#110 Simple Trick That Makes Habits Stick (Routine Rehearsal Visualization)

Struggling with trauma/PTSD and need help? Join my private recovery community here and get my 9 best relief tools 100% FREE: This session builds on yesterday's four levels of behavior change by introducing one of the most powerful tools for locking in new habits: rehearsal. Whether you visualize it or physically practice it, rehearsing your routine removes the decision points that trip you up and makes success feel automatic. Brad and Kaylene explain that the goal of rehearsal is to align your plan with reality as closely as possible. That means thinking through all the little details — where your water bottle is, how long it actually takes you to shower, what happens if the dog needs to go out. These small things create loopholes that your brain will use as excuses if you don't prepare for them. They share a fascinating study showing that pianists who only visualized practicing had the same brain changes as those who physically practiced. Your brain can't tell the difference between a vividly imagined event and a real one. The episode also covers how to reduce overwhelm by breaking things down to the smallest possible action. Brad shares how he tells himself "all you have to do is get in the car" — and that's enough to get the momentum going. The key is to start with what you're actually willing to do, celebrate that progress, and build from there. 💡 What You'll Learn How to rehearse a routine through visualization or physical practice Why the little details matter more than the main points The piano study that proves visualization changes your brain How to identify and eliminate loopholes before they derail you Why timing yourself on a relaxed day gives you accurate data The "just drive to the gym" strategy for overcoming resistance How to break things down so small that overwhelm disappears Why your plan needs to match what you're actually willing to do How to make adjustments without throwing off your whole routine 🧠 Key Takeaway Rehearsing your routine — whether through visualization or physical practice — removes the decision points that trip you up. When you've already gone through it in your mind, you don't have to think. You just do. 🔗 Next Steps

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#110 Simple Trick That Makes Habits Stick (Routine Rehearsal Visualization) is an episode from The Overcoming PTSD Podcast by Overcoming PTSD.

This episode is 59:37 long.

This episode was published on Feb 27, 2026.

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