![THE POWER OF HABIT](https://cdn.magzter.com/1422872401/1692256069/articles/azq8u8xXo1692620257429/THE-POWER-OF-HABIT.jpg)
The word 'habits' gets thrown around a lot. Your GP encourages you to get into the 'good habit' of eating five portions of fruit and veg a day; your friend worries about their 'bad habit' of checking Twitter before bed; maybe you once had a music teacher who kept on at you to practise your scales until they 'feel habitual'. Or perhaps you've been telling yourself that you want to get into the habit' of going to the gym twice a week.
All this talk makes sense at a colloquial level, but psychologists are more pedantic about it. In fact, not everything you do, or aspire to do, frequently or regularly, is necessarily a habit. Some of the situations above are more about goals (what you hope to achieve at some point in the future), intentions (your plans for what you're going to do) and skills (such as being able to hit musical notes consistently), than about habits per se. Routines - such as going to the gym regularly have the potential to become habitual, but it's not inevitable that they will. So what exactly is a habit? And what does it take to make one that's 'good' or break one that's 'bad'?
WHAT MAKES A HABIT?
A habit is your brain on autopilot
In psychology, saying that a behaviour has become habitual means something very specific - although there are some niche controversies around the edges of the concept. One key feature of habits has been recognised since at least the time of William James, the American philosopher and historian who's regarded as one of the founders of functional psychology.
As he put it near the start of the 20th century, when it comes to habits, "action goes on of itself". What he meant by that is once something is habitual, you do it without thinking.
This story is from the August 2023 edition of BBC Science Focus.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 edition of BBC Science Focus.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![THE HUNGER GAME](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/Z7qU2pAyR1718049285933/THE-HUNGER-GAME.jpg)
THE HUNGER GAME
Obesity is on the rise, but as we blame our unhealthy food-ridden environment and look to wonder drugs to get rid of unwanted fat, what role do our genetics play?
![HOW THE UNIVERSE WILL END](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/e4StSKEvh1718048657017/HOW-THE-UNIVERSE-WILL-END.jpg)
HOW THE UNIVERSE WILL END
A colossal supercollider now in the early stages of development may one day help us predict the ultimate fate of the Universe. With it, scientists will be trying to find a hidden instability built into the fabric of existence... an instability that could destroy everything
![DARK ENERGY MIGHT BE ABOUT TO THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/Qklw1KSgX1718048099181/DARK-ENERGY-MIGHT-BE-ABOUT-TO-THROW-A-SPANNER-IN-THE-WORKS.jpg)
DARK ENERGY MIGHT BE ABOUT TO THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS
The most mysterious phenomenon in the Universe could be about to spring another surprise on us
![TAKE-OFF AT LAST](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/iISPLsxP41718048252740/TAKEOFF-AT-LAST.jpg)
TAKE-OFF AT LAST
AFTER A LONG WAIT, THE WORLD'S FIRST ZERO EMISSIONS AEROPLANES ARE FINALLY TAXIING TO REALITY. BUT ARE THEY THE SOLUTION WE NEED?
![INSIDE THE 3D, NANOSCALE ATLAS THAT REVEALS A FRACTION OF THE HUMAN BRAIN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/5AKTQ5Mkf1718047926486/INSIDE-THE-3D-NANOSCALE-ATLAS-THAT-REVEALS-A-FRACTION-OF-THE-HUMAN-BRAIN.jpg)
INSIDE THE 3D, NANOSCALE ATLAS THAT REVEALS A FRACTION OF THE HUMAN BRAIN
The map is now the highest-resolution picture of the human brain ever created
![HOW THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN NUCLEAR FORENSICS MAY HELP CLEAN UP CHERNOBYL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/1o6wXlt8s1718047693000/HOW-THE-LATEST-DEVELOPMENT-IN-NUCLEAR-FORENSICS-MAY-HELP-CLEAN-UP-CHERNOBYL.jpg)
HOW THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN NUCLEAR FORENSICS MAY HELP CLEAN UP CHERNOBYL
Contrary to popular belief, radioactive material doesn't glow. But a team of nuclear forensics experts are working on a device to make it do just that. BBC Science Focus's Noa Leach meets the scientists behind the innovative device
![MAJOR STUDY SHOWS HOW ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS CHANGE YOUR LIFESPAN, IF YOU'RE NOT EATING YOUR VEG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/v-Dk1Z6ut1718047527881/MAJOR-STUDY-SHOWS-HOW-ULTRAPROCESSED-FOODS-CHANGE-YOUR-LIFESPAN-IF-YOURE-NOT-EATING-YOUR-VEG.jpg)
MAJOR STUDY SHOWS HOW ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS CHANGE YOUR LIFESPAN, IF YOU'RE NOT EATING YOUR VEG
While ultra-processed food is bad for your health, a decades-long study suggests it may not be as harmful as previously thought
![ORIGIN OF EARTH'S 'SECOND MOON' DISCOVERED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/QBL_U0EzW1718047415201/ORIGIN-OF-EARTHS-SECOND-MOON-DISCOVERED.jpg)
ORIGIN OF EARTH'S 'SECOND MOON' DISCOVERED
Asteroid sampling mission will confirm whether moon-like Kamo'oalewa came from our Moon
![INTERMITTENT FASTING AND CORRECTLY TIMED WORKOUTS ARE KEY TO FAT LOSS, SAYS STUDY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/FR3rIFP0Z1718047329562/INTERMITTENT-FASTING-AND-CORRECTLY-TIMED-WORKOUTS-ARE-KEY-TO-FAT-LOSS-SAYS-STUDY.jpg)
INTERMITTENT FASTING AND CORRECTLY TIMED WORKOUTS ARE KEY TO FAT LOSS, SAYS STUDY
A new approach to dieting and exercise could help you lose weight and enhance your health
![MASSIVE EXPLOSION SPOTTED ON MYSTERIOUS DEAD STAR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8834/1728534/145JW0IE71718047234402/MASSIVE-EXPLOSION-SPOTTED-ON-MYSTERIOUS-DEAD-STAR.jpg)
MASSIVE EXPLOSION SPOTTED ON MYSTERIOUS DEAD STAR
A satellite in the right place at the right time captured an important cosmic sight