what are habits essay

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What Does It Really Take to Build a New Habit?

• Kristi DePaul

That hack you read on the internet is wrong.

Habit and routines are not interchangeable. A habit is a behavior done with little or no thought, whereas a routine is a series of behaviors frequently, and intentionally, repeated. To turn a behavior into a habit, it first needs to become a routine. How do you start?

• First set your intentions and be realistic. Know that some routines can become habits, but not all will. It takes patience, self-discipline, and commitment.
• Prepare for roadblocks. Think about what has kept you from building this routine in the past. Work proactively to remove those barriers before they show up.
• Support your efforts with nudges, like blocking time on your calendar to practice the behavior or starting with smaller microhabits.
• Lastly, don’t forget to be compassionate with yourself. There will be ups and downs.

Our habits govern our lives, literally. Research shows that around half of our daily actions are driven by repetition . This is probably why behavioral scientists and psychologists have spent so much time writing about how to establish and keep positive habits. Regular sleep and exercise, a healthy diet, an organized schedule, and mindfulness are just a few examples of practices that — if done regularly — can improve our work, relationships, and mental health.

• KD Kristi DePaul is a content creator whose writing on career navigation and personal branding has appeared in international outlets and has been cited by prominent think tanks and universities. She is founder and principal at Nuanced, a thought leadership firm for executives, and serves as CEO of Founders , a fully remote content agency focused on the future of learning and the future of work. She earned a master’s degree from the H. John Heinz III College of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.

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How Are Habits Formed? The Psychology of Habit Formation

Actions that are repeated over time gradually became habits, with a curious life of their own.

Ravaisson was most fascinated by positive or adaptive habits, those we develop mindfully (Malabou, 2008).

Of course, not all habits are developed mindfully.

Some habits develop unconsciously, from internal or external stress. These tend to be negative or maladaptive habits.

Neuroscientists have also had much to say about habits, including how positive ones are formed and how negative ones can be broken (Yin & Knowlton, 2006).

We will look into opinions and research, and then answer the question of how habits are formed  in this article.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients create actionable goals and master techniques to create lasting behavior change.

This Article Contains:

How are habits formed 101, the psychology behind habits: 3 theories, habits and the brain: 5 fascinating studies, 5 habits that will improve your life, positivepsychology.com’s helpful resources, a take-home message.

The question of habit formation can be approached from a scientific perspective or a more subjective and experiential one.

The subjective experience of habit formation

Bergson was a French philosopher who took cues from Ravaisson’s prior discussion of habits and their formation.

Bergson (1911) wrote of both active and passive habits.

Passive habits  arise from exposure to things we eventually get used to. High-altitude climbers gradually adapt their bodies to the lower levels of oxygen available as they climb above 7,000 feet.

Active habits are those we develop by repeated intention and effort, crystalizing as skills we perform with little or no thought. A gymnast practices walking, jumping, and flipping on a narrow beam until she can do all these maneuvers smoothly without falling.

Habits as skills can also be seen as a springboard to creativity. Based on what we can habitually do, we reach new heights, as when a jazz musician ingrains the playing of a basic melody, then improvises new and adventurous notes on top of the underlying theme.

The scientific perspective on habit formation is exemplified today by neuroscience research . This research has highlighted crucial brain pathways involved in forming habits.

The neuroscience of habit formation

When you first learn to tie your shoes, the attempts are quite conscious and effortful. As you practice this skill, it becomes a habit, something you can do easily and automatically, even while thinking of other things.

Neuroscience has asked how conscious and goal-directed actions are converted into a habit (Yin & Knowlton, 2006).

Clues to the mystery of habit formation can be found in an ancient area of the brain called the basal ganglia (Yin & Knowlton, 2006).

The basal ganglia are deep structures near the base of the brain that developed early in the evolution of our nervous system.

These structures play a major role in coordinating all kinds of voluntary movements, including the complex motions involved in walking, running, eating, talking, and grasping and manipulating with the hands, etc.

The basal ganglia, in conjunction with the brain’s frontal or “executive” lobe, also help perform the crucial task of rapidly selecting which type of movement should be made, out of the many options available in a given situation.

When faced with a tiger suddenly springing from the bushes, what should you do? Stand still, run to climb a tree, or make a dash for the river and hope the tiger can’t swim? The movement program chosen at this point might determine whether you get to pass your genes along to any offspring.

Since movements are most effective when well learned or habitual, the basal ganglia are also very involved in habit formation.

Certain habits appear to be formed through the interplay between two distinct basal ganglia pathways (Yin & Knowlton, 2006).

One of these pathways is associative . It consciously collects information needed for reaching goals such as staying warm, finding food, finding a mate, and expressing oneself artistically.

A second pathway is more automatic . This route takes those lessons learned from the first pathway and includes them in a repertoire of stored habits.

These habits are then available to be called upon, when cued by a given situation.

When I sit down on my stoop before going for a run, this triggers the habit of putting on my running shoes, in a sequence of actions that is well learned and often automatic.

Another key aspect to habit formation is positive reinforcement or reward. For an activity to become a habit, it helps if it’s not only repeated often, but also positively reinforced.

We can trigger positive reinforcement through an external reward, like money, food, or praise. Such experiences release dopamine, one of the brain’s favorite “feel good” neurochemicals. A rewarding dopamine release can also occur through internal triggers, like visualizing yourself reaching a cherished goal (Neuroscience News, 2015).

Dopamine release has been shown to depend on neurons within the limbic system, another ancient brain circuit that processes emotions and the experience of reward. The limbic system is deeply connected with the basal ganglia and can stamp our memories and habits with emotional and reward value (Trafton, 2012).

James (1914) thought of habit as the result of repeating the same action over and over, in similar circumstances, until it is ingrained in our brain circuitry.

He also believed that ingrained habits would automatically arise in the face of strong cues associated with their formation. When walking into your darkened room, the room and darkness cue the automatic habit of reaching for the light switch.

Behaviorists such as B. F. Skinner would expand on James’s insights into habit, with animal studies that emphasized how habit formation is fueled by rewards.

Skinner (1953) created cages for pigeons with buttons that dropped a food pellet when pushed. In exploring the cage, the hungry pigeons would eventually peck the button on the wall. They soon came to realize that pecking the button would produce a food pellet.

This experimental scenario included what for Skinner were the primary factors in producing a habit:

• Stimulus, like the button to be pecked
• Behavior, like pecking the button
• Reward, like the food pellet

Skinner (1953) believed that behaviors repeatedly engaged in for the sake of a reward will become habits. This hypothesis was borne out by his pigeons repeatedly pressing the button, even when that action was no longer followed by a food pellet.

Other theories sought to go beyond behaviorism’s focus on observed behavior alone, to include a mental or cognitive component in habit. Edward Tolman (1948, 1954) believed that repeated or habitual responses involved the use of internal ideas, or “maps,” as cognitive components that helped navigate mazes, etc.

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Dr. Wendy Wood, a psychologist at the University of Southern California’s Habit Lab, found that an estimated 43% of the activities engaged in each day by her study participants were done habitually, while they were thinking of something else (Wood, Quinn, & Kashy, 2002).

How do we know when to start and stop such habitual activities if they are not done consciously?

Neuroscientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that when practicing a habitual routine such as brushing one’s teeth, certain neurons in the basal ganglia will activate or “fire” at the beginning of the routine. Then, they lay quiet while the routine proceeds. Finally, they fire again when the routine is completed (Martiros, Burgess, & Graybiel, 2018).

This means that even if you are thinking about something else, you can automatically start and then finish a habitual routine, because these specialized neurons will tell you to do so.

Another common question about habits is: How long does it take to form new ones?

One often-cited study (Lally, van Jaarsveld, Potts, & Wardle, 2010) indicated an average of 66 days to establish a new pro-health habit, such as exercising for at least 30 minutes per day.

Research suggests the following tips for breaking negative habits and forming new and more positive ones.

Find ways to lower your stress level.

Many negative habits such as smoking, overeating, and oversleeping have developed as a response to stress (Schwabe & Wolf, 2009).

If you lower your stress level, you should be less inclined to take that cigarette break, eat that snack you don’t really need, or flop down on the couch in the middle of the day.

Simple measures can reduce stress like taking a walk or practicing techniques such as yogic breathing and mindfulness exercises .

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Become aware of your negative habits.

Since they are largely automatic, we are often unaware of our habits and their associated experiences. Being mindful of our negative habits and what they involve can make them easier to break (Brewer, 2019).

For example, when asked to become mindful of what cigarette smoking tastes and smells like, some smokers realize that the actual sensations of smoking are not pleasant for them. Reflecting on the sensory experience of smoking can make the habit easier to break (Brewer, 2019).

Avoid cues that were associated with developing the negative habit in the first place.

Most habits can be triggered by the cues or contexts in which they developed (Dickinson & Balleine, 1994).

Negative habits can therefore be left dormant if their associated cues or contexts are avoided. For example, in trying to weaken the habit of snacking between meals, I should avoid leaving out easily accessible snacks.

Replace the old habit with a new one that opposes it.

This can be done by explicitly planning a different course and repeating what it prescribes.

This technique was used successfully in a study on breaking old and random recycling habits in the workplace and replacing them with a clear strategy for consistent recycling (Holland, Aarts, & Langendam, 2006).

The following are five habits highlighted by Kanaat for improving health, financial status, career, and psychological wellbeing (adapted from Wanderlust Worker ).

A key health habit: 10,000 Steps per day

Kanaat describes this as a “keystone habit,” one that lends support to other positive health habits such as drinking enough water, being conscious of what we eat, and leaving sufficient time for exercise.

This basic habit can be supported by using a pedometer or smartphone health app to track one’s steps toward the daily goal of 10,000.

A positive financial habit: Expense journaling

According to Kanaat, this keystone financial habit supports financial awareness, financial planning, and positive spending habits.

He cites the example of John D. Rockefeller, whose mother instilled in him the habit of writing down every penny he spent from an early age. She also encouraged him early in the habits of saving and wisely investing his money. Rockefeller credited his mother and the habits she instilled as keys to his financial success (Rockefeller, 2019).

A critical success habit: Active goal setting

Kanaat distinguishes active from passive goal setting. In the latter, we set goals that are usually longer term, then tend to forget about them. Active goal setting involves tracking your progress toward each goal every day. He also advocates for “SMART” goal setting: making sure goals are:

A crucial career habit: Time management

Kanaat recommends using the “quadrant” system for time management, first developed by Dwight D. Eisenhower and later included in the bestselling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People  (Covey, 2020).

In this system, each activity we do can be categorized as involving some combination of urgency and importance. We naturally tend to focus on short-term, quadrant-1 objectives, which are both urgent and important.

We need to be even more mindful of long-term quadrant-2 objectives, which, while not urgent, are very important.

The remaining third and fourth quadrant activities are distractions and time-wasters, and should be avoided and strictly limited, respectively.

An important wellness habit: Daily gratitude.

If we focus on what we lack, we will see and experience what is missing.

On the other hand, if we focus on and are grateful for what we have now, we will see and experience gratitude and fullness.

Kanaat recommends practicing daily gratitude for 15 minutes each morning, by writing down everything for which we are grateful. He further recommends doing this every day for 90 days to set the habit. He adds that this can bring a positive transformation in mindset, from thinking only of lack to being mindful of and grateful for all we have.

The science of making & breaking habits – Andrew Huberman

The following resources can help you or your clients break negative habits and form new and positive ones.

• Building New Habits This tool is designed to help you develop an “If-Then” plan for positive habits you want to cultivate, concerning health, finances, relationships, and wellbeing.
• Goal Setting Our article on goal setting with templates and worksheets includes various tips and resources for the important habit of active goal setting.
• Nurturing vs. Depleting Activities This tool can help you become aware of and make adjustments to your habits around using and restoring personal energy through healthy eating, sleeping, exercising, etc.
• Gratitude Journal A tool to help cultivate daily gratitude and the various benefits that come with it.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others reach their goals, this collection contains 17 validated motivation & goals-achievement tools for practitioners. Use them to help others turn their dreams into reality by applying the latest science-based behavioral change techniques.

17 Tools To Increase Motivation and Goal Achievement

These 17 Motivation & Goal Achievement Exercises [PDF] contain all you need to help others set meaningful goals, increase self-drive, and experience greater accomplishment and life satisfaction.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

Habits are a force in each of our lives, often with positive, but sometimes with negative, results.

Although negative habits can be stubborn things, research has shown they can be broken and replaced with more positive ones.

Awareness of our habits can help distinguish between those that align with our goals and those that stand in our way.

Positive habits that we consciously form retain elements of the mindful intention that initiated them. At their best, such habits assure mastery. They can also become a springboard to creativity, as when an experienced mountaineer picks just the right route up a new and challenging face.

Certain positive habits can also be “keystones” for others, as when the daily habit of taking at least 10,000 steps helps reinforce other habits like healthy eating and spending some time outside each day.

We hope the tools and techniques offered in this article for strengthening positive habits and breaking negative ones will be useful for you or your clients.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free .

• Adams, R. L. (2013). The art of persistence: The simple secrets to long-term success . Author.
• Adams, R. L. (2014). Habit flip: Transform your life with 101 small changes to your daily routines . Author.
• Bergson, H. (1911). Matter and memory (N. M. Paul & W. S. Palmer, Trans.). George Allen & Co.
• Brewer, J. (2019). Mindfulness training for addictions: Has neuroscience revealed a brain hack by which awareness subverts the addictive process? Current Opinion in Psychology , 28 , 198–203.
• Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Restoring the character ethic . Simon and Schuster.
• Dickinson, A., & Balleine, B. (1994). Motivational control of goal-directed action. Animal Learning & Behavior , 22 , 1–18.
• Holland, R. W., Aarts, H., & Langendam, D. (2006). Breaking and creating habits on the working floor: A field-experiment on the power of implementation intentions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , 42 (6), 776–783.
• James, W. (1914). Habit . H. Holt.
• Lally, P., van Jaarsveld, C. H. M., Potts, H. W. W., & Wardle, J. (2010). How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology , 40 , 998–1009.
• Malabou, C. (2008). Addiction and grace: Preface to Felix Ravaisson’s Of Habit. In F. Ravaisson, Of habit (pp. vii – xx). Continuum.
• Martiros, N., Burgess, A. A., & Graybiel, A. M. (2018). Inversely active striatal projection neurons and interneurons selectively delimit useful behavioral sequences. Current Biology , 28 (4), 560–573.
• Neuroscience News (2015, November 24). The role of dopamine in motivation and learning. Neuroscience News. Retrieved March 8, 2021, from https://neurosciencenews.com/dopamine-learning-reward-3157/
• Ravaisson, F. (2008). Of habit (C. Carlisle and M. Sinclair, Trans.). Continuum (Original work published 1838).
• Rockefeller, J. D. (2019). The classic autobiography of John D. Rockefeller: Random reminiscences of men and events . Compass Circle.
• Schwabe, L., & Wolf, O. T. (2009). Stress prompts habit behavior in humans. The Journal of Neuroscience , 29 (22), 7191–7198.
• Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior . Macmillan.
• Tolman, E. C. (1948). Cognitive maps in rats and men. Psychological Review , 55 , 189–208.
• Tolman, E. C. (1954). Freedom and the cognitive mind. American Psychologist , 9 (9), 536–538.
• Trafton, A. (2012). How the brain controls our habits. MIT News . Retrieved March 8, 2021, from https://news.mit.edu/2012/understanding-how-brains-control-our-habits-1029
• Wood, W., Quinn, J. M., & Kashy, D. A. (2002). Habits in everyday life: Thought, emotion, and action. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 83 (6), 1281–1297.
• Yin, H., & Knowlton, B. (2006). The role of the basal ganglia in habit formation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience , 7 , 464–476.

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Essay Samples on Habits

Overcoming bad work habits: strategies for personal and organizational advancement.

Introduction In today's professional landscape, it is not uncommon for individuals to develop detrimental work habits. These habits can infiltrate the routines of employees and managers alike, often without any warning signs. Unexpectedly, these bad work habits can have a negative impact on an individual's...

Benefits of the Regular Dentist Visits

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How I Can Change The World and Make It a Better Place

How can I change the world? One of the ways I can help change the world is by becoming a better person. There are many simple was one can do this, such as a simple smile, thank you, and other polite manners. Such a simple...

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The Behavioural Patterns and Habits of the Maned Wolves

Abstract Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) also known as lobo de crin is a canid that lives in habitat that has been severely impacted by agricultural developments (Songsasen & Rodden, 2010). They are the largest canid of South America which resembles a large fox with reddish...

The Effects of Alcoholism on Person and Their Life

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The Effects of Alcoholism on Health and Life

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Best topics on Habits

1. Overcoming Bad Work Habits: Strategies for Personal and Organizational Advancement

2. Benefits of the Regular Dentist Visits

3. How I Can Change The World and Make It a Better Place

4. The Behavioural Patterns and Habits of the Maned Wolves

5. The Effects of Alcoholism on Person and Their Life

6. The Effects of Alcoholism on Health and Life

7. How Classical Conditioning Affects the Person’s Habits

8. The Glass Half Full: An Outlook On Life

9. Bad Communication Habits We Have To Get Rid Of

10. Behaviors That I Find To Be Very Annoying

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The Habits Guide: How to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones

Before we get into the guide, I want to recommend the most comprehensive guide on how to change your habits and get 1% better every day: My #1 New York Times bestselling book  Atomic Habits . 

Packed with evidence-based self-improvement strategies,  Atomic Habits  will teach you how to make the small changes that will transform your habits and deliver remarkable results.

Atomic Habits  will reshape the way you think about progress and success and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits—whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, and achieve success that lasts.

Want to get Chapter 1 of Atomic Habits for free?  Just enter your email address below.

Let’s get to the habits guide…

What Are Habits?

Let’s define habits. Habits are the small decisions you make and actions you perform every day. According to researchers at Duke University, habits account for about 40 percent of our behaviors on any given day. 

Your life today is essentially the sum of your habits.  How in shape or out of shape you are? A result of your habits. How happy or unhappy you are? A result of your habits. How successful or unsuccessful you are? A result of your habits.

What you repeatedly do (i.e. what you spend time thinking about and doing each day) ultimately forms the person you are, the things you believe, and the personality that you portray.  Everything I write about – from procrastination and productivity to strength and nutrition – starts with better habits. When you learn to transform your habits, you can transform your life.

