“The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg is a fascinating book that explores the science of habit formation and how we can use this knowledge to make positive changes in our lives. The book is divided into three parts: The Habits of Individuals, The Habits of Successful Organizations, and The Habits of Societies. Each section provides compelling stories, research, and insights into how habits work, how they can be changed, and the incredible impact they can have on our lives.
Let me ask you a question,
How many times do you find yourself deciding to start reading books or reduce using your phone?
You find yourself successful for a day, a week, or maybe months. But suddenly you are craving for older habits will increase and you fall back. It happens more often, and our old habits make us vulnerable. If you can relate to this statement, then you might know the power of habit.
This book the power of Habit by award-winning journalist Charles Duhigg is a researched and informed examination of why habits exist, how they work, and how you can change them. This book has the foundational understanding required to Create new habits that will drive our success and break old habits that are limiting our life’s success.
Through this book, we can understand and know how exactly the habit controls our actions as well as they influence our society and how to overcome those habits, and how effectively we can change our habits or adopt new habits.
1) Habit Loop
In the first part of the book, Duhigg explains the habit loop, which consists of a cue, a routine, and a reward. He describes how habits are formed and how they can be changed by identifying and altering the cues and rewards that trigger and reinforce them. He also delves into the science behind the neurology of habit formation, and how our brains create automatic behaviors to conserve mental energy.
The author explains the loop with the very usual example like, waking up in the morning and our body just drag a to do the morning work or morning routine. In between those activities, we can never think of what I do next! We never thought like that because our brain has formed the habit that allows us to do things without the intervention of our brain. It’s like a program.
Habit has three stages,
a) Cue — it is the signal that triggers the habit.
b) Routine — it is a set of actions we make or do.
c) Reward — the enjoyment of satisfaction after having the end result.
Because of reward, our brain increases the reinforcement of the link between the cue and the routine. According to the author Charles Duhigg, habits are the choices that all of us deliberately make at some point and then stop thinking about continuing after every day. Habits are automatic or making decisions without even realizing them. According to the research, 40% of our decisions are habits.
2) The Golden Rule of Habit Change
Doing that routine or chores that you know is bad for your health or social life and yet you might stop yourself by just saying, “one Last time” and feel guilt for the rest of the day. Quitting a bad habit is so hard because of the craving or reward we develop unknowingly.
“Don’t change the cue or reward, change the routine”. The craving must also change just a small change in the habit loop. Changing the routine with a better new reward for example replacing the drinking habit with swimming. Simply replacing a habit is not enough. The author Charles Duhigg says that one should not show their new craving. If we develop the craving the drive is routine, and it will be easier to maintain our habit.
3) Adopting Keystone Habit
In this part of the book, Duhigg applies the principles of habit formation to successful organizations. He shows how companies like Starbucks and Target have used the science of habit formation to improve customer experiences and increase sales. He also discusses the importance of creating a strong organizational culture, and how habits can help reinforce that culture.
Changes are very difficult and can be scary or fear of acceptance by those who feel to change the most. We don’t have to change everything instead we should focus on those little priorities which lead us to success. By winning the small rewards we can make a big change in our life and in the company.
Adopting keystone habits will not only help you to reach your goal or success, but it will also give you other benefits for example building a habit of going to the gym will additionally give you good health.
4) Significance of Willpower
Thinking of replacing or changing the habit of anything will sound easy but the process of adopting those habits is very difficult. That’s because willpower is essential to build or adopt a new habit.
Duhigg states that our is a main keystone habit for the adoption of new habits. People having willpower will get more achievements can achieve more standards than those who don’t. Willpower does not come by birth it is an ability with time and proactive weekend train and Hardens our willpower. Preparing yourself for the result.
5) Kinds of Belief
If there is someone or something holding you back, then it is much harder to adopt or change to the new habit. More likely to believe in groups, not in individuals. Willpower is important also belief is something that’ll help to change the habit.
6) Habit Becomes Your Responsibility.
In the third part of the book, Duhigg examines how habits shape societies, from the Civil Rights Movement to the rise of the Internet. He explores the concept of social habits, and how they can influence behavior on a large scale. He also discusses how social movements and changes in society can be sparked by small habits that spread and gain momentum.
Once we recognize the need to change our habits responsible to take the necessary steps to do so. It is only up to us how effectively we change our habits.
Overall, “The Power of Habit” is a well-written, engaging, and insightful book that offers a wealth of information and practical advice on how to change habits and improve our lives. Duhigg used examples from a wide range to illustrate his points.
We all have our own habits both good and bad which are been adopted throughout our life. Follow the same 3 steps or loop cue, routine, and reward. As we continue to crave rewards it becomes harder to break a bad habit or replace a habit or change the habit or adopt a new habit.
The key to changing our habits is changing our routine but keeping all the cues and rewards the same. It is not that simple to adopt a routine. So, developing keystone habits becomes crucial for success. Keystone habits like willpower will be strong as much we practice them. As we strengthen our willpower in the near, we get to success.
If anyone is looking to improve their personal habits, build a successful organization, or effect social change, this book is a must-read.