The difference between habits, routines and rituals

Metadata

• URL: https://nesslabs.com/habits-routines-rituals
• Author: Anne-Laure Le Cunff
• Publisher: Ness Labs
• Published Date: 2019-08-01
• Tags:

Highlights

• “habit” and “routine” interchangeably, they both mean two distinct things.
• main difference between habits and routines is how much aware and intentional you are.
• A habit usually manifests itself as an automatic urge to do something, often triggered by a particular cue.
• The stronger the connection between the trigger and the habit, the more ingrained the habit.
• routines require deliberate practice.
• going for a hike every Sunday, meditating are all routines that require to keep on consciously practicing them or they eventually die out.
• conscious thought, whereas routines require a higher degree of intention and effort.
• routines can turn into habits, but it is not an automatic, unconscious process.
• original The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.
• Reward: do something enjoyable, which will tell your brain that this particular habit loop is worth remembering for the future.
• make it slightly easier to go from cue to routine and build a lasting habit loop.
• habit stacking:
• baby steps by anchoring a new tiny habit to an existing one.
• From routine to ritual
• The difference between a routine and a ritual is the attitude behind the action.
• shower—rituals are viewed as more meaningful practices which have a real sense of purpose.
• With rituals, you are fully engaged with a focus on the experience of the task, rather than its mere completion.
• Applying mindfulness to daily routines is a great way to create rituals for yourself.
• One of my favourite rituals is journaling. It’s one of the cornerstones of my mental gym.

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