Have you ever been on a streak? Maybe you ran a mile or practiced piano, wrote in your journal, shot a video, texted a loved one or wore an Eagles jersey every day for several weeks or even months.
If so, why did you start? When did it become a streak you didn’t want to break? What happened as a result?
According to “To Build a Habit, Try a Streak,” an article in the Well section by Nell McShane Wulfhart, streaks can motivate us and aid us in reaching our goals. Here’s how:
Streaks work for two reasons: what behavioral economists call loss aversion and potential gain, said Dr. Katy Milkman, a behavioral scientist at the University of Pennsylvania.
Let’s start with gains: A streak can be profoundly motivating for people, Dr. Milkman said, “because there’s something bright and shiny that they can reach for. There’s a prize, in a sense, that’s making you more motivated to get a thing done.”
Loss aversion, Dr. Milkman said, is the idea that the pain of losing something can be more extreme than the pleasure of gaining the same thing. So once you’re on a streak, research has suggested, the fear of losing it can be stronger than the motivating power of simply gaining another day.
These dual motivators can keep us on track to reach our goals. Plus, being able to cross something off your to-do list every day can add meaning to your life.
That’s clear to Alysa Beckner and Jackson Grover, who live in London and Los Angeles, respectively. The friends met in college and soon started sending each other a Snapchat message every day.
They never stopped: The pair has been exchanging daily selfies, life updates and photos of celebrities they spot in the wild for nearly eight years.
In a way, Ms. Beckner and Mr. Grover’s streak has kept them in touch and deepened their friendship. And by automating the decision-making, they made it easier to stay connected.
How do you make a streak work for you? The article has tips, including choosing something you’ll enjoy, gamifying it, allowing yourself to occasionally skip one day (but never two), and more.
Students, read the entire article and then tell us:
Which of the streaks described in the article most appeal to you? Are you more drawn to doing something physical or mental? Something you do alone, or that somehow involves others?
Have you ever been on a streak of any kind before? How hard was it to maintain? What effects did it have on you? Would you ever repeat it?
The article points out that being on a streak often offers other benefits, like helping you develop self-discipline in general. What benefits, if any, would you say your previous streaks have given you?
What do you find motivating when you’re trying to build a habit? What discourages you?
If you were to go on a streak of some kind for this whole month, what would you want it to be? Why? How could you help yourself maintain it?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
