GOOD HABITS 447 



Anyway, there is some opposite helpful habit you can substitute 

 in its place. For example, instead of saying sometimes, " That 

 noise drives me wild," say nothing, but think to yourself, " there's 

 no noise that I can't stand when necessary." Fifth, use effort of 

 will. Habits which are rooted when young in moral and religious 

 training are those which in later life will do more than any others 

 to steer us straight on the course we would take through life. 



Practical Exercise 8. Explain how you would break some specific bad 

 habit by using the rules quoted above: 



Make a list of habits of mind that you would like to acquire. How would 

 you go to work to do this? 



Self-Testing Exercise 



A habit is an acquired (1) act. Learning to (2) is 



such an act. Habits are most easily formed when we are (3). 



" Practice makes perfect " is a good rule in (4) (5). 



In forming a habit : Act on every (6) ; make a strong 



(7) ; allow no (8) ; replace (9) habits with 



(10) habits ; use your (11) of (12). 



PROBLEM vTIL WHAT ARE SOME GOOD HEALTH HABITS? 



Health habits for the nervous system. The nerve cells, like 

 all other cells in the body, are continually wasting away and being 

 rebuilt. Oxidation of food material increases when we do mental 

 work. The cells of the brain, like muscle cells, are not only 

 capable of fatigue, but they show this in changes of form and of 

 contents. Food brought to them in the blood, plenty of fresh air, 

 and rest at proper times, are essential in keeping the nervous system 

 in condition. One of the best methods of resting the brain cells 

 is a change of occupation. Tennis, golf, baseball, and other 

 outdoor sports combine muscular exercise with brain activity of a 

 different sort from that of business or school work. 



Necessity of sleep. But change of occupation will not rest 

 exhausted neurons. For this, sleep is necessary. Especially is 

 sleep an important factor in the health of the nervous system of 

 growing children. A child needs ten hours of sleep, an adult, 

 eight hours. When a person is sleeping, his brain cells have oppor- 

 tunity to rest and to store food and energy for their working period. 



