Can We Change Our Habits? (New Perspective)

Have you ever wondered why the ideas to change your habits don't work in long run. Yes the idea seems practical and workable in initial but sooner or later you end up getting back to your normal routine. So at the end this question comes to the mind, Can We Change Our Habits? Let's find out new insights in this article.

What are habits?

Before moving further to our core interest, I want you to understand what habits really are.

A habit is basically a routine or learned behavior that is performed automatically. Habits can be triggered by any event or situation like if you have a deadline to submit your project comes closer, you might get anxious and end up doing something bad. Habits are formed with repeated actions performed when a particular situation arises. Habits could be in the form of action, learned behavior, routine or lifestyle. Habits can be good, bad or neutral.

Types of habits:

There could be multiple types of habits but below are some common types:

Physical Habits:

Consistent patterns of actions related to bodily movements, exercise routines, and dietary practices that contribute to an individual's physical well-being and overall health.

Emotional Habits:

These are established routines and responses in managing and expressing feelings, encompassing practices like self-reflection, stress management, and emotional resilience.

Intellectual Habits:

Regular behaviors focused on learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving, aiding in the continuous development of cognitive abilities and adaptability.

Productivity Habits:

Systematic approaches and routines designed to enhance efficiency, time management, and goal achievement in various aspects of life, both personally and professionally.

Social Habits:

Social Habits are consistent patterns of behavior in social interactions, including communication skills, relationship-building, and the cultivation of positive connections with others.

Which is good and which is bad?

To tell if a habit is good or bad, just think about how it affects your health, goals, and how often you do it. Good habits help you feel better in long run, match your goals, and are done regularly. Bad habits often make you feel worse, don't fit with your goals, and might not happen regularly or even cause harm.

Problems with changing habits:

First of all, you need to understand whether you need to change a habit or not. Understand the impact of a habits and its long-term effect. There might be chances that you don't need to change a habit but use it in your favor. 

People often motivate to change habits but fails to give practical tips which can actually help in changing habits. Habits are associated with deep cravings and physical addictions. Until you work on root cause, you cannot change the habits.

Scientific aspects of habits changing: Is it really possible to change habits 

Solution:

So, the good news is habits can be changed. There are 4 basic techniques which can be easily implemented to change the habits. These are available in awesome book called Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Cue:

The cue is the trigger that prompts you to start a habit. It could be anything from a specific time of day to a particular location, emotion, or even the presence of certain people or objects.

For example, if you always feel the urge to snack when you walk into the kitchen (the cue), the kitchen itself acts as the trigger for your snacking habit.

Craving:

The craving is the motivational force behind a habit. It's the desire or urge you feel in response to the cue, driving you to take action.

Using the previous example, your craving might be the desire for a tasty snack or the need to alleviate boredom or stress.

Response:

The response is the behaviour or action you engage in after experiencing the cue and craving. It's the routine or habit itself, the action you take automatically.

Continuing with the snacking example, your response might be grabbing a bag of chips or cookies and starting to eat.

Reward:

The reward is the benefit or outcome you receive from completing the habit. It satisfies the craving and reinforces the habit loop, making it more likely that you'll repeat the behaviour in the future.

In the snacking scenario, the reward could be the taste of the food, the temporary feeling of satisfaction, or the distraction from boredom or stress.

 

Read more: Unleashing the Power of Self-Discipline: A Path to Personal Excellence

Conclusion:

In conclusion, understanding and effectively changing our habits is a process that involves recognizing the triggers, cravings, responses, and rewards that form the habit loop. While habits can be deeply ingrained and challenging to alter, it's essential to evaluate their impact on our health, goals, and overall well-being. By implementing practical techniques such as modifying cues, addressing cravings, reshaping responses, and redefining rewards, we can gradually shift towards more positive and beneficial habits. While changing habits may present challenges, it's reassuring to know that with dedication and persistence, meaningful change is possible, leading to a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.