This page includes recommended resources on forming better habits and breaking bad ones in any area of life, but if you’d like to explore information on specific types of habits, check out these articles:

• Healthy Eating: The Beginner’s Guide on How to Eat Healthy and Stick to It
• Procrastination: A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating
• Focus: The Ultimate Guide on How to Improve Focus and Concentration

Three Ways to Form Better Habits

• How to Build a New Habit: This is Your Strategy Guide : Read this guide right now to learn 5 easy, powerful strategies for changing habits.
• How To Start New Habits That Actually Stick : This helpful framework can make it easier to stick to new habits so that you can improve your health, your work, and your life in general.
• Identity-Based Habits: How to Actually Stick to Your Goals This Year : Most of the time we set our goals in the wrong way. Read this article to learn how identity-based habits can help you achieve your goals more easily.

Three Ways to Break Bad Habits

• How to Break a Bad Habit and Replace It With a Good One : Want to learn how to break a bad habit? Read this article to discover the science of breaking bad habits and practical suggestions for making it happen.
• How Vietnam War Veterans Broke Their Heroin Addictions : By simply removing yourself from an environment that triggers all of your old habits, you can make it easier to break bad habits and build new ones.
• How to Declutter Your Mind and Unleash Your Willpower by Using “Bright-Line” Rules :  A bright-line rule refers to a clearly defined rule or standard. It is a rule with clear interpretation and very little wiggle room. It establishes a bright line for what the rule is saying and what it is not saying. Most of us could benefit from setting brighter lines in our personal and professional lives.

How to Make a Habit Stick

• How to Stick to Your Goals When Life Gets Crazy : Having a bad day is just one of the tiny emergencies that prevents most people from sticking to their goals and habits. It doesn’t have to be that way, though.
• How to Stick With Good Habits Every Day by Using the “Paper Clip Strategy” : Why do some good habits stick while others fail? Read this article about a strategy you use to stick with good habits every day.

Best Habits Books

• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
• Daily Rituals: How Artists Work  by Mason Currey
• Hooked by Nir Eyal
• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Want more great books on psychology and self-help? Browse my full list of the  best psychology books  and  best self-help books .

All Habits Articles

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• The Habits Scorecard: Use This Simple Exercise to Discover Which Habits You Should Change
• The 1 Percent Rule: Why a Few People Get Most of the Rewards
• The Paradox of Behavior Change
• How Innovative Ideas Arise
• How to Create a Chain Reaction of Good Habits
• The Scientific Argument for Mastering One Thing at a Time
• Motivation is Overvalued. Environment Often Matters More.
• How to Use Military Strategy to Build Better Habits
• The Chemistry of Building Better Habits
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• How to Fall in Love With Boredom and Unlock Your Mental Toughness
• How to Optimize Your Daily Decisions
• How to Declutter Your Mind and Unleash Your Willpower by Using Bright-Line Rules
• How to Stick With Good Habits Every Day by Using the “Paper Clip Strategy”
• Use This Simple Daily Habit to Add More Gratitude to Your Life
• The One Word That Drives Senseless and Irrational Habits
• The 5 Triggers That Make New Habits Stick
• Why Stores Place Candy by the Checkout Counter (And Why New Habits Fail)
• 5 Common Mistakes That Cause New Habits to Fail
• Avoid the Second Mistake
• Minimalism, Success, and the Curious Writing Habit of George R.R. Martin
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• 3 Simple Ways to Make Exercise a Habit
• How to Build Muscle: Strength Lessons from Milo of Croton
• This Simple Equation Reveals How Habits Shape Your Health, Happiness, and Wealth
• How Vietnam War Veterans Broke Their Heroin Addictions
• How to Build New Habits by Taking Advantage of Old Ones
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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Lifestyle & Interests — Habits

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930 Words Sample Essay on Habits (free to read)

Habits are either good or bad. Even good habits, if given free play, may turn into bad ones. For example, reading is a good habit. It helps in acquiring knowledge, in meaningful use of leisure time and healthy entertainment. But excess of reading books, magazines etc., is harmful. It would soon tell upon one’s health, resources, mental fitness and capacity to earn. Balance is the golden rule.

That is why it is said, “Excess of everything is bad” nothing too much, not even good things and habits.

It is easy to acquire bad and evil habits but not so, easy to cultivate and acquire good ones. Habits once acquired are difficult to get rid of. As a leopard cannot change its spots so one cannot change ones habits. They die hard. They become part and parcel of one’s nature and behaviour. Bad habits render a person useless an undesirable. Telling lies, back biting, spitting here and there, smoking, or taking alcohol frequently and repeatedly are some of the bad habits. They can be as many as there are persons. Like a name, a habit sticks fast till the death. Habits can make or mar our fortunes. They actually form the foundation of our character and destiny. That is why it is said, “Sow an act and you reap a habit. S6w a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny”. They are the very cornerstones of our character and destiny. We are the makers or destroyers of our destiny. Because we cultivate, practice and acquire good or bad habits and their fruits accordingly. One may have a bad habit of flattering others or of making false promises. Similarly, one may have a bad habit if stealing things. One habit leads to another, and then there is a sort of chain of habits to from which an escape is impossible, particularly in advanced age.

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Anything done often and repeatedly becomes a habit the force of habit is very powerful. It makes the particular habit easy, automatic and repetitive. Habits have their origin in repetition, practice and regularity. The more we repeat and practice anything, the easier, permanent and automatic it becomes. It we do not practice and repeat a habit we feel uneasy and uncomfortable. Take for example, the habit of taking tea. There are people who consume 20 or more cups of tea daily. They may do without food, newspapers or rest, but cannot dispense with hot cups of tea taken almost every hour of the day. They will feel sick, lethargic, bored and useless without enjoying their cups of tea. Same is the case with smokers or drunkards. Habits are too forceful to be avoided. It is the constant and repeated use and practice that gives birth to a habit. Without constant and repeated use and frequency there cannot be any habit. Anything done or practiced occasionally cannot be called a habit. Habits are another name of addiction.

Early and formative years of childhood are very important in this respect. Then it is very easy to have new impressions and influences. It is the proper time to cultivate good habits. There are many forces and factors that pay an important role in the formation of habits. Early education, impressions, influences, company, associations etc, are some of the major factors in the formation of habits. Slowly antic gradually they get ingrained in our nature. Man is also an imitative being. He likes to imitate others. Imitation also helps much in the formation of habits, bad as well as good. Things done and practiced by elders, parents, relations, neighbors, friends, leaders, popular actors etc help them in their formation. For example, a boy who sees his father smoking is very likely to have this evil habit. The boy may imagine that there must be some joy, excitement and thrill in the habit that is why his father indulged in it. One day he may try it stealthily as smoking material is easily available in the home. Gradually he may become a habitual smoker and spread it among his friends and associates.

Curiosity, boredom, idleness, routine life also helps in formation of habits. It is said that an entry mind is a devil’s workshop. An idle person is apt to develop bad habits like playing cards, gambling, stealing, drug-addiction etc. Bad company and association often lead innocent boy’s mad girls’ into the vicious habits. A drug-addict-may offers a drug, free of cost, to his friend at first and thereby helps him form a bad habit of taking drugs. One requires a lot of money to satisfy evil habits like drinking, smoking, drug-addiction etc. They may ultimately lead a person to stealing, lying, borrowing and even worse actions.

Man can be said to be a bundle of habits. They may be good or bad. There cannot be a person wholly good or wholly evil. Speaking truth, frankness, honesty, service to others, cleanliness, reading good books etc., are some of the good habits. They must be encouraged and helped among the young men and women. Good habits should be appreciated, encouraged and rewarded, “Example is better than precept”. We should always put examples of good and meaningful habits before the children and young men and women. We must create an atmosphere where good habits are always infectious. Therefore, we should always be alert and watchful in formation of habits. Bad habits should be nipped in the bud and good ones should be tried and practiced again and again, for they would die and perish for want of these.

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Essay on Habits

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Harnessing the power of habits

The Habit Lab at the University of Southern California explores how we form habits and how we can change unwanted ones

Vol. 51, No. 8 Print version: page 78

• Personality

Would you eat a bucket of popcorn without salt and butter? What if it were stale? Sounds unappetizing, but you’re much more likely to chow down without thinking about the taste if the environmental context is just right for popcorn munching, say in a darkened movie theater ( Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin , Vol. 37, No. 11, 2011). The critical role of context is just one of the many facets of habitual behavior that Wendy Wood, PhD, a psychologist at the University of Southern California (USC), has illuminated throughout her decades-long career exploring how and why people fall back into old habits, how good patterns help people meet goals and how to change unwanted habits.

Many of the actions people engage in daily—such as shopping, exercising (or not) and communicating with others—are habitual, and thus can be difficult to change. Among Wood’s findings is that a stunning 43% of everyday actions are enacted habitually while people are thinking about something else ( Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , Vol. 83, No. 6, 2002).

“We think we do most things because we make decisions or we’re asserting willpower, but instead our research shows that a lot of human behavior is repeated often enough in the same context to form habits,” Wood says.

In addition to investigating the foundations of habit formation in the lab and in real-life situations, Wood and the members of the Wood Habit Lab at USC have advised the National Academy of Sciences on how to encourage health-protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, worked with the World Bank on a project to change centuries-old bathroom habits to improve public health and counseled Fortune 500 companies on the best practices for changing consumers’ purchasing habits.

