Habits are the invisible threads that weave into the fabric of our daily lives. From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed, we develop different habits that define who we are and what we achieve. Whether they are good or bad, habits have a huge impact to our well-being, success and general happiness.
The German philosopher Immanuel Kant said that "the more habits, the less freedom." There is some truth in this, but habits still need to be distinguished into productive and counterproductive. Habits are the building blocks of our routine. They allow us to perform complex actions with minimal cognitive effort, freeing up mental space for other tasks. This automatism can work both in our favour and against us. Positive habits such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and constant learning contribute to personal growth and success. On the other hand, negative habits such as procrastination, excessive screen time, or unhealthy coping mechanisms interfere with progress and fulfillment.
For me, as a former professional athlete, routine and habits are very important elements of my life. Without many good habits, I would not have achieved the desired result either in sports or in my professional career. The ability to say NO when there are many temptations around is also a habit. I don't eat sweets, I don't put sugar in my coffee and tea, I exercise regularly, I read a lot, I walk a lot. But I also have a lot of bad habits that I would like to get rid of. I drink alcohol in moderation, mostly wine, I spend a lot of time in front of screens, I tend to procrastinate.
Understanding Habit Formation:
Habits aren't just born overnight; they are the result of repetitive actions and associations in our brain. This process, known as the habit loop, involves three key elements:
Cue: This is the trigger that starts the habit. It can be a specific time, place, emotional state, or even the presence of certain people.
Routine: This is the behavior itself, the action we take in response to a signal. It can be a positive habit, such as exercising, or a negative one, such as smoking.
Reward: This is a positive outcome that we associate with the routine. This reinforces the habit loop and makes it more likely that we will repeat the behavior the next time the cue occurs.
How to develop positive habits?
Building positive habits requires focused effort and consistency. Here are some strategies to help you develop and maintain positive habits:
Start Small: Start with tiny, manageable changes. By setting achievable goals for yourself, you will achieve quick wins that will increase your motivation.
Be consistent: repetition is the key to forming a habit. Stick to your chosen habit every day, even if it's just for a few minutes.
Accountability and Support: Share your goals with friends or family who can hold you accountable.
Track your progress: Keep a habit tracker or journal to keep track of your daily efforts and mark your progress.
Replace Negativity with Positive: Identify negative habits and replace them with healthier alternatives. For example, replace excessive scrolling on social media with reading a book.
Be kind to yourself: Habits take time to develop, and failure is a natural part of the process. Focus on progress, not perfection.
Habits determine the course of our lives. The acquisition of positive habits gives us the ability to control our actions and work towards achieving our dreams.
After all, success is a product of daily, routine, sometimes boring, physically demanding and repetitive work. This is a habit, discipline, constant work on oneself and denial of something. You can turn into a habit drinking coffee without sugar or eating borsch without sour cream, daily sports, reading at least 10 pages of a book, memorizing 10 words in a foreign language. The main thing is to turn it all into pleasure, surround yourself with the right people, live in the right environment. This is our choice.
Comments