If you’re looking to change some aspect of your life, whether it’s a tendency to become anxious during exams or overeat late at night, the simple act of examining your habits may be a worthwhile start, according to Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit:  Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.  He argues that habits are an important part of how we live our lives in efficient ways, such as when we learn to do something, and that new skill becomes automatic (as in learning to drive a car, for example).  Often, however, some habits we’ve unconsciously taught ourselves do not serve us as well as others, as in, say, the habit of brushing one’s teeth but not flossing.  Duhigg holds out the hope that if we can become aware of where our habitual behaviors lie, we can shift what he calls the “habit loop.”

The habit loop involves a cue, a routine, and a reward, and through identifying this loop, then changing aspects of it, we can make dramatic changes in our lives, no matter how many times we’ve tried before and failed.

In his book, Duhigg provides clear and easy-to-understand explanations for how this works, how we can identify our own troublesome habits, and how by simply changing our routines, we can break the habit we don’t like and create new ones that serve us better.  He even approaches mood-related issues such as anxiety and depression from a habit perspective, which I found particularly interesting.

Duhigg moves beyond individual habits to explain organizational behavior in terms of habits, making this an excellent read for someone who manages others or someone who’s interested in shifting a challenging work environment.

You can find this book in most major book outlets—I found mine at a local indie bookstore called Bard’s Alley.  As always with book recommendations, if you don’t wish to purchase a copy, I keep a copy of The Power of Habit in my office and am willing to share with clients and their families.