratitude and intentionality first thing in the morning, individuals can significantly improve their overall outlook and approach to daily challenges.

🚀 READY PLAYER ONE?

Are you ready to transform your life and achieve big through disciplined habits? It's time to take the valuable insights from today’s episode and put put them into action. Discipline isn't just about adhering to a schedule—it's about building a foundation that will catapult you toward success in all areas of your life.

OUR MISSION: Accelerate your growth in the 5 Key areas of life by making your habit transformation journey so simple, fun, and rewarding that your happiness becomes inevitable.

PRESS START NOW: Click HERE to dive deeper into the Moore Momentum System. Begin by taking our short quiz to quickly identify which of the pillars of life you're struggling in most and discover the success habit to improve it. Don’t just dream about success—make it a reality.

Whether you're dealing with procrastination, lack of focus, or simply seeking a positive way to enhance your productivity, our system is designed to give you the tools you need to succeed. Start your journey today and see how small changes can lead to major transformations.

Are you ready to level up? The time is now—let’s build momentum together!

🫅 Bio - Ashdin Doctor:

Ashdin Doctor is a renowned habit coach and the host of The Habit Coach podcast, which has aired over 700 episodes. With years of experience helping individuals and corporate clients transform their lives through habit change, Ashdin has developed a unique approach to personal development. His method focuses on making habits "stupidly small" and extremely easy to implement, ensuring sustainable change over time. Ashdin's work emphasizes the importance of consistency, accountability, and community support in achieving lasting transformation. His expertise has made him a sought-after speaker and coach, helping people across the globe to unlock their potential and live more fulfilling lives.