The Power Of Habit: A Quick Look
I recently read “The Power Of Habit” where the author Charles Duhigg talks about the formation of habits and the ways to change them.
He bases his prognosis based on a man who had lost a significant portion of his brain due to a virus and could not make new memories as a result. However, he could still learn new habits if the same tasks were repeated over-and-over-again. Charless Duigg uses this example to explain the formation of habits, wherein tasks that need conscious thought in the beginning become almost automatic once a person develops its habit.
How does a habit form?
He, then, introduces the habit loop which is composed of mainly 3 things:
1. Cue: Every habit is triggered by a cue that can be the current location, time of the day, emotional state, etc.
2. Routine: Once a cue has been identified, the habitual person follows through a routine.
3. Reward: The person receives a reward on successful completion of the routine.
Every habit can be described in terms of this habit loop.
However, the habit loop in itself is not sufficient to explain the obstinate nature of habits. This, the author explains, is a result of a “craving” for the reward. Once the habit loop has been traversed a number of times, this craving keeps us on that loop.
So, how can we change a habit then?
For every habit that we want to change, we must first identify the habit loop and then, try to perform alternate routines that deliver a similar reward once the corresponding cue is presented.
To intensify this further, we should intentionally develop a craving for these rewards. This combined with the belief that a change is possible, can eventually lead to the desired change.
If you want to read it yourself, check it out here:
