Have you ever given your habits a second thought or considered how they affect your everyday life? Have you ever had to adjust and change your routines due to a new setting and environment? Psychologists claim that new activities become habits when they become automatic and are carried out with little or no conscious thought.

Habits are actions we take on a daily basis and engage in routine activities or in other regular circumstances. But these aren’t just any behaviors. If at least one aspect of a behavior is at least somewhat “automatic,” it is considered a habit.

The Development of Habits

Every habit begins with a psychological pattern known as a “habit loop,” which is a three-step procedure. A cue or trigger is the first thing that instructs your brain to switch to automatic mode and allow an action to happen. Then comes the routine, which is the behavior itself. Afterwards comes the reward which is something your brain enjoys that will aid in future memory of the “habit loop.”

When a behavior is triggered by a cue, it becomes a habit. If you eat at the same time every day, eating is the activity and time is the trigger—that is a habit.

Rewards can reinforce habits. Sometimes the benefits are obvious. Consider eating as an example; the reward is the enjoyment of the meal.

The reward is not always obvious, it is a little more subtle if you – for example – have a bad habit of looking at your phone whenever you’re bored and is probably just comfort from the stress of your own thoughts.

“The more often the cue, behavior, and reward occur in close time and proximity to one another, the stronger a habit becomes.“

Replacing Bad Habits with Better Ones

Bad habits disrupt your life and keep you from reaching your objectives. They put your physical and emotional wellbeing in danger. They also waste your time and effort. Bad habits are frequently just a technique for coping with stress and boredom. We cannot disagree that there are times when superficial signs of stress or boredom are actually brought on by more serious problems. Though these topics can be difficult to contemplate, if you’re serious about making changes, you must be honest with yourself. It might be challenging, but not impossible, to break long-standing behaviors.

“You don’t eliminate a bad habit, you replace it.”

Here are some ways for changing bad habits and sticking to healthy habits:

• Identify unhealthy habits.
• Focus on Cognitive goals.
• Change your surroundings.
• Never hesitate to ask for Support and help.
• Pair up with someone and quit a habit together.
• Reward yourself and be patient.
• Connecting with an existing routine

How To Start from This Moment?

Start asking yourself some questions and write the answers. Keep track of how frequently your bad habit occurs each day either by writing them down on a piece of paper, or on your Notes application on your cell phone every time your undesirable habit occurs. Check your total by adding up all of the tally marks at the end of the day.

• When exactly does your bad habit occur?
• How many times a day do you perform it?
• How are you doing?
• Why are you doing this habit?
• With whom are you doing this habit?
• What initiates the activity and makes it happen?

My advice to you is that your goal shouldn’t be to judge yourself or feel guilty for doing something unhealthy or bad behavior. Your goal is to be aware of when and how frequently it occurs. When you are conscious of this habit, you may understand it. After that, you may begin to understand what was said before and put an end to your bad habit.

Recommended Habits Books

• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
• Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood