“Are Habits Overhyped? Here’s What Really Works”

“Habits vs. Routines – There is a Difference”

“So what are habits, really?”

“…habit works by generating an impulse to do a behavior with little or no conscious thought.” Habits are simply how the brain learns to do things without deliberation. These impulses can be put to good use, but only certain behaviors can become habits.

“Building a habit is relatively simple — just harness the impulse. For new habits to take hold, provide a clear trigger, make the behavior easy to do, and ensure it occurs frequently. For example, by completely removing unhealthy food from my home and eating the same thing every morning, my diet became a healthy habit. I extracted the decision making process out of what I eat at home.

“However, if the behavior requires a high degree of intentionality, effort, or deliberation, it is not a habit. Although proponents of habits tout them as miracle cures for doing things we’d rather not do, I’m sorry to say that’s snake oil. All sorts of tasks aren’t habits and never will be. By definition, doing things that are effortful aren’t habits.

“… A routine is a series of behaviors regularly practiced. Routines don’t care if you feel an urge or not, they just need to get done.”

http://www.nirandfar.com/2016/01/habits-overhyped-heres-really-works.html