The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg – Book Review

The importance of Keystone Habits: Although achieving lasting change in life is difficult, it can be done by focusing on habits. As many as 40 per cent of the actions we perform each day are based on habit. Not all habits are equal; some, known as keystone habits, hold more significance because adhering to them produces positive effects that extend into other areas of life. Keystone habits can also aid individuals in making changes. Keystone habits function by offering small wins –early successes that are relatively easy to achieve. Developing a keystone habit fosters the belief that improvement is possible in other aspects of life, which can trigger a cascade of positive changes. That's why the golden rule for quitting any habit is not resisting the craving but redirecting it. 

The Power of Willpower: Willpower is the most critical keystone habit. One keystone habit you can easily adopt is to start each day by making your bed. Research has shown that this can increase your general well-being and productivity. An experiment involving kids and marshmallows found that those who had exhibited the most excellent willpower and waited had the best grades in school. Schools and colleges should design activities that will strengthen students' willpower. This can be known as a willpower workout. The lack of autonomy also negatively impacts willpower. When people act because they are ordered to rather than by choice, their willpower diminishes much quicker. 

Habits and Organisation: While working in an organisation, developing a few habits beyond the prescribed paths is essential. Under the surface, most organisations are battlegrounds on which individuals clamour for power and rewards. We should develop certain habits to keep the peace, which will help us mind our business. 

LATTE and Starbucks: Starbucks developed the LATTE method, which outlines steps to take in a stressful situation. By repeatedly practising this method, Starbucks baristas learn precisely what to do when a stressful situation arises, allowing them to remain calm. 

 L is Listening to the customer. 

A is Acknowledging their complaint. 

T is for Taking steps to resolve the problem. 

T is Thanking the customer, and, lastly, 

 E is Explaining why the issue occurred. 

Brain and Habits 

Maintaining habits occurs in the basal ganglia, a small neurological structure deep within the brain. Even if the rest of the brain is damaged, the basal ganglia can still function normally. Habits penetrate the human brain and psyche profoundly, influencing our lives in numerous ways. By learning how habits work, you can begin to utilise their power. 

What is Chunking? 

Transforming a series of actions into an automatic routine is known as “chunking,” and it is foundational to habit formation. “Chunking” is a concept from cognitive psychology that plays a decisive role in forming habits. It involves grouping individual pieces of information or actions into larger, more manageable units (chunks), making them easier to remember and execute.