The good news? You can train yourself to link a particular habit with a particular context.In one study, scientists instructed insomniacs to get into bed only when they were tired.If they couldn’t fall asleep, they were told to sit in a different room until they became sleepy.Over time, subjects began to associate the context of their bed with the action of sleeping, and it became easier to quickly fall asleep when they climbed in bed.Their brains learned that sleeping—not browsing on their phones, not watching television, not staring at the clock—was the only action that happened in that room.The power of context also reveals an important strategy: habits can be easier to change in a new environment.It helps to escape the subtle triggers and cues that nudge you toward your current habits.Go to a new place—a different coffee shop, a bench in the park, a corner of your room you seldom use—and create a new routine there.It is easier to associate a new habit with a new context than to build a new habit in the face of competing cues.It can be difficult to go to bed early if you watch television in your bedroom each night.It can be hard to study in the living room without getting distracted if that’s where you always play video games.But when you step outside your normal environment, you leave your behavioral biases behind.You aren’t battling old environmental cues, which allows new habits to form without interruption.
The good news? You can train yourself to link a particular habit with a particular context.
好消息是?你可以训练自己将特定的习惯与特定的背景联系起来。
train/treɪn/
v. 训练,培养
Ex: Train yourself to wake up early.
例句翻译:训练自己早起。 分析:动词,指通过练习或指导来传授技能或行为。
link/lɪŋk/
v. 连接,联系
Ex: Link the two ideas together.
例句翻译:将这两个想法联系在一起。 分析:动词,建立两者之间的关系或连接。
particular/pərˈtɪkjələr/
adj. 特定的,特殊的
Ex: A particular type of food.
例句翻译:一种特定的食物。 分析:形容词,用来强调所指的人或物是特定的某一个,而不是任何一个。
context/ˈkɒntekst/
n. 背景,环境
Ex: Understand the word in context.
例句翻译:在语境中理解这个词。 分析:名词,事件发生的情况或背景,此处指特定环境。
In one study, scientists instructed insomniacs to get into bed only when they were tired.
在一项研究中,科学家指示失眠症患者只有在感到疲倦时才上床睡觉。
instruct/ɪnˈstrʌkt/
v. 指示,指导
Ex: Instruct the students to read.
例句翻译:指示学生们阅读。 分析:动词,正式告诉某人去做某事。
insomniac/ɪnˈsɒmniæk/
n. 失眠症患者
Ex: He is a chronic insomniac.
例句翻译:他是一个慢性失眠症患者。 分析:名词,指长期患有睡眠障碍的人。
tired/ˈtaɪərd/
adj. 疲倦的
Ex: I feel very tired today.
例句翻译:我今天觉得很累。 分析:形容词,表示需要休息或睡眠的状态。
If they couldn’t fall asleep, they were told to sit in a different room until they became sleepy.
如果他们睡不着,他们被告知坐在另一个房间里,直到他们感到困倦。
fall asleep/fɔːl əˈsliːp/
phr. 入睡
Ex: I fell asleep quickly.
例句翻译:我很快就睡着了。 分析:动词短语,指进入睡眠状态的过程。
different/ˈdɪfrənt/
adj. 不同的
Ex: A different perspective.
例句翻译:不同的视角。 分析:形容词,表示不一样的或另类的。
sleepy/ˈsliːpi/
adj. 困倦的
Ex: The warm room made me sleepy.
例句翻译:温暖的房间让我感到困倦。 分析:形容词,表示准备好睡觉或需要睡觉的状态。
Over time, subjects began to associate the context of their bed with the action of sleeping, and it became easier to quickly fall asleep when they climbed in bed.
随着时间的推移,受试者开始将床的环境与睡眠的动作联系起来,当他们爬上床时,就更容易快速入睡了。
over time/ˈoʊvər taɪm/
phr. 随着时间的推移
Ex: Skills improve over time.
例句翻译:技能随着时间推移而提高。 分析:介词短语,表示经过一段较长的时间。
subject/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/
n. 受试者,实验对象
Ex: The subjects in the experiment.
例句翻译:实验中的受试者。 分析:名词,在此语境下特指参与科学研究的人。
associate with/əˈsoʊʃieɪt wɪð/
phr. 将...与...联系起来
Ex: Associate rain with sadness.
例句翻译:将雨与悲伤联系起来。 分析:动词短语,在头脑中建立两者的关联。
action/ˈækʃn/
n. 动作,行为
Ex: Take action immediately.
例句翻译:立即采取行动。 分析:名词,做某事的过程。
Their brains learned that sleeping—not browsing on their phones, not watching television, not staring at the clock—was the only action that happened in that room.