“Unlike a routine, which feels uncomfortable to do, in the case of a habit, not doing a behavior feels bad.”
If you struggle to develop a new habit, it might not be because you lack willpower — it might be because you’re trying to make something a habit that can’t actually become one.
Nir Eyal, whose upcoming book Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life is available for pre-order now, explains why it’s crucial to stop confusing habits with routines.
He points out forming a habit first requires sticking to a routine, learning to cope with discomfort, and understanding not all behaviors can become habits.
RELATED: How to become indistractable.