Habits can be changed if we understand their mechanisms.The basal ganglia, a part of the brain, stores and executes our habits independently of other brain functions, allowing us to perform routines without conscious thought.<a href="https://elevatedpath.beehiiv.com/subscribe">The Art of Habits</a> (It's free)The habit loop consists of three steps:Cue, Routine, and Reward.<ul><li>A cue triggers the habit,</li><li>The routine is the behavior itself, and</li><li>The reward reinforces the habit's value to the brain.</li></ul>Importantly, the brain doesn't distinguish between good and bad habits; it maintains habits as long as they are rewarded.

1. How Habits Work

<ul><li>Habits are influenced by cravings, which drive the desire for rewards following cues.</li></ul> Example: Feeling dirty teeth after eating creates a craving for the clean feeling from brushing. <ul><li>Starting a new habit, like jogging, requires a clear cue (such as putting on sneakers before breakfast) and a rewarding outcome (like a sense of achievement or endorphin release).</li><li> To make a habit automatic, the brain must learn to anticipate the reward when the cue appears. </li><li>This anticipation cements the habit, ensuring it becomes ingrained in daily routines.</li></ul>

2. How to Create New Habits

<ul><li>Building willpower into a habit involves pre-determining behaviors and following through consistently.</li><li>It's crucial for success, surpassing IQ in importance.</li><li>Those with strong willpower achieve better grades and spend less time on distractions like TV.</li><li>Treat willpower like a muscle—it strengthens with exercise but fatigues if overused.</li><li>Planning responses to challenging situations ahead of time conserves willpower and reduces emotional strain, making actions more automatic and energy-efficient.</li><li>Encouraging children to plan ahead nurtures confidence and self-control.</li></ul><a href="https://elevatedpath.beehiiv.com/subscribe">The Art of Habits</a> (It's free)

5. The Habit Of Succ

<ol><li>How Habits Work</li><li>How to Create New Habits</li><li>The Golden Rule of habit change</li><li>The Keystone Habit</li><li>The Habit of Success</li></ol>

Table Of Content

<ul><li> If you keep the same cue and reward but change the routine, you can transform almost any behavior.</li><li> This principle has been effective in treating conditions like alcoholism and OCD. </li><li>To change a habit, identify the cue and reward, and substitute a new routine that provides a similar reward. </li><li>Changing beliefs is crucial for lasting habit transformation</li><li>Finding support through groups or mentors can reinforce these beliefs.</li><li> The process involves experimenting with different routines to identify cravings and rewards, then isolating the cue and creating a plan to implement the new routine consistently.</li></ul>

3. The Golden Rule of habit change

<ul><li>Keystone habits are powerful routines that trigger widespread changes. </li><li>By focusing on a few key habits, rather than many small ones, you can achieve significant shifts. </li><li>For instance, tracking what you eat can lead to healthier eating habits. </li><li>Studies show families eating together improve children's academic performance. </li><li>These habits, like using an app daily, are easy but drive larger improvements over time, shaping personal or organizational culture positively.</li></ul>

4.The Keystone Habit

This book describes how habits work in our lives and how to make use of them. A lot of people have changed their lives by focusing on changing their habits.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This instant classic explores how we can change our lives by changing our habits. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Wall Street Journal • Financial Times In The Power of Habit, award-winning business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. Distilling vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives that take us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the sidelines of the NFL to the front lines of the civil rights movement, Duhigg presents a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential. At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, being more productive, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. As Duhigg shows, by harnessing this new science, we can transform our businesses, our communities, and our lives. With a new Afterword by the author   “Sharp, provocative, and useful.”—Jim Collins   “Few [books] become essential manuals for business and living. The Power of Habit is an exception. Charles Duhigg not only explains how habits are formed but how to kick bad ones and hang on to the good.”—Financial Times   “A flat-out great read.”—David Allen, bestselling author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity “You’ll never look at yourself, your organization, or your world quite the same way.”—Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of Drive and A Whole New Mind “Entertaining . . . enjoyable . . . fascinating . . . a serious look at the science of habit formation and change.”—The New York Times Book Review

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Charles Duhigg is an American journalist and non-fiction author. He was a reporter for The New York Times, currently writes for The New Yorker Magazine and is the author of two books on habits and productivity, titled The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business and Smarter Faster Better.