Whenever you face a problem repeatedly, your brain begins to automate the process of solving it.
Your habits are just a series of automatic solutions that solve the problems and stresses you face regularly. Behavioral scientist Jason Hreha writes, “Habits are, simply, reliable solutions to recurring problems in our environment.”
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT: A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough times to become automatic.
GO DEEPER: When a similar situation arises in the future, you know exactly what to look for. There is no longer a need to analyze every angle of a situation.
Your brain skips the process of trial and error and creates a mental rule: if this, then that. These cognitive scripts can be followed automatically whenever the situation is appropriate. Now, whenever you feel stressed, you get the itch to run. As soon as you walk in the door from work, you grab the video game controller. A choice that once required effort is now automatic.
A habit has been created.
WHAT DID I DO LAST TIME TO SOLVE THIS?
Habits are mental shortcuts learned from experience. In a sense, a habit is just a memory of the steps you previously followed to solve a problem in the past.
Whenever the conditions are right, you can draw on this memory and automatically apply the same solution. The primary reason the brain remembers the past is to better predict what will work in the future.
Forming habits is very helpful because our conscious mind can only focus on one thing at a time.
It saves its attention for the most important tasks. Whenever it can, the conscious mind gives tasks to the non-conscious mind to do automatically. This is exactly what happens when we form a habit. Habits simplify our thinking and free up mental space, allowing us to focus on other tasks.
SOME PEOPLE QUESTION THE BENEFITS OF HABITS.
Their argument typically follows this line of thought:
- "I don’t want to be stuck in a lifestyle I don’t enjoy."
- "Doesn't too much routine remove the vibrancy and spontaneity from life?"
These questions suggest that you have to choose between establishing habits and achieving freedom. In truth, the two are not mutually exclusive but complement each other.
Habits do not limit freedom. They generate it.
Often, individuals without well-established habits are those with the least freedom.
- Without sound financial habits, you will always be struggling for the next dollar.
- Without healthy habits, you will constantly feel a lack of energy.
- Without good learning habits, you will always feel like you’re falling behind.
If you’re continuously making decisions about simple tasks—when to work out, where to write, when to pay the bills—then you have less time for freedom. By simplifying the basics of life, you create the mental space needed for free thinking and creativity. Conversely, once your habits are in place and the basics of life are taken care of, your mind is free to focus on new challenges and mastering the next set of problems.
WHY IT MATTERS: Establishing habits now allows you to do more of what you want in the future.
more tomorrow,
Hunter
more tomorrow,
Hunter