A long-held view is that compulsive behaviors involve individuals getting stuck in a "habit loop" that overrides self-control ...

You probably remember when you took your last shower, but if I ask you to examine your routine more closely, you might discover some blank spots. Which hand do you use to pick up the shampoo bottle?

Breaking a toxic habit isn’t just about willpower—it’s about rewiring your brain, understanding your triggers, and replacing destructive behaviors with healthier alternatives. Whether it’s ...

Pop psychology tends to portray all stable behaviors as habitual, as well as implying that forming new habits will always lead to positive long-term change. Dr. Benjamin Gardner, co-author and reader ...

Nearly half of our daily activities are performed out of habit, occurring with minimal conscious thought. These automated behavioral patterns, ranging from morning routines to evening scrolling, ...

The agent, a person or thing that can act or produce an effect, learns to select the optimal action through reinforcement learning using reward signals. It makes predictions about its environment ...

Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Wondering why you’re already ...

Over the course of four sessions, my patient, Stacey, and I worked toward her goals of sleeping more, checking her email less and spending more quality time with her family. She successfully developed ...

Discover why a simple daily checklist can reshape motivation, reduce mental load, and turn small actions into lasting change.

Trying to suddenly stop a habit we know is not helping—or worse, is actively harming us—can be an overwhelming experience for any professional. Many times, what has become habitual for us also happens ...

When you develop these negative habits, it can severely impact work performance and, because the behavior has become so routine, you may not even realize the harm you’re causing. Here’s how to tackle ...