“The work in Wendy’s lab sits in a sweet spot between rigorous experimental lab work and more applied field studies that allow you to see how people’s unconscious processes actually play out in the real world in very concrete ways,” says David Neal, PhD, a former postdoctoral researcher in Wood’s lab and one of several Habit Lab members who have gone on to work in the private sector.

Ultimately, the goal of the lab is understanding how to harness the power of repeated actions.

“The cognitive revolution led people to focus on motivation, goals, cognitive practices, how people think,” Wood says. “But we’re finally seeing the limits of thoughts and feelings, and we’re starting, as a discipline, to realize that how people actually act day in, day out is also quite important.”

The role of context

Wood got her start studying habits in an indirect way—she was initially studying attitude change and how to influence people to adopt new views of the world under the supervision of psychologist Alice Eagly, PhD, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Wood’s early work with Eagly on attitude change would give rise to her interest in why people’s behavior seems to have a different logic than what people say, believe and feel. “I became fascinated by why changing attitudes doesn’t always lead to a change in behavior,” Wood says. “One answer is habits—how they keep us persisting in old actions—and how people underestimate the role of habits in their daily lives.”

During her time as a faculty member at Texas A&M University, Wood and her former graduate student Judith Ouellette conducted a meta-analysis of research on habits and intentions that was both formative for Wood’s later research and easily her most highly cited article to date. They demonstrated that when a person repeats a behavior often enough, the behavior becomes habitual and their intentions really don’t matter all that much ( Psychological Bulletin , Vol. 124, No. 1, 1998). People can intend to do all kinds of things—exercise and eat lots of fruits and vegetables—but in the end, their behavior primarily is cued by performance contexts and therefore has a different causal source than their thoughts, intentions and beliefs. “That study suggested a split between the processes that guide our attitudes and the ones that guide our behaviors,” Wood says.

At Duke University, Wood and her students observed that habits are learned associations between responses and aspects of the context under which the responses are performed, such as the physical location and preceding actions ( Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , Vol 48. No. 2, 2012 ). Wood and her team have also noticed that habits are not readily changed by changing minds, as evidenced by failures of information campaigns such as the food pyramid and daily ozone warnings to change people’s habits around eating or spending time outdoors, respectively ( Journal of Public Policy & Marketing , Vol. 25, No. 1, 2006). Instead, habits can be broken by controlling the cues that trigger behavior. For example, changes to one’s circumstances (e.g., taking a different route to work) can change context cues and lead to disruption of habits (e.g., stopping for a daily iced coffee fix on the way to the office) ( Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , Vol. 88, No. 6, 2005).

Wood and her team have also found that familiar cues in performance contexts direct behavior when people are too distracted or too tired to think of an appropriate response ( Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , Vol. 104, No. 6, 2013). “When people are maxed out, they don’t have a lot of willpower left over to make effortful decisions and they resort to acting out of habit, often in response to context cues,” Neal says. This isn’t always a bad thing, Neal points out, because during times of low resources, people turn to both bad (e.g., stress eating) and good (e.g., daily exercise routines) habits.

A critical context cue is location, and the more often a behavior occurs within a certain location, the stronger a habit can become. In one Habit Lab study, led by graduate student Asaf Mazar, Wood and her students interviewed diners at the USC dining commons, and in some conditions the interviewer drank a lot of water, and in other conditions they drank very little. They found that diners who reported regularly drinking water in the commons did so regardless of what the interviewer did. But people who didn’t have a strong habit to drink water in the dining commons were very influenced by how much the interviewer drank. “This observation shows that habits can persist regardless of social influences when you’re in the context that you’ve performed the habit before,” Wood says of the soon-to-be-published study.

Mazar is also exploring ways to disrupt social media use habits by creating friction on the automatic behavior of flipping through a smartphone by moving around the icons to launch certain apps or requiring passwords to use those apps.

Putting research into action

Wood has been working with government agencies, nonprofits and industry to apply her knowledge of habits to help shape people’s behavior, whether it’s to benefit public health or to help companies improve their marketing strategies.

Wood has worked with Procter & Gamble to leverage insight about consumers’ habits to encourage them to use a new product. “One of the challenges in introducing new products is not that people don’t like them,” Wood says. “It’s just that they already have habits for using competing products.”

Wood, Neal and their colleagues found that old habits could be overcome if the new products were designed to be integrated into those old habits ( Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science , Vol. 45, 2017). One example from their study involved getting participants to incorporate a “fabric refresher” into their laundry routines by using a sniff test to determine if their clothes were smelly, but instead of just re-wearing or washing as was their usual habit, they followed a plan to use the refresher.

“Working on this project was my first exposure to the idea that you could run rigorous academic studies published in collaboration with a company funding the research,” says Neal, who cites the experience as the stepping-stone for launching a psychological science consulting business.

Other members of the Habit Lab have also gone on to work in industry, including at an environmental science firm, a hand sanitizer manufacturer and a digital media player manufacturer. “A number of my students take jobs in industry simply because there’s a great deal of interest in habit; for example, how to get consumers to form habits and what kinds of products are habit-forming,” Wood says.

As another example of applied research, the World Bank asked Wood and Neal to help encourage home toilet and community latrine usage in India, where open defecation is still a major health concern. “The World Bank engineers built the toilets and latrines, but when they left, no one wanted to use them,” Wood says. “They just didn’t have a bathroom habit and they continued to defecate in their fields.”

Wood, Neal and others delivered a white paper (“Nudging and Habit Change for Open Defecation: New Tactics From Behavioral Science,” World Bank, 2016) consisting of a framework of eight principles to support the use of toilets or latrines. The principles highlighted the value of nudges and other tactics that bypass rational thinking, such as the “No Toilet, No Bride” media campaign. “The idea was that having a toilet is almost part of the dowry,” Neal says.

Researchers in the Habit Lab are also working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase people’s participation in pre-diabetes control programs. Wood also recently wrote a brief and appeared in a webinar for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, advising communities on how to encourage COVID-19-prevention behaviors such as wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.

Research for the public

After years of being asked for advice—from friends, family, colleagues and strangers—about how to break bad habits or maintain new ones, Wood recently began looking for ways to more widely communicate her decades of research on how habits shape our lives to help people help themselves. The early results were op-eds in The New York Times about keeping New Year’s resolutions and in The Washington Post about the top habit myths, and near-daily tweets that describe recent habit research in terms laypeople can understand and act on.

In addition, Wood has been making the rounds on a variety of behavioral science podcasts— including The Happiness Lab, The Hidden Brain, and Choiceology—to pull back the curtain on habitual behaviors and encourage more researchers to pursue this topic.

She also wrote a popular press book, “Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick,” to give readers evidence-based guidance on how to form good habits.

“Everyone is interested in habits in their own lives, but I hadn’t seen habit research getting out there into the public realm,” Wood says. “The science of habit is finally beginning to reveal why we have been unable to change our own behavior and, even better, the discoveries we are making are helping people craft plans that bring lasting change to their lives.”

Further reading

The Pull of the Past: When Do Habits Persist Despite Conflict With Motives? Neal, D., et al. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin , 2011

How Do People Adhere to Goals When Willpower is Low? The Profits (and Pitfalls) of Strong Habits Neal, D., et al. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 2013

Habit Slips: When Consumers Unintentionally Resist New Products Labrecque, J., et al. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science , 2017

“Lab Work” illuminates the work of psychologists in research labs. To read previous installments, go to the  Monitor and search for “Lab Work .”

Recommended Reading

Research foci.

The Habit Lab at the University of Southern California is exploring:

• How people form habits and change unwanted ones
• The role context plays in shaping and maintaining habits
• How adding “friction” to a behavior will make it less likely to occur

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Essay on Good Habits for Children: List of Healthy Habits

• Updated on  
• Mar 15, 2024

Good habits are very important to become a successful and respectable person. Everybody must master good habits for their benefit and the welfare of their society. Good habits teach us some valuable lessons, such as eating healthy food, talking nicely, focusing on our goals, taking care of our things, etc. 

An essay on good habits is an important topic for students, where they discuss their good habits and what benefits they offer them. On this page, we will discuss some essays on good habits for children.

Table of Contents

• 1 10 Lines Essay on Good Habits for Class 1
• 2 10 Lines Essay on Good Habits for Class 2
• 3 Essay on Good Habits for Class 5
• 4 How to Write an Essay on Good Habits?

Check out our 200+ Essay Topics for School Students in English

10 Lines Essay on Good Habits for Class 1

Here is a 10-line essay on good habits for Class 1 students.

• ‘Early to bed and early to rise is one of the best good habits for students.’
• ‘Brushing our teeth every day keeps them clean and healthy.’
• ‘Washing our hands before and after meals helps us stay germ-free.’
• ‘Eating fruits and vegetables makes us strong and full of energy.’
• ‘Listening to our teachers in class helps us learn new things.’
• ‘Being kind to our friends and sharing with them makes us happy.’
• ‘Saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ shows good manners.’
• ‘Taking care of our toys and belongings makes them last longer.’
• ‘Going to bed early and getting enough sleep helps us feel good.’
• ‘Picking up after ourselves and keeping our surroundings clean is important./
• ‘Being responsible and doing our chores helps us grow up to be responsible adults.’

Also Read: Essay on Athletics in 100, 200 and 300 Words

10 Lines Essay on Good Habits for Class 2

Also Read: Essay on My House for Children

Essay on Good Habits for Class 5

‘Good habits are very important to build a happy and healthy lifestyle. Good habits keep our minds and body healthy and make us a good human being. Some of the good habits to develop are waking early in the morning, eating green vegetables, avoiding junk food, brushing our teeth, talking respectfully, listening to our teachers and parents, etc.’

‘Good habits make us a better person. Good habits can help us build healthy relationships. Active listening, empathy, and politeness lead to positive communication and stronger interpersonal connections.’

‘Good habits can help us achieve success in life. Consistently practicing good habits leads to long-term success by creating a foundation for personal and professional achievements. Healthy habits like mindfulness and meditation are very important to enhance focus and concentration. This allows us to work efficiently and attentively.’

The objective of following good habits is to lead a positive and happy life. Good habits can lead to better physical and mental well-being, build healthy relationships, and can also bring financial stability.’

How to Write an Essay on Good Habits?

To write an essay on good habits, there are some simple tips you can follow. Start your essay on good habits introduction with the definition of good habits and what benefits they bring. Highlight some of the best good habits for children and how they can include them in their daily lives. Then focus on the long-term benefits of good habits. Conclude your essay by listing some of the popular good habits and how important they are for a happier and healthier life.

• Definition of Good Habits

Good Habits are positive and healthy habits done daily that contribute to one’s overall well-being, personal development, and success.

• Benefits of Good Habits

Practicing good habits regularly promotes physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance, and positive relationships. Good habits lead to a positive impact on various aspects of like, such as work, education, relationships, and personal growth.

• Best Good Habits for Children

Some of the best good habits for children include eating lots of fruits and vegetables, regularly brushing their teeth, washing hands, respecting elders and friends, regularly exercising, taking care of their books and other important things, etc.

• Good Habits Lead to a Happy and Healthier Life

Good habits lay the foundation of a successful and fulfilling life. They contribute to physical well-being, personal development, positive relationships, and professional success. 

Ans: To write an essay on good habits, there are some simple tips you can follow. Start your essay on good habits introduction with the definition of good habits and what benefits they bring. Highlight some of the best good habits for children and how they can include them in their daily lives. Then focus on the long-term benefits of good habits. Conclude your essay by listing some of the popular good habits and how important they are for a happier and healthier life.

Ans: Some of the best good habits for children include eating lots of fruits and vegetables, regularly brushing their teeth, washing hands, respecting elders and friends, regularly exercising, taking care of their books and other important things, etc.

Ans: Good habits are very important to become a successful and respectable person. Good habits teach us some valuable lessons, such as eating healthy good, talking nicely, focusing on our goals, taking care of our things, etc. Good habits make us a better person. Eating fruits and vegetables makes us strong and full of energy ‘Listening to our teachers in class helps us learn new things.’

Check out our Popular Essay Topics for Students

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu.

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With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Psychology Discussion

Essay on a habit | psychology.

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After reading this article you will learn about Habit:- 1. Nature of Habit 2. Characteristics of Habit 3. Relationship between Habit and Actions 4. Laws 5. Functions 6. Rules of Breaking Bad Habits .

Essay # Nature of Habit:

A habit is the product of repeated voluntary actions. When a voluntary action is repeated very often, it is turned into a habit. Voluntary actions involve an effort of will or volition. But when they become habitual, they dispense with the guidance of attention and volition, and become automatic. Habitual actions are acquired.

They are sometimes called secondarily automatic actions, because they are uniform and mechanical, and are performed with ease and facility. Running, reading, writing, type-writing, swimming, etc., are habitual actions. They are the results of repeated voluntary actions. They are learned actions as distinguished from unlearned actions. Instinctive acts also may by repeated and fixed as habits.

Essay # Characteristics of Habit:

(a) Habitual actions are uniform actions. Voluntary actions vary in their nature in order to adjust the organism to new situations. But habitual actions performed in the same way. A person talks or writes in the same way.

(b) Habitual actions are performed prom­ptly. The stronger is the habit, the quicker is the motor response to the situation. The soldiers who parade every day perform the required movements quickly as soon as they hear the commands of an officer.

(c) Habitual actions are performed not only prom­ptly, but also accurately. The stronger is the habit the more precise is the motor response. The soldiers perform the precise movements in a parade in execution of the officer’s commands.

(d) Habitual actions are performed automatically without the guidance of attention and consciousness. If they are attended to, they are hindered. When we attend to buttoning our coats or tying the laces of our shoes, the normally habitual actions are thwarted and lose their automatic nature. But habitual actions are started by attention, and carried on automatically without attention.

(v) Habitual actions are performed with ease and facility. As habits are firmly established, they diminish fatigue. The miners do not feel fatigue when they are accustomed to their work. The chief difference between the skilled and the unskilled workman is that the former trains his brain and the letters trains his muscles.

(f) The stronger is the habit, the greater is the difficulty of breaking it. An inveterate drunkard finds it extremely difficult to break the habit of drinking. Habits leave mental dispositions and physiological dispositions which compel the individual to perform them.

A habitual opium-eater feels an irresistible impulse to take doses of opium regularly. Habits resists modification. They are characterised by resistance to modification.

Essay # Relationship between Habit and Actions:

(a) Habit and Instinct:

Habits and instincts are alike marked by uniformity and facility. They are both mechanical and accurate. They both give rise to periodic cravings, as in smoking, drinking, etc. They both dispense with the guidance of volition. They are non-voluntary in their nature.

But there is an important difference between them. Instincts are innate, while habits are learned by repeated voluntary actions. Sometimes instincts are said to be racial habits while habits are said to be individual habits.

(b) Habit and Reflex Action:

A habit and a reflex action are alike prompt and uniform in character. Both are automatic and mechanical. Both are without the guidance of consciousness, attention, and volition. But the reflex action is native, while the habitual action is acquired.

The former is simple, while the latter is complex. For example, swimming is a very complex action, while sneezing is a simple action. Swimming is a habitual action, while sneezing is a sensation-reflex.

(c) Habit and Voluntary Action:

A habit is the product of repeated voluntary actions. It is mechanical and uniform in nature. But a voluntary action is the new response to a novel situation. The new response is exploratory and tentative, while habit is fixed and definite. The new response is slow and uncertain, while habit is fairly quick and accurate. The new response is variable, while habit is regular.

The new response is attended by effort and strained attention, while habit is easy and often, only half-conscious. The new response is apt to be un­satisfying to the one who makes it, whole habit is comfortable and a source of satisfaction. To break a habit is most uncomfortable. To do it we must form a counter-habit, or opposite habit.

(d) Habit, Character and Conduct:

Habits are results of repeated voluntary actions. They are the foundation of character. Good habits build good character. Bad (habits build bad character. Character is the permanent bent of the mind, constituted by settled habits of will. It is a system of permanent tendencies or dispositions to thought, emotions and actions voluntarily acquired.

Character is the result of habits of thought, emotion and will. Ethical writers lay stress on habits of the will in the formation of character.

But habits of thought and emotional habits are equally important factors in the formation of character McDougall emphasize the importance of sentiments, especially the sentiment or self-regard, as the foundation of character. The sentiment of self-regard is the highest sentiment under which all other sentiments are organized.

Character is different from nature. Nature is innate, but charac­ter is acquired. Character is acquired by an individual who has voluntary actions. It is built up by a person out of his natural impulses by controlling and regulating them by reason.

Natural impulses are converted into desires by self-consciousness. The desires are turned by the self into volitions. These volitions are converted into habits by repetition. Habits produce a permanent disposition which we call character. Natural impulses are the given elements which supply the self with raw materials for the formation of character.

Character, on the other hand, is the acquired habit of controlling and regulating these impulsive tendencies by will or volition in conformity with consciously conceived ends. Character is the habitual mode in which the will regulates natural impulses and desires.

It is the result of volitions, which, are, in their turn, regulated by it. The self-acquired character is the result of volitions. Volitions are determined by the character of the self.

Character is expressed in conduct. Conduct is the outer expression of character. It includes voluntary and habitual actions. They are overt or outward actions. They are determined by charac­ter of the self. Character is not absolutely fixed and permanent.

It grows and develops. Free acts of will alter the character already formed. These volitions are partly determined by past character. But they are free volitions of the self, though they are influenced by past character. Thus, neither character nor conduct is fixed and unalterable. They are plastic and modifiable. They are modified by each other.

Essay # Laws of Habit- Formation of Habit:

William James gives four laws of formation of habits.

They are the following:

(a) Begin a new habit with a firm resolution. If you make a start with a firm determination, it often carries you along and fixes the habit. If you want to rise early in the morning, first make a firm resolve to do it.

(b) Seize the first opportunity to put the new resolve into practice. When you have made a firm resolve to rise early, begin it the very next day. Do not wait for the first day of the next months or the New Year’s Day to start to work. If you do so, your resolution will become weak and inspiration will vanish.

(c) Never allow an exception to occur till the new habit is well-learned. Once you have started rising early, continue the action from day to day and never allow an exception on any pretext. If you break it once, the pathway that is formed in the nervous system will become faint, your resolve will become weak, and you may revert to your old habit. But do not permit an exception to occur, and the new habit will be formed.

(d) Keep yourself young by a little free practice every day. In order to cultivate the strength of mind, you should perform a difficult action every day which requires a great effort of will. Habits make us conservative. We move in fixed grooves of thought and action.

But we must be open to new ideas, to new methods. We can best do this according to James, by a little practice of doing some­thing new and difficult every day.

Essay # Functions of Habits:

Many bodily habits e.g., habits of personal cleanliness are fixed during childhood. Habits of dressing, behaving with others, moral and religious habits, are fixed during adolescence. Pro­fessional habits are naturally acquired later. The people belonging to different professions have their characteristic gestures, attitudes, and habits of thought and action. These habits help mental develop­ment.

Habits play an important role in mental development. They set the mind free to acquire knowledge of new things and perform new actions in new situations. The mind can pass from victory to victory on account of habits which are handed over to the body. Without habits we can never make any progress.

But habits are also a drag to mental progress. They keep the mind within the fixed grooves of thought and action. They make the mind conservative. So the mind should be on the alert to respond to new ideas and new ways, of life in novel situations.

The mind should be alive to broader and truer ideas of life and cultivate wider and wider interests. It should not be a slave of habits. When Harvey discovered circulation of blood in the body, men above forty shook their heads, but younger men readily accepted the truth of his new discovery.

Essay # Rules of Breaking Bad Habits:

Habits may be either good or bad. Good habits should be cultivated. Bad habits should be broken.

We should observe the following rules to break bad habits:

(a) Stop the bad habit at once; do not wait for a suitable opportunity. Do not gradually break a bad habit, if the result be not physically injurious. Stop the habit of smoking or drinking or rising late at once.

(b) Cultivate a positive counter-habit. Do not try merely to stop the bad habit. Try, if possible, to from a good habit in place of it. If you are in the habit of going to the cinema every evening, try to form the habit of listening to radio music at that time.

A drunkard may cultivate the habit of taking hot milk instead of wine at stated times. He should continue the habit until he feels sure that the grip of the old habit is loosened.

(c) Live in an environment, which is favourable to the forma­tion of a good habit and the breaking of a bad habit, and which offers the least possible temptation. Try to have a congenial environ­ment. Give up the company of the habitual cinema-goers if you want to break the habit of cinema-going. A drunkard must give up the company of drunkards and keep the company of sober people.

(d) Make your body an ally instead of your enemy. The nervous system is the physiological basis of habits. Nervous path-ways are formed in the nervous system by habitual actions. There must be effected by steady, persistent and continuous formation of positive counter-habits. Mere penitent mood will not be enough to break old habits. Form good habits in place of bad habits.

Related Articles:

• Habits: Meaning, Characteristics and Role
• Difference between Voluntary and Non-Voluntary Actions | Psychology
• Habit Formation: Basis, Types and Measures for Effective Habit Formation
• Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Habit Formation

Reading is Good Habit for Students and Children

 500+ words essay on reading is good habit.

Reading is a very good habit that one needs to develop in life. Good books can inform you, enlighten you and lead you in the right direction. There is no better companion than a good book. Reading is important because it is good for your overall well-being. Once you start reading, you experience a whole new world. When you start loving the habit of reading you eventually get addicted to it. Reading develops language skills and vocabulary. Reading books is also a way to relax and reduce stress. It is important to read a good book at least for a few minutes each day to stretch the brain muscles for healthy functioning.

Benefits of Reading

Books really are your best friends as you can rely on them when you are bored, upset, depressed, lonely or annoyed. They will accompany you anytime you want them and enhance your mood. They share with you information and knowledge any time you need. Good books always guide you to the correct path in life. Following are the benefits of reading –

Self Improvement: Reading helps you develop positive thinking. Reading is important because it develops your mind and gives you excessive knowledge and lessons of life. It helps you understand the world around you better. It keeps your mind active and enhances your creative ability.

Communication Skills: Reading improves your vocabulary and develops your communication skills. It helps you learn how to use your language creatively. Not only does it improve your communication but it also makes you a better writer. Good communication is important in every aspect of life.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Increases Knowledge: Books enable you to have a glimpse into cultures, traditions, arts, history, geography, health, psychology and several other subjects and aspects of life. You get an amazing amount of knowledge and information from books.

Reduces Stress: Reading a good book takes you in a new world and helps you relieve your day to day stress. It has several positive effects on your mind, body, and soul. It stimulates your brain muscles and keeps your brain healthy and strong.

Great Pleasure: When I read a book, I read it for pleasure. I just indulge myself in reading and experience a whole new world. Once I start reading a book I get so captivated I never want to leave it until I finish. It always gives a lot of pleasure to read a good book and cherish it for a lifetime.

Boosts your Imagination and Creativity: Reading takes you to the world of imagination and enhances your creativity. Reading helps you explore life from different perspectives. While you read books you are building new and creative thoughts, images and opinions in your mind. It makes you think creatively, fantasize and use your imagination.

Develops your Analytical Skills: By active reading, you explore several aspects of life. It involves questioning what you read. It helps you develop your thoughts and express your opinions. New ideas and thoughts pop up in your mind by active reading. It stimulates and develops your brain and gives you a new perspective.

Reduces Boredom: Journeys for long hours or a long vacation from work can be pretty boring in spite of all the social sites. Books come in handy and release you from boredom.

Read Different Stages of Reading here.

The habit of reading is one of the best qualities that a person can possess. Books are known to be your best friend for a reason. So it is very important to develop a good reading habit. We must all read on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes to enjoy the sweet fruits of reading. It is a great pleasure to sit in a quiet place and enjoy reading. Reading a good book is the most enjoyable experience one can have.

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Good Habits Essay and its Importance | 10 lines on Good Habits for Children

May 23, 2020 by Study Mentor 2 Comments

Table of Contents

Good Habits Essay – 1

Introduction:.

A habit is something that you often do and almost without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop doing. The easier it is to fall for bad habits, the harder it is to develop good ones.

Way back in 1735, Benjamin Franklin, in his book (Poor Richard’s Almanac), wrote a very beautiful quote- “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” This quote is one of the finest examples of a good habit. Waking up early provides freshness to the body and peace to the mind.

However, the current scenario is quite the opposite. People stay up late at night and wake up even later. This reduces the efficiency of the mind and body, and as a result, the person becomes lethargic. 

All of us have habits, be it good or bad. Depending on person to person, it can be classified into two categories: Good habits and bad habits. These habits are developed from different sources. Most of the habits that we have has been inculcated in early age itself. Drinking water, taking breakfast, lunch, and dinner, taking naps and sleeping at nights are habits, based on instinct.

We have no control over thirst, hunger, and sleep. We search for water when we are thirsty, look for food when hungry, and lie down when sleepy. These are, therefore, Inborn habits. Other than this, there are many man-made habits like brushing your teeth, taking a bath, wearing clothes, combing your hair, cleaning your room, etc. which help a man to look neat and clean. Good habits help us in leading a better life.

List of various good habits:

There are various good habits which must be followed in life. Some of them are 

• Punctuality

1. Disciplined Daily Schedule

Following a disciplined daily schedule or routine helps in leading a healthy and a life full of contentment. For example: Brushing teeth, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner on time, sleeping at a time are the little things that mark a great difference. One must drink lots of water and maintain a health regimen such as walking or jogging in the evening or morning.

A proper schedule keeps the body fit, and a healthy body is a key to a healthy mind. Apart from a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen, sleep is very crucial for us. So, we must ensure that we give our body a good eight to ten hours of sleep minimum every night.

Going to sleep early can relieve tension from the mind and help the body to wake up fresh and alert the next morning to face a new day.

2. Punctuality, Promptness, and Regularity

The second good habit necessary for success in life is punctuality, which is essential in every sphere of life. Punctuality is an etiquette that encourages a person to perform a task on time. In simple words, a punctual person is someone who knows the true value of time. It helps in building the integrity of a person. A punctual person can be described as a person who is always on time, in arrival and departure, and in meeting deadlines for tasks and assignments.

Regularity in the study, work, and schedules make people look up to the person as a credible and sincere worker who will deliver the work on time. It does not just help in earning respect but also opens doors for numerous opportunities.

3. Honesty and Truthfulness

Honesty is a very important good habit in everyone’s life. It shapes the character of a human being. Honesty can be developed in many ways. Sometimes by saying the truth, by admitting to faults, by accepting and rectifying mistakes when corrected, by refraining from gossip, slander, and misrepresentation of facts, and sometimes by self-analysis and self-improvement.

It creates a reputation. It not just increases our respect in the eyes of others but also in our own. It entrusts credibility to our efforts and creates respect for our beliefs. Honesty brings trust, and trust brings happiness.

Honesty creates a stress-free environment. It keeps our mind relaxed and conscience clear. Telling lies and indulging in dishonest activities make it far difficult for our minds to relax. A dishonest person is always bothered about something or the other. He always feels tensed and anxious if someone or the other will get to know about his lies.

Honest people are daring, polite, and confident. They can easily face any challenges of life, whereas dishonest people are cowardice, unsure, and hesitant.

4. Kindness

One of the most beautiful habits is kindness. Our purpose in living in a society is to help our fellow citizens. In order to lead a successful life, goodness of heart must be imbibed within.

Goodness and kindness are two branches of the same tree. It is very essential for human beings to be kind, generous, helpful, and friendly to others. We should always spread our hands in order to help those in need. It provides fulfillment. People with a good kind heart can be truly successful in life. Philanthropy, kindness, and help must be done selflessly without the expectation of any reward in return. 

5. Hard work and Perseverance

We all must have heard that hard work is the key to success. In today’s world, there is huge competition in every aspect of life. One must be sincere and dedicated to his work in order to succeed in life. Hard-work is incomplete without Perseverance. The goal should be to excel but without harming others and also to put in maximum effort in work given to bring the best output and results. One must work hard and never give up because today or tomorrow, it pays off positively.

Importance of Good habit:

A man with good habits plays an important role in the development of the nation. He is an asset. If we once allow a bad habit to grow, it becomes a part of our nature. Accordingly, we should form good habits such as reading, studying, morning walking, waking up early, eating healthy foods, etc. Moreover, we should stay away from bad habits such as smoking, procrastination, etc. With time, habits change into character. Our impression on someone is the reflection of our actions. We should try to develop a habit of positive thinking to be tension free.

Conclusion:

Good habits are the building blocks of a better world. Without good habits, life is meaningless. It leads to self-development and that of society. It is human nature that we tend to have bad influences much more easily than good ones. If we inculcate good habits in our children from the very beginning, then only they will be able to differentiate between good ones and bad ones. Kindness, hard work, honesty, and punctuality are some of the most essential good habits every person should have. It brings a sense of contentment, happiness, prosperity, and success to the person. We, as a person, must inculcate these habits in our child, which will help in building a better society, surroundings, nation, and eventually, a better world.

Good Habits Essay – 2

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. ”

These are the famous opening lines of a very popular childhood rhyme that most of us have grown up hearing or singing or reading. Yet these lines are not merely jingles. They are very valuable as they tell us about the importance of good habits.

Good habits are the keystone of success. Without good habits a person cannot mentally, morally or physically develop. Good habits shape our lives and our actions. They instil discipline and order into our lives and guide us on the path of success and achievements.

Various Good Habits

Some key good habits which must be followed in life are:  discipline, punctuality, honesty, industriousness, and kindness to others.

Proper and Disciplined Daily Schedule

Maintaining an orderly schedule in our daily lives is a very good and essential habit. One must eat healthy food at regular intervals in the day in the form of three to four meals where possible, drink lots of water and maintain a health regimen such as walking or jogging or running outdoors.

This schedule will keep the body fit and a healthy body is the key to a healthy mind as it ensures a healthy life. Apart from a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen, sleep is very essential for the body and thus we must ensure that we get a good eight to ten hours of sleep minimum every night.

Going to sleep early can relax the mind and body and enable us to wake up fresh and alert the next morning to face a new day.

Punctuality, Promptness and Regularity

The next good habit necessary for success in life is punctuality. This is essential in every sphere of life. It means maintaining time. A punctual person is always on time, in arrival and departure and in meeting deadlines for tasks and assignments.

Punctuality instills respect in others because it evokes admiration and bears testimony to the persons’ genuine interest and sincerity in the work. Regularity in study, work and schedules makes people look up to the person as a reliable and sincere worker who will deliver the goods on time.

It increases professional and personal respect. Thus more and more opportunities to shine can come our way.

Honesty and Truthfulness

Honesty is an indispensable good habit in everyone’s life because it is the shaping factor of human being’s character. Honesty can be instilled in many ways— by saying the truth, by admitting to faults, by accepting and rectifying mistakes when corrected, by refraining from gossip, slander and misrepresentation of facts, by self-analysis and self-improvement. Honesty increases our respect in the eyes of others.

It creates goodwill and enhances our reputation. It lends credibility to our actions and creates respect for our opinions.

On the personal level it keeps our minds stress-free and our conscience clear because telling lies and indulging in dishonest actions and practices make it for difficult for our minds to relax since we are always bothered about somebody coming to know the truth behind our subterfuge.

Honest people are thus daring, courageous and confident. They can easily face the challenges of life.

Hard work and Perseverance

In today’s world of cut-throat competition in every aspect of life, one must be sincere and hard working to succeed in life. Hard work is incomplete without perseverance. One must work hard to the best of his or her ability and also work with sincerity and dedication.

The aim must be to excel, to show that one is better than the rest and also to put in maximum effort in the work given for best output and results.

Whether it is in studies or jobs, industriousness and sincerity is the best habit a person can cultivate. It pays off positively in the long run.

Kindness and Philanthropy

The purpose of living in a society is to help your fellow-citizen. In all religious texts also the moral advice given is “Love and help your neighbour and fellow man.” In order to be successful in life, goodness of heart must be imbibed within.

Goodness and kindness go hand in hand. Thus it is very essential for human beings to be kind, charitable, helpful and friendly to others. Whether it is a stray homeless hungry animal or a poor sick and ailing person, we must have an ingrained habit of being kind and helpful to those in needs.

Only people with a good kind heart can be truly successful in life. Charity, kindness and help must be done selflessly without the expectation of any reward in return. Only then are we blessed by God.

God habits are very important in life. They are essential for success, peace of mind and for building a better society. Our children will learn good habits from us and make the world a better place in the future.

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Essay on “Habits” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Essay No. 01

Man is a bundle of habits. Anything done often and repeatedly is called a habit. It is an acquired pattern of action which becomes easy and automatic because of repetition. Thus, habits, once formed, are difficult to be removed. That is why the saying, ‘Old habits die hard’. The root of habit is practice and regularity. The more we repeat a habit, the more easy and permanent it becomes. We are bound to repeat a habit, because if we do not we feel uncomfortable and uneasy. This is called the force of habit.

Habits can be good as well as bad. But it is very easy to acquire bad habits. Bad habits once acquired become the bonds and chains forever. If one becomes a victim of bad habits, they render his escape impossible. Habits become part of a man’s nature. They cannot be changed, specially at advanced stage. As a cat cannot change its stripes, so you cannot change or get rid of evil habits. Like ones name they stick fast till the grave. Habits make or spoil our destiny. They actually form the foundation of our fortunes. In the words of an author: “Sow an ‘act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” Thus, habits form the cornerstone of one’s personality and destiny. We are the maker of our destiny because we acquire good or bad habits and have the results accordingly. It is the use which causes origin and growth of a habit. Without use and frequency there would be no habit at all. A thing done occasionally, say once in a blue moon, cannot be called a habit. 1 n the words of Dryden “Ill habits gather by unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.” The same fact is underlined by the poet Hannah More in the following words: “Small(evil) habits, well pursued betimes, May reach the dignity of crimes.” The same principle applies to the formation of good habits. But healthy and good habits can be formed only with a great labour and long continuous practice. You cannot acquire a good habit simply by determination, chance or by fits and starts. You have to perspire and persevere to acquire a good habit. It is far more easy to acquire good habits early in life when there is lot of flexibility both in body and nature. Once you have attained a good habit, it will always stand you in good stead. By possessing them you become quite capable to bear the ups and downs of life like a real, man. Good habits, like those of hard working, sincerity, honesty, courtesy, punctuality, simplicity, frugality, accuracy, tenacity of purpose, etc., constitute a sure security against ills of fortune and circumstances. They form a firm ladder to success and happiness. They are to be acquired, cultivated and possessed by hard labour, practice and constant use. And early youth is the best period to have them because then they make not so much demand on us. In brief, habits make the man. What actually you are, depends on your habits. You are good, excellent, bad or worse in proportion to your good and evil habits and their intensity.

There are many forces which play an important role in forming habits. Early education, impressions, company, association, etc., are some of the major factors in habit-formation. Gradually they get ingrained in our nature. Idleness, smoking, drinking, telling lies, flattery, gambling, cheating, stealing, spitting here and there are some of the major evil habits. Habits are also acquired because of imitation. Parents, elders, friends, etc., help them in their formation, and development. For example, a boy, who sees his father smoking, is likely to acquire the evil habit of smoking. The boy may think that in smoking there should be some pleasure and excitement that is why his father is a smoker. And then he may try it stealthily as smoking material is easily available to him. Gradually he may become a habitual smoker. Curiosity, routine and boredom also help in acquiring bad habits. One may start drinking or taking a drug just out of curiosity, or to have a little thrill and excitement at first, but rater may become a hardened drinker and drug-addict. Bad company generally leads innocent and good people into evil habits. A drinker may offer drinks fret of cost first, to his friend, and thereby help him form a bad habit of drinking. One bad habit leads to another bad habit. It is a vicious circle from which, there is hardly any rescue and escape. Therefore, we should be very cautious in choosing company and friends. One requires a lot of money to satisfy bad habits which the young men and women are not likely to have, they being students in schools and colleges. Therefore, they may take to stealing or such other undesired activities.

Even good things become evil when done too often. For example, work is good. Hard and continuous work is necessary for success in life. But excess of work, beyond ones capacity, is harmful. It would soon start telling upon ones health both mental and physical. That is why it is said, “Excess of everything is bad”. We should maintain a proper balance even in doing good things. All excess is dangerous and sinful whether it is work or rest, eating or enjoying life. We should ever be temperate in all things. One should never overwork or give way to free self – indulgence. We must attempt things according to our own strength, measure and capacity. We must always be on our guard against every type of excess, even that of good things.

Essay No. 02

Outline: All have habits-anything done repeatedly becomes, a habit – habits may be good or bad – necessary to cultivate good habits and avoid bad ones – good habits help us to succeed in life.

