If you want to change your life, change your habits. While many people strive to find the next wellness trend and live better and fuller lives, a powerful source that takes very little energy is lurking right below the surface of everyone. Habits can improve wellness, lead to lasting changes in health and enhance overall quality of life.
What are Habits?
Habits are behaviors that can be reduced down to a routine and tend to occur without much thought or planning. Think of them as things we do on auto-pilot. Researchers tell us that habits are very powerful and that over 40% of our everyday behaviors are repeated in the form of habits. With this being said, it should be obvious that some habits are good and others not so good and at times, even dangerous.
A Powerful Key to Wellness
Without a doubt, habits influence many areas of our lives, including health, well-being, occupation, personal relationships, finances, and so much more. Most people have habits or routines they follow in the morning, afternoon and evening. As a matter of fact, habits are so powerful that they can never be fully erased. Instead, they can only become replaced by better, healthier habits.
The Habit Loop: Cue, Routine, Reward
Many people form habit loops without knowing about them. A habit loop consists of three parts: a cue (a certain time of the day), a routine (an action or behavior during that certain time of the day, and a big reward (feelings achieved from the cue and routine). A key to changing your life is to keep the old cue, and achieve the old reward, but insert a new habit or routine to replace the old routine.
The Importance of Self-Regulation in the Habit Loop
The ability to direct our behavior and control impulses in order to achieve goals or set new standards in our lives is the very definition of self-regulation. Everyone needs to regulate themselves to optimize effective human functioning. As it is applied to habits, self-regulation allows us to define and set both short- and long-term goals (i.e. exercise, weight loss, stop smoking, dietary changes).
Example
At 3pm in the office, I become sleepy and less productive (cue). I could go to the Keurig and make my 4th cup of coffee for the day (routine) to wake up and get back to work (reward). Instead of consuming more caffeine, I choose to go for a brisk 10-minute walk (routine and better habit) and become energized enough to successfully finish my day at the office (reward).
Final Thoughts on the Power of Habits
So many people are searching for the next big thing in wellness, longevity, and improvement in their lives. The answer is right below their noses – habits. It will take some time and effort to determine exactly which habit needs to be replaced by a better, healthier habit. And remember, keep the same cue, and the same reward, just trade out the old habit or routine for something that will bring lasting change in your life.