Refactor Yourself!

Have you ever tried building up a new habit or changing an existing one? It’s a hard thing to do, and we often fail at making new habits stick.

We find it hard to improve the design of our own behaviours, but when it comes to our code, we do know what to do. We know how to refactor to make sure that the code we have is improving without changing any unexpected behaviours. So how about we apply the same techniques to ourselves?

In this talk, we’ll look at the psychology of creating new habits, how this relates to refactoring code and how we can combine the two to drive change to our own behaviours.

Transcript

1. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Melinda Seckington refactor YOURSELF!
2. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What do you want to be when you grow up?
3. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE
4. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE 10 years later: computer science
5. 20 years later: what do I do now?
6. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE MELINDA SECKINGTON LEARN BUILD SHARE seckington.com
7. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Things are always changing
8. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Learning to adapt
9. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE How do we learn to adapt & change?
10. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Refactor
11. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE human equivalent of technical debt
12. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE How to change our behaviours
13. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What behaviours to change?
14. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Take time to reflect on what to change
15. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE
16. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Make time for reflection
17. Personal retrospectives
18. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Examine recent events
19. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Examine a shorter period (day, week, month)
20. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Celebrate what you’ve achieved
21. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Learn from what you have done
22. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What went well? What didn’t go well? What do you have questions about?
23. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What went well? What did you learn? What was unusual? Who helped you? What was your main strength? What inspired you? What went less well? What did you fail at? What would you change? Who did you help? What was your weakness? What still puzzles you?
24. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What are your values? Re fl ect on who you are. How would you describe yourself in 5-8 words?
25. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE candid? courageous? ef fi cient? empathetic? imaginative? inspiring? playful? What did I do that was: What could I do that was more:
26. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What are your goals? What are you trying to achieve? How am I progressing with my goals? What do I need to do differently to achieve those goals?
27. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What behaviours do you want to change? What behaviours do you want to keep?
28. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Reflect in a retrospective
29. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Create a list of behaviours you like & behaviours you want to change
30. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Why do we refactor code?
31. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE To avoid technical debt
32. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE • Maintainability • Extensibility Improving the design of the existing codebase: make it easier to add new features and capabilities make it easier to fi x and change things
33. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Code smell Refactor Tests pass REFACTORING
34. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Code smell Refactor Tests pass REFACTORING
35. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Code smell Refactor Tests pass REFACTORING
36. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Code smell Refactor Tests pass REFACTORING
37. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Code smell Refactor Tests pass REFACTORING
38. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Why should we refactor ourselves?
39. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Improving the design of ourselves: make it easier to add new behaviours or skills make it easier to change existing behaviours or skills • Maintainability • Extensibility
40. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE How do we make it easier to change or add new behaviours or skills?
41. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Code smell Refactor Tests pass REFACTORING
42. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Sign we need to do something Do the thing Celebrate REFACTORING
43. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE The Habit Loop
44. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE The Power of Habit Charles Duhigg
45. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 The Habit Loop
46. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE “Over time, this loop - cue, routine, reward - becomes more and more automatic. The cue and reward become intertwined until a powerful sense of anticipation and craving emerges.” Charles Duhigg
47. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 The Habit Loop
48. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE every goal can be broken down into HABITS
49. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Build on existing loops Replace part of the loop Find new cues and new rewards Create a new loop with an existing cue
50. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Build on existing loops Replace part of the loop Find new cues and new rewards Create a new loop with an existing cue
51. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Flossing more regularly
52. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 My teeth feel icky My teeth are clean! Brush my teeth The Habit Loop
53. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 My teeth feel icky & fl oss! My teeth are clean! Brush my teeth The Habit Loop
54. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Finding time for learning
55. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 Calendar reminder to read Learnt something new! Read book The Habit Loop
56. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 Time to pick up a new feature to work on Shipped a feature! Implement the feature Reading time? The Habit Loop
57. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 Time to pick up a new feature to work on Implement the feature Shipped a feature! Read for 30 minutes! The Habit Loop
58. LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM What are your existing habit loops?
59. LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM Which one of the them could you adapt?
60. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Build on existing loops Replace part of the loop Find new cues and new rewards Create a new loop with an existing cue
61. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Stop meetings from overrunning
62. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 I see what time it is I’m on time for my next meeting! I stop the meeting The Habit Loop
63. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 I’m on time for my next meeting! I stop the meeting The Habit Loop Noti fi cation when the meeting is done
64. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Building a coaching habit
65. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 Someone asks for help Feel good for helping them Give advice The Habit Loop
66. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 Feel good for helping them Ask a question and shut up The Habit Loop Someone asks for help
67. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Doing the laundry
68. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 The laundry basket is full Clean laundry! Throw in a wash The Habit Loop
69. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 The laundry basket is full Throw in a wash The Habit Loop Have a special snack Play a video game
70. LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM What are your existing habit loops?
71. LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM Which elements are not working?
72. LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM How can you fix it?
73. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Build on existing loops Replace part of the loop Find new cues and new rewards Create a new loop with an existing cue
74. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Disconnect before sleeping
75. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 The Habit Loop Going to bed Read a book for 30 min Go to sleep more relaxed and disconnected
76. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Overcoming my fears
77. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE 2 Getting asked to do something I am scared of Say “No”
78. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 Getting asked to do something I am scared of Say “Yes” Feeling proud for doing something you were scared of! The Habit Loop
79. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 The Habit Loop Getting asked to do something I am scared of Eat cake! Buy a new book! Book a spa! Say “Yes”
80. LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM What are the things that you do regularly?
81. LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM Which one of them could you extend?
82. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Build on existing loops Replace part of the loop Find new cues and new rewards Create a new loop with an existing cue
83. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Exercising more
84. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 Wake up early and see my running gear Go running Feel more energetic The Habit Loop
85. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 Excitement and curiosity about next episode Go running and listen to ZombiesRun Experience the story The Habit Loop
86. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Example: Removing stop words during a talk @mseckington
87. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Cue Routine Reward 1 2 3 When you fi nish a sentence Pause and take a breath Refocus and calm down The Habit Loop
88. LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM When creating new habit loops, think about all 3 aspects
89. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE Build on existing loops Replace part of the loop Find new cues and new rewards Create a new loop with an existing cue
90. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What do you want to be when you grow up?
91. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE How are you changing?
92. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What next?
93. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE What next?
94. SECKINGTON.COM LEARN BUILD SHARE MELINDA SECKINGTON LEARN BUILD SHARE SECKINGTON.COM Thanks for listening!