Erk Tips! Get rid of that Bad Habit!

Short version at end of article for people who can't read long articles (you bucketheads, lol)

Intro

"No pain, no gain" - Jane Fonda, 1982

Everybody has had the time where they really wanted to get rid of a bad habit. Whether its eating that one extra cake, trying not to religiously check you facebook every minute, or just plain procrastinating, it affects our lives just the same. Some people will try to lessen the habit, or even stop it entirely, but most will automatically shoot right back down.

Bad Habits are like being tied to a rock with a bungee cord.

Erk has a better solution to this problem!

Pavlov's Dog

Erk's solution is based on the story of Pavlov's dog (classical conditioning). If you never heard the story of Pavlov's dog, it goes something like:

" During his research on the physiology of digestion in dogs, Pavlov noticed that, rather than simply salivating in the presence of food, the dogs began to salivate in the presence of the lab technician who normally fed them. Pavlov called this anticipatory salivation psychic secretion. From this observation he predicted that, if a particular stimulus in the dog's surroundings was present when the dog was given food, then this stimulus would become associated with food and cause salivation on its own. In his initial experiment, Pavlov used a bell to call the dogs to their food and, after a few repetitions, the dogs started to salivate in response to the bell." - Wikipedia

As you can see, Ivan Pavlov effectively replaced the [food] stimulus to the [bell] stimulus by continuous repetition. This concept can be applied to your bad habit as well!

The Solution:

The best way to learn subconsciously is through a strong stimulus. A very effective stimulus for subconscious learning is pain. Because our bodies have adapted to "learn" from pain through our evolutionary path, pain is a powerful component in our stimulus filled lives.

The Method:

To actively affect a bad habit, one needs to use something that can be easily transmitted, easily used, and easily cared for to weaken the habit. The best answer to all these solutions would be a rubber band or something akin to a rubber band. Because these bands of rubber are versatile and not easily broken if treated correctly, it is a good tool to help you break your habit!

Steps:

1. Put the rubber band on your arm (not to tight!)

2. When you find that your preforming your bad habit, lightly flick yourself with the rubber band

3. Eventually, your brain (subconcious) will pair your [bad habit] stimulus with your [pain] stimulus and conclude that your bad habit is causing the pain!

4. Enjoy your freedom-filled new life.

5. Repeat as desired

Have fun with your bad habit-free life!

DISCLAIMERS:

Erk, the Erk blogging team, Megablukk, and Blukk Studios do not accept responsibility for accidentally (or purposely) pulling the rubber band too far for one's pain tolerance. We do not believe in major acts of self pain and encourage people who try this method to take in moderation.

Short Version: 

Put a loose rubber band on your arm. When you find that your doing something you consider a bad habit, flick yourself with the rubber band. Eventually, your brain will combine pain with your bad habit and you will stop doing it! Bad habit free yay.