Habit

A habit is an action that has arisen gradually, as a result of repetition, and is now performed by itself, without my will.

For example, he went into a dark room — mechanically, without hesitation, turned on the light. By the way, many people who have made repairs know that if you move the light switch from its old place, you won’t hit it for some time. Then the brain will turn on and figure out where the switch is. And then again there will be a habit of turning on the light automatically.

Isaac Newton, in his book «Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy», when he formulated the first law of mechanics, seems to have written more about habit:

Any body continues to be held in a state of rest or uniform rectilinear motion until and insofar as it is forced by applied forces to change this state.

Habits can also be defined as patterns of behavior that have developed over time. The formation of a habit is called habituation, the elimination of a habit is called unlearning.

Habits are very different: professional and domestic, social and individual, emerging gradually or almost instantly.

Social habits are the social order adopted in a given society. Individual habits are a reserve for social habits. When they are noticed and in demand, they will be included in the social list. Initiative, business acumen — it was previously punishable, and later it became respected, became part of the «social self». The one who is initiative is considered to be a socially wealthier person than a person without initiative.

And most importantly — habits are useful and harmful.

Rather conventionally, individual habits are divided into useful and harmful (sometimes harmful). People sometimes have a lot of bad habits: smoking, throwing things all over the apartment, having dinner at the TV screen, postponing things for later, and the habit of stomping your foot with displeasure when something doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out, the habit of revenge, etc. Useful habits — go to bed on time, getting up early, the habit of turning on your head if necessary, the habit of caring and living with love, the habit of seeing in people and in yourself, first of all, good features.

A person’s habits are the most important characteristic of his personality. Habits form character, and character determines destiny. Our habits are both our friends and our enemies, so they need to be carefully monitored. Unfortunately, bad habits stick to us: it takes time and effort to accustom yourself to going to bed on time, and to get used to watching TV after midnight, you just need to relax …

An important rule: weaning from bad mistakes is not a promising business. If there is such a task, formulate it not as a fight against a bad habit, but as the development of a new good habit. Teaching is bad, teaching is good.

A habit is the result of repetition and is usually formed after 21 days (when repeated daily). Will the habit become a character trait? — It will be when adding several circumstances: if a person understands the meaning, the need for this new habit; if a person’s new actions fit well into his lifestyle and are supported by his environment; and finally, if visible positive results from the acquired habit soon begin to appear. If you are mindful of your life, you will not allow bad habits to stick to you. If you still believe in yourself, you will always keep your old good habits and train yourself to new good habits.

See articles for tips on how to acquire good habits and how to teach good habits to your loved ones.

How to start developing a new good habit in place of a bad old one? Can reeducation still be effective? Rarely, but it can. When choosing a strategy, you need to take into account a lot: whether a bad habit is strong, the ability to turn to the mind and will of a person, his ability to work on himself, even the age of a person. Until a bad habit is fixed, it is possible (and even better) not to pay attention to it, switching yourself or another to other things, activities, hobbies. If a bad habit has become entrenched, it is already useless to distract a person, decisive action is already required. The most radical solution: physical intervention in a person’s life, totally excluding the possibility for him to lead a lifestyle with bad habits. It is clear that this is an extreme case, and it is better not to bring it to it.

Look for articles where you may find tips on how to get rid of bad habits yourself and how to wean your loved ones from bad habits.