We consider the words "habit" and "routine" to be almost synonymous, but they mean completely different things. And if we understand exactly how they differ from each other, we will learn to organize our every day much better and plan for the future.
The main difference between these concepts lies in our awareness and intentions. Both habits and routine are regular, repetitive activities. But habits are unconscious, while routine requires effort.
A habit is an urge to do something that automatically arises due to a certain trigger. For example, waking up is the trigger of the habit of drinking coffee, and the way to work is the trigger of the habit of listening to music. The stronger the connection between a trigger and a habit, the more firmly it takes root.
Routine, on the contrary, requires consistent efforts. Making the bed, going to the gym, meditating — all these are components of a routine. We need to do this regularly, otherwise such actions will simply disappear from our lives — the brain does not start them automatically, unlike habits.
Over time, using the right techniques, routine actions can be turned into habits. All you need is to really want it and follow a certain algorithm.
Many have studied how habits originate, such as James Clear in Atomic Habits or Charles Duhigg in The Power of Habit. But the main idea of most authors boils down to the classic "habit loop". It consists of three elements:
The most difficult part is to execute the template immediately after the signal. But there are several secrets that help us introduce habits into our lives faster, for example, the "stack of habits" technique. It consists in adding new actions to those that have already been fixed. For example, meditate for 10 minutes every morning immediately after brushing your teeth.
The difference between routine and ritual lies in our attitude to each action. A routine is something we do because it's necessary, like washing dishes or taking a shower before going to bed. Ritual is a meaningful practice that has a specific purpose. The most important thing in it is our subjective experience, when we focus on our feelings and feelings, and not on the need to complete some action.
To create useful rituals, you need to start performing routine actions consciously. For example, a morning shower provides a great opportunity to feel connected to your body, feel drops of water on your skin and focus on your feelings.
You can turn every meal into a ritual — just pay attention to the texture of the food and its taste. A review of 24 studies showed E. Robinson, P. Aveyard, et al. Eating attentively: A systematic review and meta‑analysis of the effect of food intake memory and awareness on eating / The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that mindful eating improves the taste of food, and it gives us more pleasure. Even cleaning an apartment can become a ritual if you focus on the movements of your body and the sensations in your muscles and joints. Another win—win option is to keep a diary. Scientists have proved P. Kini, J. Wong, et al. The effects of gratitude expression on neural activity / Neuroimage that writing at least one thank you every day helps you feel better.
It doesn't matter which ritual you choose. The main thing is that it fills your life with meaning and helps you get out of autopilot mode.
