Habit building- life changing factor!

Okay so let's start with a simple question, what are habits? - A habit is a routine of behaviour that's repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. In simple words, habits are rituals and behaviours that we perform on daily basis,and that too automatically! Isn't it amazing that how after getting up, we search for our brush,get showers, and do the same routine repeatedly, without actually thinking about them!

We all have habits. These habits decide the way of our life. They even sometimes decide our character! All our habits have become an important part of our life. So let's talk something on habits
Habits are basically divided into 3 parts :
1) Habits that we simply don't notice-have become an active part of our life, eg: brushing teeth, getting showers, having your shoe lace tied etc
2) Habits that are good for us and we are trying hard to establish them as our lifestyle.ex: running, getting up early , having healthy foods, avoiding procrastination
3) Habits that are bad for us; smoking procrastinating, being late, having junk food etc
We all know some habits are bad, and we are trying to overcome them, but why isn't happening?! It's because whenever we create a habit, our brain creates a new neurological pathways allowing us to more easily use those habits. But then why do we return to the old habits , even though we know they aren't good? Because these neurological pathways never get deleted, they simply remain,in case if we want to return to those. Since these pathways never get deleted, the best way is to replace these habits by new habits. Okay before that lets understand the sections of habit, or "habit loop"
•Triggers or clue: It's due to this, we set on our action. For eg, if an alcoholic person sees a alcohol shop, it triggers his will for going and drinking. It's the original stimulus that causes the actions to happen.
•Habit or routine itself: In this section we set ourselves on action, we perform any activity based on the clue/ trigger we get.
•Reward: Reward is the satisfaction we get by doing the activity, our brain basically needs dopamine. So it keeps on craving for rewards!

Now that we understood the habit loop, we can accordingly plan our new habits.

ways to to build up new habits:

◆Staying accountable: Staying accountable will avoid procrastination, and we will do our chores on time.
For staying accountable, plan your day right in the start of your morning, and go on marking them as you finish these chores( this marking is going to release dopamine, and list is going to do the work of a trigger)
◆Have a clarity of your goals: it does not really work when we say that , I have to become fit, i have to lose my weight, Or I have to top my exams. Instead say, I'll go for running everyday for 30 mins, I'll study everyday for 4hours etc. Provide your brain with much clarity.
◆Set your long term goal into small chunks: If you have some big goals, set small milestones, chunks .
For example ,if you want to top in your exams which is approximately 8 months far, you need to have small goals, each of 2 or 1 month.
◆Stack up your habits: Stack up your habits, by using the reward seeking tendency of your brain. One of the best ways to
build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day
and then stack your new behavior on top. This is called habit stack. For example, if you want to build up the habit of meditation,decide that whenever you take out your mobile , you will meditate for atleast 10 mins and then take your phone.
◆Reward yourself for your smallest achievement: Rewards(dopamine secretion) are basically what your brain craves for. Acknowledge the smallest achievement of yours, reward yourself. Rewarding yourself and carrying on with the habit for atleast 1 month, will get on your brain to crave for the habits!
◆Do it for no-one , but yourself: Yes, last but not the least, remember you are doing the habit for yourself; for your own improvement, for your nourishment. Understanding this , will get you more focus, and self control.

Hope this helps you!

Kshitija♥️