Stages of Habit Formation

What you don’t comprehend, you can’t control. Therefore, knowing what habits are becomes extremely important.

Habits are behaviors that we carry out instinctively. They enable us to carry out daily tasks like brushing our teeth, taking a shower, getting dressed for work and adhering to a routine.

We can perform tasks automatically thanks to our habits.

The basal ganglia, a specific region of the brain, have been linked to both the development of new habits and the maintenance of ingrained ones, according to research. If you or your spouse wants to learn more, seek Marriage Counselling Online?at TalktoAngel.

The method to decode the data in the basal ganglia will be taught to us.

There are four stages in the habit-forming process:

1. Cue       2. Craving        3. Response         4. Reward.

Cue

It acts as a trigger to start the feeling of reward after any action. Your senses work constantly to pick up cues from the environment.

Our predecessors were always looking for cues, such as food or sex, to meet their demands since they used to feel rewarded.

Human behavior and sources of happiness like praise, respect, social approval, etc. change with the passage of time.

Craving

It is the primary driving force behind engaging in any behavior. Our mind yearns for the reward it receives after performing any action.

And it is this need for reward that drives the man to action.

As an illustration, suppose you start reading 10 pages of a book every day. And you apparently read it nonstop for six days.

On the seventh day, a sense of accomplishment rather than the knowledge you learned from a book will motivate you to act.

The prize that our minds yearn for is this.

Response

The actions we take are what eventually develop into habits. Our reaction is driven by our craving, which is for rewards.

We avoid doing something that makes us unhappy or is either unappealing or difficult to carry out.

Setting a challenging goal is a significant mistake that people make. For example, if we have a habit of reading books, motivation tends to lead us to create goals like reading 100 pages each day. This is impossible when a habit first forms.

This turns a habit into effort. Set manageable goals so that you can progressively increase their difficulty as you gain momentum, but avoid making them too challenging.

Remember,

  • Rewarding behavior is repeated.
  • What is punished is avoided.

Decide on a goal that will motivate you to take action.

Reward

Every action we take is motivated by reward. The night before a test, a student studies in preparation for the reward of points. A man is compensated for his work with a monthly paycheck.

Every action we take has an intention, which depending on the circumstance may be either positive or negative.

There is no need to do anything if there is no reward.

We have now finished the four stages of habit building.

In actuality, the term “habit loop” should be used. Why?

Since none of the steps may be skipped. If even one of these is missing, the loop won’t form and won’t eventually become a habit in your life.

  1. Cue produces the initial reward’s trigger.
  2. We are motivated to act because we crave it.
  3. The reward is feasible because of the answer.
  4. Reward also satisfies your need.

Your mind will repeat the loop in an effort to reap more rewards. In other words, the stronger the habits, the more often the loop are repeated.

These processes lead to the creation of 4 laws. Consider these laws as a framework for creating each step of habit formation optimally.

Cue: Make it Obvious

You probably don’t notice every cue that prompts you to behave because habits are habitual behaviors. Consequently, becoming aware of them is the first step in developing cues that lead to positive behaviors.

Create a habit scorecard with a list of all the everyday habits you now practice. The cessation of one habit frequently acts as a prompt for another because habits influence one another. You can see which acts come before and after your habits when you list them. You can identify which existing behaviors would be good cues for future desired behaviors by making a list of your cues and rewards in this manner.

Craving: Make it Attractive

The potential reward needs to be alluring in order for your urges to result in action. Cravings include the feelings of wanting?the desire for pleasure?and liking?the enjoyment itself. Dopamine, a brain chemical linked in want, is produced in response to both feelings, but 90% of it is reserved for wanting. The joy of acquiring something overcomes the anticipation of getting it.

Response: Make it Easy

Only actions that are simple and require minimal effort will be carried out by you. That’s just how people are. So, to maintain motivation, make behavior as simple as feasible.

Making behaviors simple does not, however, limit one to simple actions. Making it simple for you to continue acting in the way you desire is the goal. You can keep your chosen identity by simply turning up, which makes you proud of yourself and gives you the courage to keep moving forward.

Reward: Make it Exciting

Why would you want to repeat your efforts if the outcome is unpleasant? Because you wouldn’t, habits can only be formed when rewards are satisfying.

Many of your rewards arrive later. A paycheck is only given after several weeks of labor. A final grade is only awarded after extensive study. However, because we are designed to seek immediate reward, most healthy activities take time to provide lasting benefits. Making a sacrifice today will pay off later. Find ways to make rewards that are immediately satisfying so that you can continue to be motivated to practice positive habits.

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