{"id":2412,"date":"2023-02-22T19:15:33","date_gmt":"2023-02-22T19:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cogentmotivation.com\/?p=2412"},"modified":"2023-02-22T19:15:35","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T19:15:35","slug":"streaks-vs-averages-what-matters-really","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cogentmotivation.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/22\/streaks-vs-averages-what-matters-really\/","title":{"rendered":"Streaks vs Averages \u2013 What matters really?<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scrolling through social media feeds and glancing across the status updates leads to a lot of quick bursts of emotions. All the information ranging from who\u2019s dating whom to where one is vacationing or visiting clubs becomes available at one tap. Tapping through them eventually you land up on some screenshot that flaunts an unbroken streak of some sort. It could be that of gym visits, meditations, cycling or even of Snapchat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most of us can\u2019t help but admire the streak and rightfully so, after all, they posted because it is unique. If the streak resonates with something that we value ourselves and are struggling to incorporate into our lives, then it undoubtedly creates a unique longing for the same. We try or at least wish to emulate it. This brings the question to the brim, how meaningful are these streaks? Aren\u2019t they the epitome of consistency? Or can there be a middle ground, which is more effective? Well, let\u2019s find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Streaks represent an act performed every single day. The very definition of consistency is the state or condition of always behaving in the same way. So streaks indeed demonstrate the highest form of consistency. But can this consistency be always the most effective technique? It depends on the intent adopted to maintain the streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Anete Lusina<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For instance, let\u2019s say someone begins a meditation streak only for the sake of posting it on social media and continues it. They turn the meditation app on and don\u2019t do it, aka, cheat; the meditation version of \u2018chatting on a treadmill\u2019. In this case, the insincerity involved is not visible to the social network but in reality, it makes no significant contribution to the individual\u2019s life. If anything, it creates a pseudo-pressure on the individual \u2018to act up as if it’s working\u2019 because of the difference between perceived social identity and reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, another person starts a gym streak. On some days they don\u2019t want to train but then they are reminded of the streak. Riding on only this tiny bit of motivation to maintain the streak, they drag themselves to the gym and\u2026 Voila! They soon find themselves going through the entire training joyfully and thanking their motivation for maintaining the streak satisfactorily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Did you notice the difference between the two scenarios? It\u2019s not the endeavour involved but rather the degree of involvement of the individual in the activity. In both cases, the individual was faced with internal resistance. In the first case, the individual would rather cheat and not perform the activity, i.e., meditation. But in the latter case, the person, irrespective of how they felt, dragged their selves through the activity; betraying no one and especially not themselves. It’s here how the streaks leave their mark, by building up positive pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image by Pera Detlic<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This also surfaces the next challenge posed by streaks, no matter how positive it may seem, pressure, in the end, is pressure. To live up to this pressure is one thing, but in case of a break of the streak, the same pressure generates disappointment. How? Let\u2019s imagine you were on a 27 days jogging streak. If you happen to break it on the 28th, then you could lose all the momentum and ask \u201cWhat\u2019s the point now, since the streak is broken?\u201d Now you wouldn\u2019t jog on the day after and maybe the days ahead. All the consistency gained and the setup of a new habit is lost only because of a single lapse. It\u2019s then, this pressure of streak justified?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maybe not. Instead of focusing on getting a habit going every day, how about expanding the time frame that defines consistency? For instance, the streak was that of jogging every day: What if we create a safety cushion of a couple of days per week? Meaning that it would be great to jog all 7 days but 5 would be just enough. So that whenever we, the human beings we are, lapse, can get less disappointed and quickly return the next day for jogging? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, even the machines don\u2019t have 100% mechanical efficiency! So even if the 27 days streak was achieved within a month and this new average scheme probably allows 20 days of jogging a month; in the long run, it averages which we have more likelihood of sticking with. In the second month, the number of jogging days would be 40, whereas restarting the streak would be a real uphill ask!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image by Alexa<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the end, streaks demonstrate great determination and consistency. But it\u2019s the averages that prove to be effective and efficient. After all, if you care more about the effect of the activity than the social media awe, you\u2019d choose the more realistic and efficient option of the averages!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scrolling through social media feeds and glancing across the status updates leads to a lot of quick bursts of emotions. All the information ranging from who\u2019s dating whom to where one is vacationing or visiting clubs becomes available at one tap. Tapping through them eventually you land up on some screenshot that flaunts an unbroken streak of some sort. It could be that of gym visits, meditations, cycling or even of Snapchat. … Read More >Streaks vs Averages \u2013 What matters really?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[9],"tags":[19,12],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nStreaks vs Averages \u2013 What matters really? - Cogent Motivation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Scrolling through social media feeds and glancing across the status updates leads to a lot of quick bursts of emotions. 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