Build New Habits Easier — Discover Neuroplasticity
Imagine your brain as a bustling construction site, where habits are the buildings that shape your daily life.
But here’s the kicker: you’re not just stuck with the same old structures forever. You have to construct new better buildings (habits) and deconstruct the old ones, daily.
And, here’s when the neuroplasticity comes.
What Is Neuroplasticity:
Neuroplasticity is like having a team of skilled builders at your disposal, ready to knock down walls, lay fresh foundations, and construct a brand-new home, tailored to your needs.
In neuroplasticity, your brain is “the architect”.
So, how does it work?
Well, your brain is constantly rewiring itself based on your experiences and behaviours. This phenomenon which is known as neuroplasticity, is what allows you to learn new skills, recover from injuries and yes, form habits.
Researchers have found that when we constantly repeat a pattern of work or behaviour, certain pathways in our brains become stronger and stronger.
How Does Neuroplasticity Help In Habit Formation?
There are billions of neurons in your brain. When these neurons form connections with each other, neurologists call them “Synapses”.
For instance, you are learning to play the guitar. When you first pick up the guitar, your brain’s synapses are weak and inefficient.
However, as you keep taking classes and learn to make new chords or melodies, those weak connections between two neurons will start getting more efficient and stronger.
Eventually, these two neurons will connect with other neurons in your brain and make a whole “Neural Circuit” in your brain which is solely dedicated to guitar playing.
Repeat The Task Over And Over Again To Form A Habit, Easily:
As we now have learned what goes behind the scenes of building a new habit, we can construct strategies around how we can make this process of forming new connections in our brains, easier.
This can include 2 or perhaps 3 steps.
(Carrying on with the analogy of our brain as a construction site, given in the introductory paragraph).
Step 1: You have to construct a new building.
Step 2: Construct until the building is flawless ( keep repeating the task until you feel confident).
Step 3: Leave it for some time, so that the foundation of the building gets concrete (i.e. practice mindfulness and take deep sleep).
Forming A New Habit Is Easier:
Neurologists have found out that forming brand-new habits is comparatively an easier task rather than changing your existing habits for the better.
The latter can be difficult and perhaps more time-consuming, as this will add one more step to your process of habit formation which is,
Step 4: Having to demolish an already-built building, first.
Forming new habits and improving your existing ones can be a challenging task but this boils down to your willpower and how adamant you are to change yourself for the better.
PS>>Mind buying me a cup of coffee ☕?
If you liked this story, consider leaving thoughtful feedback and clap ‘only’ 50 times.
