Why is it so hard to break a bad habit?

The video explains that habits form because the brain associates the behavior with a reward, such as the release of dopamine that mediates feelings of pleasure.

Over time, the brain builds connections linking the reward with the behavior and starts associating the behavior with other cues in the environment. Eventually, the context alone can trigger the habit.

While habits can be beneficial, not all of them serve us well. Intentions alone often fail to lead to long-term behavior change. However, by understanding the basis of habits, we can create better plans for changing them.

The video suggests identifying the cues or environments that trigger the habit and modifying them to make it more difficult to perform the habit.

For more ingrained habits like nail-biting or hair-pulling, habit reversal training can be helpful. This involves replacing the detrimental habit with a less harmful one.

For example, keeping a fidget toy at your desk and using it when you feel the urge to bite your nails.

The video concludes by emphasizing that breaking a habit takes time and patience. It also suggests celebrating the good habits that help us in our daily routines.