We often view health as a series of good choices, such as having a good breakfast, taking a walk, using your phone less, shopping wisely, and going to bed at a reasonable time. However, making good choices requires attention and energy, which can make this process tiring and difficult to maintain in the long term.
The article suggests that the goal should not be to constantly monitor our behavior, but rather to make certain beneficial actions happen almost automatically. Just as we brush our teeth without questioning whether it's worth it or without needing to remember, other healthy behaviors can become so ingrained that they become part of our daily routine.
According to the text, a habit is not simply a frequent activity, but rather a learned association. When we encounter a stimulus, such as a specific time, a place, an object, or a previous action, the urge to respond in a certain way arises.
This is why we unlock our phones without remembering why we picked them up, or why we open the kitchen cabinet. Understanding this mechanism of association between stimulus and response can help reprogram the "autopilot" and create new healthy habits in a more natural and less exhausting way.
