Habits -- What They Are And Why They Matter

Habits -- What They Are And Why They Matter

Origin, Explanation, And Why They're So Important

Throughout evolution, many different factors have been responsible for our development.?

Everything from our geological position, surrounding species, and the weather have played a huge part in how we now function and think.?

However, a lot has changed since then, and that is not something to ignore.

Today a big part of what forms our way of thinking stems from our childhood.?

Ever since our birth, we learn through repetition, and this is precisely how habits are formed and strengthened.?

In this article series, we explain in detail everything about them -- from how they started to how to make them work in our favor.?

So, What Are Habits?

●??????Definition

A habit is a learned behavior or sequence that has become reflexive over time and therefore does not need a conscious command or intent.?

What's important about habits is that they are learned through time and can be made into completely automatic processes.?

However, maybe their most distinctive feature is that they're mainly dependent on the previous repetition, and that's why doing them often, is the easiest way to make them a part of our brain.

●??????Origin

The part of our brain that's active when we're doing something out of habit is called the basal ganglia.?

It's interesting to note that this is not the same part responsible for decision-making (the prefrontal cortex).

Within the basal ganglia of the brain, there are two different pathways through which we reach our habits -- associative and automatic.?

The associative pathway is connected to actions leading to food, warmth, shelter, etc. -- it's basically everything from habits to instincts.?

The automatic pathway is where often repeated actions are stored like brushing teeth, putting on shoes, etc. -- this is for the habits we learn through repetition and positive reinforcement.?

●??????Neurological loop

This is the most basic explanation of how habits are formed, and it consists of three steps -- a cue, a routine, and a reward.?

The cue is the trigger for the behavior itself, and it's mainly connected with location, time, previous action, or emotion.?

Think of it like walking past the bathroom in the morning and brushing your teeth -- this can be because of your place in the apartment, the morning hour, the fact that you just got out of bed, or that you still feel sleepy and want to wake up.?

Next is the routine -- this is the initially conscious actions that turned into habits.?

We can use drinking coffee as an example -- a lot of people start drinking coffee because they're tired or bored at the beginning (completely aware of the reasons and their actions) and end up forming a habit out of it through repeating the same thought process every day.

The final thing is the reward -- this is pretty self-explanatory.?

Habits are easily made through because of the rewarding feeling afterward.?

For example, when you cook for yourself every night, you receive some free time throughout the next day and make this into a habit.?

Why They Matter So Much

●??????Healthier life

Taking your meds, exercising, keeping a healthy diet and regular sleep schedule are all thanks to the formation of habits.?

Positive actions and thoughts tend to avalanche and the same is true for repeating behavior -- once you start it's much easier to keep going and this leads to a better physical and mental state.

Healthy habits also lead to a better perspective on life - once you start taking care of your body, it's much easier to boost your confidence and start working on your goals.?

It's also worth mentioning that habits improve your day-to-day life because they're essentially little boosts of serotonin, which are always welcome.?

●??????More brainpower

From an evolutionary standpoint, this is why habits were formed.?

When you do something automatically you can keep your active focus on something else and still be successful in both.?

By forming the habits you need and want, you will have the energy to achieve more complicated actions.?

It's also important to mention that they save up time -- once you've turned habits into automatic processes, you can do two or more things at the same time without it being detrimental to the results.?

So, Think Of It This Way

Habits have been a part of our brain processes forever and for a good reason.?

They help with survival, and they make many actions less taxing on the brain.?

Habits also promote a healthier lifestyle and an easier and more enjoyable experience both from day to day and long term.?

In the second part of this series, we explain how to improve the habits we already have, get rid of negative ones, and even build some we've always wanted to.?

Stay tuned!

Fauzia Malik

Registered Early Childhood Educator/Resource Consultant certification City of Toronto, Childrens' s Services

3 年

Well done. Learned basics of habits... connection between brain and habits. Well explained. Enjoyed the first part. Thanks Justin Donne

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Justin Donne的更多文章

  • the undeniable dignity of work

    the undeniable dignity of work

    It's time we address a crucial topic?? Let me be clear: Every job has inherent value and commands respect. Here's what…

    2 条评论
  • Job Titles Matter in Non-Profit Groups

    Job Titles Matter in Non-Profit Groups

    Not long ago, a member of a well-known group asked about their job title. This person runs an organization but doesn't…

  • How To Become A Life Coach

    How To Become A Life Coach

    Life coaching has become a frequently pursued career, as it offers a variety of benefits and is impactful for people…

  • Mood Swings | Part 1 -- Definition & Causes

    Mood Swings | Part 1 -- Definition & Causes

    Understanding the Dynamic Nature of Your Emotions Thanks to experiments and proven theories, we now know that the…

  • Mood Swings | Part 2 - Managing Your Emotions

    Mood Swings | Part 2 - Managing Your Emotions

    Gaining Control Over the Automatic In part one of this article series, you learned more about mood swings, their…

  • Learning To Take Your Own Feelings into Account

    Learning To Take Your Own Feelings into Account

    The Effect of Social Media And How To Hear Your Own Voice In A Sea Of Others There's a lot to be said about human…

    1 条评论
  • Connecting With Different Types Of Art

    Connecting With Different Types Of Art

    What Should You Try Next And Why It's Important To Keep Exploring Art has been a part of our lives for millennia. The…

  • Attracting The Right People

    Attracting The Right People

    Your Uniqueness Is Your Strongest Quality We all know that relationships are a massive part of our lives. Family…

  • How To Get More Organized In Your Daily Life

    How To Get More Organized In Your Daily Life

    Little Things That Help You Stay On Top Of Your Game We've all had those days when our organizational skills seemed to…

    1 条评论
  • Yes, You Definitely Need A Hobby

    Yes, You Definitely Need A Hobby

    There usually comes a time in a person's life when he or she becomes aware of how little they do for themselves in…

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了