IELTS cue card: «Describe a good habit you have», пример ответа

Describe a good habit you have.

You should say:

what the habit is

when you started it

how it has affected your life

and explain why you think it is a good habit.

A good habit I'm quite proud of is walking for at least forty minutes every day. Most days I do it by walking home from university instead of taking the metro, which is about four kilometres.

I started it in my first year at university. I was sitting for most of the day, in lectures and then at my desk, and after a few months I'd put on weight and started getting back pain, which is ridiculous at nineteen. A friend suggested walking home together, and it just stuck.

It's affected my life in more ways than I expected. I've lost about six kilos, my back pain has gone and I sleep much better. But the unexpected benefit is English: I listen to podcasts while I walk, so I get almost five hours of listening practice a week without having to find extra time for it.

I think it's a good habit mainly because it's so easy to keep. It's free, it doesn't need any equipment, and it fits into something I have to do anyway, which is getting home. Whenever I've tried more ambitious habits, like going to the gym at six in the morning, I've given up within a couple of weeks.

So my advice to anyone trying to build a habit would be to attach it to something you already do.

Why do people find it hard to change bad habits?

Because bad habits usually give an instant reward, while the benefits of good habits take weeks to appear. Scrolling on your phone feels good immediately; the results of exercise don't.

Should schools teach children healthy habits?

Definitely, because habits formed in childhood tend to last. Things like regular exercise and a sensible attitude to screens are much easier to learn at ten than at thirty.

Do parents or friends have more influence on a young person's habits?

Can technology help people build good habits?