Why does your brain build habits?
According to Jason Hreha, “Habits are simply reliable solutions to recurring problems in our environment.”
You are hungry. You pick up a cookie and take a bite. Immediately you are rewarded by the flavor of the sugary goodness. The next time you are hungry you remember the cookie. Sadly, you might not have the same reaction to kale.
A new habit is beginning to form. Now interestingly I actually like kale, and when I’m in the right frame of mind, ( identifying as a healthy person) I have no trouble choosing it.
The reason the brain forms habits is to set up a series of shortcuts. With habits in place it frees your mind up to pay attention to more important tasks.
Building habits today allows you to concentrate on other activities in the future.
I mentioned the word reward early, and rewards do play an important part in habit formation. Initially when you “stumble upon an unexpected reward, you alter your strategy the next time.”
Tomorrow we will explore the concept of cue, craving, response, reward in habit formation.
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