What is a Habit?

What are habits and why does the brain bother to build them?

A habit, according to Clear (Atomic Habits), is a behaviour performed often enough that it becomes automatic.

The learnt behaviour uses less brain activity while new problems and situations require more brain capacity to find the most efficient solution. This ties in with gaining a satisfying reward. Thorndike, who conducted experiments on learning, summarised that behaviours with satisfying consequences tend to be repeated, while behaviours which produce less pleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated.

Practice, repetition and reward are what differentiate between useful behaviours consolidating and ineffective behaviours fading away. As Clear goes on to explain in Atomic Habits, habits are an automated process for dealing with repeated problems. A series of automatic solutions that activate when the conditions are correct.

Habits are mental shortcuts to solve previous problems and are taken from previous experience. As habits are learnt brain activity reduces as automation takes over.

The fundamental feedback loop of human behaviour is to try, fail, and then try differently. This is repeated till a satisfying reward is attained.

Habits are also used to predict future situations, this is because the brain can only pay attention to one thing at a time - which blows the idea of multitasking out of the water - and where possible it tries to giveaway tasks to the unconscious mind to free up mental capacity.

Funnily enough, habits and the automation of behaviour have the capacity to free and liberate you from suborn negative mindsets, overthinking and procrastination.

People who do not have their habits sorted out are the ones who struggle with the basics of life, anything from time management to the financial mentality and style of studying.

Habits and freedom complement each other in that they create cognitive space for new experiences and situations to solve.

Follow along as I review more chapters from Atomic Habits!