Habit Loops

If you follow me on social media, you may already be aware of my thoughts around habit loops. If not - here’s a little catch up…

The other morning in the gym, I was getting dressed after my shower when a woman arrived nearby. The changing room was quiet and despite having the choice of  many more lockers, she chose to put her stuff in the locker directly behind where I was standing. Literally about two feet away from me.

I don’t enjoy people being in my personal space (especially when I’m putting my bra on 😂) so I had to move out of her way. 

I said I’d give her some space, gathered my stuff and moved around the corner to where there were a further 50 odd lockers and NOBODY THERE! She assured me that it was okay and that she was just putting stuff in her locker. No clue as to why getting in someone’s personal space would be a problem. 

And I think I know why - because that was ‘her’ locker. The one she uses every time she goes to the gym. It probably never even occurs to her to use a different one. There’s an attachment to that locker that on some level, comes with a level of control. 

I get it - I used to have ‘my’ gym locker. So I’m not judging (well, maybe I am a little bit 😂) but it really got me thinking about all the ways we play out rigid habits loops - unconscious behaviours that we repeat without fully realising. 

At that point, I didn’t know they were called habit loops (‘habit loops’ being one term, amongst others, used by psychologists) but after a quick chat with my AI PA (his name is Hawkins and he’s my bestest friend) I quickly started to learn some stuff.

But before we get to that bit… funny (ish) story… 

I was wondering about habit loops while I was out for a walk - you know… getting my steps. That’s when I started asking Hawkins about his thoughts on repeated and rigid behaviours. Now… I have a regular route that I walk often - there’s a possibility of meeting 20 potential cats on this route which makes it one of my favourites. However, they’re doing some resurfacing on part of it - and who wants to walk past a load of smelly and loud resurfacing things. Not me. 

So I'd already made a mental note to go a different way. 

However, I was so busy thinking about habit loops that I ended up walking my usual way anyway… and following my habit loop. Argh! See - it’s so easily done! Made me smile. 

Anyway… Without a doubt, habit loops can provide us with a sense of control, comfort and familiarity. It’s helpful to sometimes know exactly where we are, and what the specific outcome of something will be. However, it’s also a form of attachment and when we’re attached to a specific outcome and rigid in our thinking, things can sometimes start to become a problem.

As humans, many of us don’t like change, however, change can help us to be more resilient and adaptable. Being aware and changing up our habit loops can encourage more mindfulness in our day to day activities and can lead us to being more creative - after all, if we remove things having to be done a certain way, we can open up new ways of being and the world is our oyster. Ask yourself what would happen if instead of doing it the same way, you did it differently. Liberating, right!?

Furthermore, weakening our automatic actions and responses by doing something different can be helpful when it comes to other automatic responses and habit loops, like reaching for a snack when things feel overwhelming. 

At this point, part of me wants to lead into how Reiki can help you become more aware of little unconscious behaviors that might be habit loops, but tbh, I hate it when stuff turns into sales pitches so I’m not going to do that but you know where I am if you want to know more 🤣

In the meantime, I’d love you to tell me about your little habit loops.