We Instinctively Know How to Use Habit

All animals, including humans, rely on habit to navigate their daily lives. Our brains are wired to help us flow through repetitive activities without constant conscious direction. This reliance on habit isn’t just a convenience; it’s a survival mechanism.

Think about brushing your teeth or driving your car. These actions are powered more by habitual movements than conscious thought. When the traffic light turns green, we naturally lift our foot off the brake and apply it to the gas pedal. Similarly, when the light turns yellow and then red, we instinctively slow the vehicle to a stop. These are not accidental behaviors or strange phenomena—they’re habits deeply embedded in our brains.

In fact, psychologists estimate that 95% of our daily actions are habitual. This means that for the vast majority of what we do, our conscious minds aren’t actively directing our every move. Instead, we’re relying on a complex web of habits to carry us through.

The Timeless Role of Habit

The power of habit isn’t a recent discovery. Humans have been relying on it for as long as we’ve existed. Yet, the way we think about habits has evolved. Books and research have shed light on how to leverage habits for personal growth, but these ideas are rooted in a truth that has always existed: habits are the foundation of action.

William James, in his classic work Habit, explains this beautifully:

“In action grown habitual, what instigates each new muscular contraction to take place in its appointed order is not a thought or a perception, but the sensation occasioned by the muscular contraction just finished. A strictly voluntary act has to be guided by idea, perception, and volition, throughout its whole course. In an habitual action, mere sensation is a sufficient guide, and the upper regions of brain and mind are set comparatively free.”

In other words, habit frees up our mental bandwidth. When we develop a habit, the brain no longer has to consciously supervise each step; it simply follows a well-worn path.

The Neutrality of Habit

However, habit doesn’t inherently steer us toward success or failure. It doesn’t care whether it’s leading us to better health or a destructive behavior. It simply flows from one action to the next, like water following the path of least resistance.

Consider someone learning to drive. If they develop the habit of following the car in front of them too closely, they’re setting themselves up for a potential accident. The habit forms without concern for its future consequences.

This neutrality is what makes habits so powerful—and so dangerous. Habits will carry us forward regardless of direction, making it crucial to consciously guide and shape them.

Taking Control of Your Habits

If we want habits to work for us rather than against us, we have to take control. This doesn’t mean forcing massive changes overnight—habits are too deeply ingrained for that to be sustainable. Instead, we need to reprogram them through small, deliberate actions.

The systems and habits approach to improvement emphasizes starting small. This principle may seem counterintuitive, especially if your goal is big, but it’s the most effective way to create lasting change.

Break the Cycle

Imagine you want to start going to the gym after work, but your current routine is to drive straight home. Even with the best intentions, you’ll likely find yourself exhausted after a long day, craving the comfort of home instead of the effort of a workout.

Instead of committing to a grueling two-hour session right away, start with a smaller goal. Simply commit to driving to the gym, walking in, and exercising for 10 minutes. Then, go home.

This tiny change breaks the cycle. It creates a new connection: leaving work now leads to going to the gym. The workout itself is secondary; the primary goal is to rewire the habit loop.

Build Momentum

Once you’ve established the habit of going to the gym consistently—even if it’s just for 10 minutes—you can gradually build on it. Add a few more minutes to your workout, try a new exercise, or increase your intensity. By this point, the hardest part—getting to the gym—has already been accomplished.

This approach works because it aligns with how habits naturally form: through repetition and consistency. By focusing on small, manageable changes, you create a foundation that you can build upon over time.

The Power of Continuous Improvement

The beauty of this process is that it never stops. Once you’ve mastered one habit, you can apply the same principles to another. Over time, these small, deliberate changes compound, leading to profound transformation.

This is how you use the power of habit not just to survive but to thrive. By consciously shaping your habits, you can direct your life toward greater success, happiness, and fulfillment. The process is simple, but its effects are extraordinary.

As you improve your habits, they, in turn, improve you. The potential for growth is limitless. The only question is: where will your habits take you next?