1. Desire drives habitual behavior
Scientists say that habits appear because our brains are always looking for ways to save labor. Because habits can give our brains more rest.
The working mechanism of habit in our brain is as follows: once an idea or external signal triggers the neural pathway designated by habit, a charge will be released along this pathway in our brain, and then you will have a strong desire to carry out this habit.
This process in the brain is a three-step cycle (as shown in figure 1.5): in the first step, there is a hint that can make the brain enter some automatic behavior mode and decide which habit to use. Second, there is a habitual behavior, which can be physical, mental or emotional. The third step is to reward your brain to identify whether you should write down this circuit for later use.
That is to say, when we form a habit, it is actually hints and rewards that make us want it. When we associate hints with specific rewards, the brain will have subconscious desires and let the habit cycle work. For example, we should form a good habit of fitness exercise. We suggest going to the gym at least three times a week, and then finding a reward, such as good figure (vest line, chest muscles, slimming …) brought by fitness exercise. Think about your goals, and you will feel endorphins gushing out of your body, so you can expect rewards. Eventually, this desire will make you consciously walk into the gym.
2. Stress can promote habitual behavior.
Nowadays, most of our lives are fast-paced, which makes our pressure seem even greater. Experiments at UCLA and Duke University found that stress can make people rely more on inertial behavior. In fact, for better or worse, stress will promote habitual behavior. Dr Wendy Wood also pointed out: "When people are under pressure, they can't make decisions easily, their willpower will be weakened, or they will feel overwhelmed. When you have not experienced making a decision, you will often repeat your usual practice. " And repetitive behavior will make us gradually develop habits.
Similarly, the greater the pressure, the harder it is to change your life. If stress can make us form habits, it will also keep us away from everything else, such as new positive behaviors we like, so we can't form other positive behaviors into habits. In addition, the habits formed by stress may also be bad habits. Like smoking. Many people smoke when they are stressed, because their willpower is weakened, their usual habits will be repeated, and smoking is an addictive thing, so it is easy to form the bad habit of smoking.
In short, habit formation is not necessarily simple.