How to get rid of unhealthy habits and why willpower has nothing to do with it

Perhaps you start every day with a cup of coffee. Then you are like most Americans. Habit

drink coffee regularly to wake up andcheer up, sometimes it can only get in the way. American scientists decided to find out what motivates people to drink coffee in general and how willpower is related to the habit. Discuss

Scientists interviewed more than 100 people –coffee lovers to see if they are aware of the role the habit plays in their lives. Study participants said they drank coffee because they were tired. However, after analyzing all the results, it turned out that people overestimate the impact of fatigue and underestimate the impact of habit. That is, they often explain their actions not by habit, but by fatigue or some other circumstances.

In addition, from habits, including bad ones,hard to get rid of. The reason for this is that, in fact, a person cannot fully control them. Of course, he can refuse a cup of coffee thanks to willpower, but it is very difficult to do this all the time (just because of habit).

Habits have both phenomena and positivesides. For example, it helps to keep human behavior within certain limits. One study found that on the days when people with ill-formed and well-formed exercise habits were going to exercise, the amount of physical activity they had was about the same. But on days when they were not as motivated, people with strong habits were more active.

Americans, when asked what theyprevents you from changing your lifestyle to a healthy one, most often they refer to the lack of willpower. At the same time, scientific studies show that in fact, people who are more successful than others in achieving long-term goals are less likely to show willpower in everyday life. This once again proves that in fact, over time, willpower weakens and habits begin to prevail in a person’s life.

So how can habits be changed?This should start with an environment that supports these habits, the scientists say. According to studies, people who are less likely to see packs of cigarettes in stores are less likely to buy cigarettes.

Another way to deal with bad habits– create conditions under which it would be difficult for you to act in accordance with unwanted habits and easy – in accordance with the desired. Thus, one study states that waste recycling increased after empty trash cans were placed not 4 meters from full bins, but next to them.

News stories cannot be equated with a doctor's prescription. Before making a decision, consult a specialist.