The Power of Habit By Charles Duhigg, Learning to drive a car was no joke for me, I was actually trained with the old Volkswagen 1500 Beatle.
It came with these three awkward looking pedals: the clutch, brake and the accelerator. Learning to know which to press was an up hill task.
Coupled with the fact that I had to be looking at what seems like a millions screens and mirrors at the same time.
The side view mirrors, the rear view mirror, and yes, the windscreen Lest I forget, I had to remember to press on those clutch in order to change the gear from one to the other.
I had to actually do a million things at the same time. I can never know how to drive. Ahhhhh! Fast forward, two years later. Here I am, driving at 120 km per hour,
I handle the steering with one hand while holding the burger with the other. I can drive now even without thinking and almost without effort.
This goes to establish the first major lesson of The Power of Habit. Roughly 40% of what you do happens on autopilot. Understanding this fact can help you to be more conscious;
What’s in it for me?
- Pause And Ask If You’re About To Do The Right Thing
- Habits Stick Because They Create Craving
- To Change a Bad Habit, You Have To Substitute The Routine For a Good Habit
- Companies Take Advantage of Habits in Their Marketing
- Conclusion of The Power of Habit
- Frequently Asked Questions
Pause And Ask If You’re About To Do The Right Thing
By the way, we’ll help you to read all the world’s best books under 7 minutes. Let’s move to the second major lesson in The Power of Habits.
Imagine this scenario, every afternoon for the past one year, you have bought and eaten a delicious, sugar – laden chocolate – chip cookie from the fast food restaurant around your work place.
Call it a just reward for a hard day’s work. Unfortunately, as a few friends have already pointed out, you’ve started putting on weight, so you decide to kick the habit.
That’s the bad news pretty ladies don’t want to hear. Awww! But how do you imagine you’ll feel that first afternoon, walking past the cafeteria?
Odds are, you will either eat “just one more cookie” or you’ll go home in a distinctly grumpy mood. Kicking a bad habit is hard because you develop a craving for the reward at the end of the habit loop.
And that’s what companies and advertisers work hard to do, to create such cravings in consumers.
That’s how habits are built and the stronger this link gets, the harder it becomes to change them. But you can still do it.
Read the monk who sold his ferrari summary which help you to understand about to do the right thing.
That’s the second major lesson in “The Power of Habit“.
Habits Stick Because They Create Craving
So, how do you change a bad habit?
Have you ever seen any smoker looking to quit. When the craving for nicotine hits, it’ shard to ignore. They shiver, they are restless.
That start panting around. They are like a dog on heat. Research indicates that one of the best known habit changing organizations in the world (Alcoholic Anonymous) uses this method to great effectiveness.
Alcoholic Anonymous asks participants to list what exactly they crave from drinking. Relaxation … Companionship, etc.
Usually, factors like relaxation and companionship are far more important than the actual intoxication.
Alcoholic anonymous then provides new routines that address those cravings, such as going to meeting sand talking to sponsors for companionship, effectively substituting drinking with some thing less harmful.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) may have helped as many as ten million alcoholics achieve so briefly.
That is the third major lesson in the book summary of the Power of Habit.
To Change a Bad Habit, You Have To Substitute The Routine For a Good Habit
I think it might be the right time to let out a secret about myself. I am a book freak!
The most valuable piece of asset I possess in life is my library, boasting of over five thousand choice books.
And any good book on marketing, psychology, or leadership wins the battle over my purse any day.
Over time they had discovered from the information they had amassed about me, the three areas I love so much.
So every month end, I receive emails and SMS from them telling me of the ”New Arrivals”. And guess what? They are usually in those three categories.
These days, I even see them going a little bit more subtle: they add offers in some other unrelated and non – interesting areas.
So when I eventually “dig out” those in the genres that I am passionate about, it is like hitting oil in the Niger Delta!
When trying to sell anything new, companies will dress it up in something familiar;
For example, radio DJs can guarantee a new song becomes popular by playing it sandwiched between two existing hit songs. This way, new habits or products are far more likely to be accepted.
I highly recommend you to read the magic of thinking big summary. This book can help you to increase your thinking ability.
And that’s the fourth major lesson in “The Power of Habits”.
Companies Take Advantage of Habits in Their Marketing
If you’re aware of this, you can say no more often. Once we become aware of a harmful habit, it becomes our responsibility to address. It is our responsibility to change it.
The other day I visited the hospital, and after series of tests, the doctor said I am becoming diabetic. Dia – what?
A lot of things began to rush through my mind at the same time. My wife, My kids, My businesses, My books – oh my god!
As the doctor kept talking, explaining the habits that could have triggered that medical condition, I was getting impatient.
Bring out the medications and let me start pumping them into my body, I almost screamed!
When he was through with his 3 minutes lecture that actually seems like 3 hours, this was what he said, You have to change your choice of food and drinks. What!!!
You mean I won’t be able to have my cola drink again! My doughnut with jam?
I began to react rather aggressively and defensively. His final word succinctly captures.
I suggests you to read the 10× rule summary. This is the best book if you want to achieve any thing in your life.
The fifth major lesson in “The Power of Habits” it is in your hands.
Conclusion of The Power of Habit
Now, Let’s Discuss What lessons do you think I missed in this book?
What points would you like to add? Which other good books would you like. Tell me in the comment section.
If you love the summary of the power of habit then, I will be VERY happy. If you can like this article and share it with your friends on social media.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Power of Habit
Most people don’t think this matters but research found that up to 40% of our daily actions are based on habit which is a huge matter.
If we could change our habits we change our lives. Any habit can be broken down into a three-part loop. cue, routine and reward.
For example, your alarm clock rings in the morning that’s your cue and the routine actions is you walking into the bathroom and brush your teeth your reward in this case would be a minty.
Fresh tingling sensation in your mouth your brain activity increases. When a cycle completes and reinforce the link between the cue and routine.
The golden rule of changing any habit is don’t resist craving but redirect it. Keep the same cues and rewards but change the routine that occurs as a result of that craving research.
Indicate that most of the alcoholics crave for relaxation and companionship far more than the actual intoxication by providing them new routines that address.
Those cravings such as going to meetings and talking to sponsors for companionship could effectively substituting drinking with something less harmful willpower is the most important keys don’t have it but it is also inconsistent.
Some days hitting the gym is no problem but some days leaving. The sofa is nigh impossible it turns out.
Willpower is like a muscle you can strengthen it by engaging in habits that demand resolution following habits is not only a key part of our lives.
The power of habit book wrote by Charles Duhigg.
The power of habit by Charles Duhigg published in 28 February 2012.
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Hi, I’m Shivam | Currently, I’m pursing my first year B. Tech. I hope you like my articles.
