Habits Are Overrated
Trying to build a habit can backfire if you fall for this trap
These days, when someone says they want to form a “habit,” what they often mean is that they want to make drudgery effortless. That is, they don’t want to actually do the work, rather they want to have done it — past tense.
- “I want to build a writing habit” really means, “I hate writing, but I’ve always wanted to write a book.”
- “I want to make exercise a habit” is code for: “I hate exercising, but I want to have already worked out so I can feel and look better.”
- “I want to make a habit of getting up early,” translates into, “I want to effortlessly wake up, even though I can’t stand it. Now, where’s my coffee!?!”
The promise of doing something difficult with no effort is what’s made habits so hot in the self-help section. The trouble is, trying to build a habit is often a self-defeating trap. Building a habit for the wrong behavior is like trying to hammer in a nail with a screwdriver. It’s possible, but it’s pretty foolish, and you’ll likely hurt yourself.
The Habit Trap
Let’s start with answering the question, “What is a habit?”
A habit is an impulse to do a behavior with little or no conscious thought.