All of us have habits. Anything that is done repeatedly becomes a habit. Once we get into a habit we do a thing without thinking about it. Habits may be good or bad. Rising early, working hard, being punctual are good habits. Gambling, swearing, lying, using bad language, drinking, stealing- and quarrelling are bad habits.

It is necessary to cultivate good habits and avoid bad ones. There is a saying that habits are at first cobwebs but after- wards cables. This shows that habits might be weak at first, but, once they become strong, they are difficult to break. Hence we should try to acquire only good habits.

Everyone respects a man who has good habits. Good habits help one to succeed, in life. A person with bad habits is despised and mocked at.

Childhood is the right time to instill good habits in children. If a child grows up with bad habits no one can make him unlearn them when he grows up. Hence parents should be careful to see that children have only good habits.

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Healthy Eating Habits Essay

The greatest wealth is our own health. People eat junk foods and other unhealthy food items only for taste. They don’t even have time to nourish their bodies with the required diet.

After going through our post “Healthy Eating Habits Essay” you will be able to understand the importance of healthy food.

Healthy Eating Habits Essay (500+ Words)

Introduction:

In our fast-paced world, where the pursuit of material wealth often dominates, it is crucial to recognize the paramount importance of maintaining good health. While wealth can be accumulated through hard work and dedication, it cannot buy genuine well-being. Healthy eating habits play a pivotal role in nurturing our bodies and promoting a balanced, fulfilling life. By prioritizing a nutritious diet and making conscious food choices, we can safeguard our physical, mental, social, intellectual, and financial well-being.

The Importance of a Balanced Diet:

A balanced diet is one that incorporates all the essential nutrients our bodies require in adequate quantities. It is essential to consume a variety of foods that provide essential proteins, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and calories. A wholesome diet should include fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, dairy products, and healthy fats. These nutrients work synergistically to maintain and improve overall health, boost immunity, reduce stress levels, and prevent chronic diseases.

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Promoting Physical Health:

Nourishing our bodies with a balanced diet is crucial for maintaining optimal physical health. The consumption of fresh, unprocessed foods provides us with essential vitamins and minerals, which are vital for the proper functioning of our organs and bodily systems. Regular intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, a well-balanced diet supports healthy weight management, provides sustained energy levels, and enhances physical performance.

Mental and Emotional Well-being:

Healthy eating habits not only benefit our physical health but also significantly impact our mental and emotional well-being. Research has shown a strong connection between diet and mood. Nutrient-rich foods help regulate brain chemistry, leading to improved concentration, enhanced memory, and reduced risk of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. A well-nourished brain is better equipped to handle stress, promoting a positive outlook and emotional resilience.

Social and Intellectual Enhancement:

Adopting healthy eating habits can also foster positive social interactions and intellectual growth. Sharing meals with loved ones creates opportunities for bonding and nurturing relationships. Additionally, proper nutrition supports cognitive function, enabling sharper focus, improved memory retention, and enhanced problem-solving abilities. By fueling our bodies with the right nutrients, we optimize our potential for personal and professional growth.

Financial Implications:

Maintaining good health through healthy eating habits can have significant financial benefits. While the immediate cost of nutritious food may seem higher, it pales in comparison to the long-term expenses associated with medical treatments and managing chronic illnesses. By prioritizing preventive measures, such as a balanced diet, we can minimize healthcare costs and invest in a healthier future. Furthermore, optimal health positively influences productivity, potentially leading to higher career opportunities and financial success.

Conclusion:

In a world where materialistic pursuits often take precedence, it is essential to recognize that the greatest wealth lies within our own health. Healthy eating habits play a fundamental role in nurturing our bodies and fostering overall well-being. By adopting a balanced diet and making conscious food choices, we can enhance physical health, promote mental and emotional well-being, improve social connections, stimulate intellectual growth, and even benefit financially. Let us prioritize our health and embrace the gift of good health as nature’s most valuable treasure.

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Essay on Importance of Healthy Eating Habits

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Healthy Eating Habits in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Healthy Eating Habits

The necessity of healthy eating.

Healthy eating is crucial for growing bodies. Consuming a balanced diet gives our bodies the nutrients needed to function correctly.

Benefits of Healthy Eating

Eating healthy foods reduces the risk of chronic diseases. It also helps maintain a healthy weight, boosts energy, and improves brain function.

Healthy Eating Habits

Incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your meals. Avoid processed foods and sugary drinks. Remember, moderation is key.

Healthy eating habits are essential for a healthy life. Start today and reap the benefits tomorrow.

250 Words Essay on Importance of Healthy Eating Habits

The vitality of healthy eating habits, nutrition and physical health.

A diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients fuels our bodies, supporting vital functions. It aids in maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Consuming fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can significantly improve physical health.

Nutrition and Mental Health

Moreover, our diet directly affects our mental health. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and nuts, can enhance brain function, improving memory and mood. Simultaneously, a deficiency in certain nutrients can lead to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Establishing Healthy Eating Habits

Establishing healthy eating habits involves more than just choosing the right food. It also includes regular meal times, appropriate portion sizes, and mindful eating. It’s about creating a sustainable lifestyle rather than a temporary diet.

In conclusion, healthy eating habits are a cornerstone of overall well-being. They contribute to physical health, mental health, and quality of life. As college students, it is crucial to prioritize these habits to ensure not only academic success but lifelong health. Let’s remember, our food choices today will shape our health tomorrow.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Healthy Eating Habits

Introduction.

The importance of healthy eating habits cannot be overstated, particularly in a world where fast food and processed meals have become the norm. Healthy eating habits are not just about maintaining an ideal weight or avoiding obesity; they are also about ensuring optimal physical and mental health, and enhancing overall quality of life.

The Role of Nutrition in Human Health

The impact of unhealthy eating habits.

On the contrary, unhealthy eating habits such as consuming high amounts of processed foods, sugary snacks, and fatty meals can lead to numerous health issues. These include obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Moreover, poor nutrition can also affect mental health, contributing to conditions like depression and anxiety.

Healthy Eating and Cognitive Function

Healthy eating habits are also crucial for cognitive function. Nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins, which are found in foods like fish, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, are essential for brain health. They enhance memory, improve mood, and protect against cognitive decline.

Importance of Healthy Eating Habits in College Students

In conclusion, healthy eating habits are a cornerstone of good health and well-being. They play a critical role in maintaining physical health, supporting mental well-being, and enhancing cognitive function. For college students, they are particularly important for academic success and stress management. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize healthy eating and make it a part of our daily routine. By doing so, we can improve our health, enhance our quality of life, and set ourselves up for long-term success.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Happy studying!

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‘My Descent Into the True Crime Rabbit Hole’: The Week 8 Winner of Our Summer Reading Contest

Hayne Kim, 16, writes about how an essay in the Times Opinion section made her rethink her binge-watch habits.

By The Learning Network

For 15 years, our Summer Reading Contest has been inviting teenagers around the world to tell us what New York Times pieces get their attention and why. This year, for the first time, students can submit either written comments or 90-second video responses.

In the eighth week of our 10-week challenge, we received 1,095 entries, and we list the finalists below. Scroll down to read the work of our winner, Hayne Kim , and to take a look at the variety of topics that caught these students’ eyes, including the Olympics, giant pandas, “brain rot,” JD Vance, flip phones, “Ballerina Farm,” Billy Joel and toxic beauty standards.

You can read the work of all of our winners since 2017 in this column , and you can participate in the contest any or every week this summer until Aug. 16. Just check the top of this page , where we post updates, to find the right place to submit your response.

Hayne Kim, 16, from Tokyo, reacts to a Guest Essay from the Opinion section, “ My Sister Was Murdered 30 Years Ago. True Crime Repackages Our Pain as Entertainment. ” She writes:

My descent into the true crime rabbit hole was thanks to YouTuber Stephanie Soo. On far too many lazy Sunday afternoons than I would like to admit, I sat slouched in front of my laptop with my eyes fixed on the flashy fluorescent screen, an unhealthily huge bowl of Takis at hand. Video after video, I clung on to Stephanie’s every last syllable as she fed me one tragic tale after another through spoonfuls of uncanny suspense. I continued to devour Stephanie’s stories just as quickly as I licked the MSG off my sticky red fingers. Until I read this article. At the ripe age of six, Annie Nichol lost her older sister Polly at the hands of a murderer. Subsequent to Polly’s murder, Annie was continually met with floods of faceless reporters, writers, producers — strangers — all with an unquenchable thirst for details and an eager desire to dramatize. This constant bombardment of the gates that protected her private, sacred memories of her sister caused Annie immense pain and post-traumatic stress. Suddenly, the hefty plates of Stephanie Soo videos I had wolfed down churned uneasily in my stomach. I realized just how desensitized I had become. A human being’s lived-in nightmare is not meant to be hastily packaged into a sixty-something-minute monetized video. The inability of myself and countless others to immediately recognize this serves as a testament to the unsettling effects of mass media consumption.

In alphabetical order by the writer’s first name.

Anagha Nagesh on What Trump Means When He Mispronounces ‘Kamala’

Desi Miller on “ 104 Shows. $260 Million. After 10 Years, Billy Joel Closes a Chapter. ”

Gabriel Lam on “ Giant Pandas Will Head to D.C.’s National Zoo From China ”

Minghao Li on “ If You Know What ‘Brainrot’ Means, You Might Already Have It. ”

Vivian Wan on “ The Book Bag That Binds Japanese Society "

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