Can Habits be changed?
Category : Personal development , Psychology
Habits are deeply ingrained behaviors that we perform almost automatically, driven by a cue, routine, and reward loop as elucidated by Charles Duhigg in his book The Power of Habit. While habits may seem stubborn and unchangeable, the good news is that with understanding, patience, and strategic actions, they can indeed be changed or replaced with more desirable ones.
Changing habits essentially revolves around understanding the habit loop. The first step is identifying the cue that triggers the habit. This cue could be a specific time of day, a feeling, a place, or any other signal that initiates the routine—the habitual behavior itself. Understanding what triggers a habit gives us the leverage to change it.
The next step involves altering the routine, which is the behavior enacted in response to the cue. The key to changing a habit lies not in avoiding the cue but in choosing a different, healthier, or more productive behavior in response to it. This requires conscious effort and planning. For example, if the habit you’re trying to change is reaching for a snack when stressed (cue), you might replace the snacking (routine) with going for a walk or practicing deep-breathing exercises.
The final component of the loop is the reward—the reason we enact the routine in the first place, what our brain looks forward to and what reinforces the habit loop. Finding a new routine that satisfies the original reward or need is crucial. The new habit needs to be rewarding enough to make our brains want to hold onto this new behavior.
Lastly, belief and patience play a crucial role in habit change. Believing in the possibility of change and being patient with yourself as you navigate through slips and mistakes is vital. Support from communities or groups can bolster this belief, showcasing that change, though challenging, is attainable. Changing habits isn’t an overnight process but with persistence and a strategic approach, transformation is within reach.
Read this book “GOOD HABITS BAD HABITS” written by author Savyman.