28 Feb What is a Gateway Habit?
Cornerstone Protection
836 Euclid Avenue Suite 16, Lexington
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Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
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One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
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I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
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Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
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I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
Kanu Patel -
We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
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Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
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My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
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I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
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Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
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Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
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Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us! -
As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them. -
We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience. -
We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem. -
Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter. -
Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!! -
The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them! -
I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended. -
We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives. -
The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul. -
We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.
WHAT IS A GATEWAY HABIT?
Negative vs. Positive Gateway Habits and How to Deal With Them
Have you ever heard of gateway habits? They are small changes in behavior that can lead to the development of other healthy (or unhealthy) habits. They are known to have a profound effect on decision-making.
Gateway habits are “habits that, once acquired, open up access to more behaviors.” Studies have found that even small gateway habits can lead to decision-making and better outcomes for individuals in various aspects of their lives.
A good example is having tea while sitting at your desk to prepare for a test. The tea might act as a trigger, make you more mentally active, and be designed to maximize your study session.
How gateway habits impact your routine
Think about routine as the big picture. Within it, gateway habits have the domino effect because they act as triggers to other positive and negative behaviors.
Some common examples of gateway habits are:
- Procrastination
- Appetite behaviors
- Sleep patterns and schedule
They can also include setting alarms for regular breaks, drinking water before meals, or reading a few pages from a book before bedtime. Committing to these little tasks makes it easier to develop positive routines over time because they require minimal effort.
For example, think of setting the alarm for yourself to take five-minute breaks after every hour. You’ll likely stick with this routine as it becomes a part of your schedule.
Positive vs. Negative Gateway Habits
Gateway habits can be positive or negative and can powerfully impact your routine.
Positive Gateway Habits
Positive gateway habits are small behaviors that can lead to larger life improvements. We can create a foundation for success and sustained growth over time. They can form the building blocks of both personal and professional development.
Habits are developed over time with practice and dedication. But the steps below will provide you with a simple blueprint to get started:
- Identify the goal. What do you wish to accomplish? For example, if you aim to exercise more regularly, determine how often and at what time of day this goal will be completed.
- Set clear expectations. It’s important to provide structure and help create momentum to achieve the desired habit.
- Recognize any obstacles blocking your goals. You may need help finding the motivation or get easily distracted by other activities while working.
For example, someone looking to break unhealthy eating patterns may start with something as simple as adding vegetables to each meal. This small habit could lead to larger dietary changes and better health in the long term.
Let’s think of another case. Someone hoping to improve financial situation might begin by creating a budget or tracking expenses. These two can become positive gateway habits for more secure finances.
Negative Gateway Habits
Negative gateway habits are activities that can lead to unhealthy behaviors and patterns. They often start as seemingly harmless activities (playing video games, using social media, etc.). But they can lead to more damaging outcomes without proper guidance.
So how do you become more cautious of the negative gateway habit spiral? The trick lies in knowing where to draw the line.
- Setting boundaries and limits can stop you from developing triggers that lead to bad habits. The result is better health, wellness, and productivity, a win-win for everyone involved.
- Limit the amount of exposure you have to activities that could trigger a gateway habit. It’s important not to succumb to peer pressure when engaging in activities like smoking or drinking alcohol and find other alternatives instead.
- Do not hesitate to ask friends or family for advice on avoiding harmful activities.
For example, an individual who enjoys playing video games may play for longer periods until gaming becomes a priority over other important responsibilities like work or school.
Similarly, someone overly engaged with social media could become obsessed with seeking validation. It could result in depression, anxiety, or even self-esteem, leading to bigger problems in behavior and mental health overall.
How gateway habits affect decision making
Gateway habits can act as triggers to complete an important task.
One main way gateway habits affect decision-making is by reducing cognitive overload. It occurs when individuals are faced with too many decisions or choices and become overwhelmed.
By establishing gateway habits, individuals can focus on the important decisions rather than getting bogged down by the smaller ones. Additionally, gateway habits help create stability and consistency, which reduces stress levels and improves overall well-being allowing for better decision-making capabilities.
Takeaway: Gateway habits can lead to consistent routines
It’s essential to understand that gateway habits can work differently for everyone. A dose of caffeine in the afternoon might be a positive trigger for some and a negative one for others.
So it’s good to analyze your routine and what affects the outcomes of your tasks and actions. By starting with small, achievable goals and slowly adding more, you can build your way into a healthy lifestyle.
Habits don’t form overnight; seeing results takes time and dedication. Don’t become discouraged if you don’t see immediate progress!
References:
How to spot your habit triggers
https://www.nib.com.au/the-checkup/how-to-identify-and-change-your-habit-triggers
Craig Selinger
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