Habits, Scientists Say, Emerge Because The Brain

Making Your Bed Every Morning Is Correlated With Better Productivity, A Greater Sense Of Well-being, And Stronger Skills At Sticking With A Budget.

Willpower Isn’t Just A Skill. It’s A Muscle, Like The Muscles In Your Arms Or Legs, And It Gets Tired As It Works Harder, So There’s Less Power Left Over For Other Things.

Habits Are Malleable Throughout Your Entire Life.

Shampoo Doesn’t Have To Foam, But We Add Foaming Chemicals Because People Expect It Each Time They Wash Their Hair. Same Thing With Laundry Detergent. And Toothpaste—now Every Company Adds Sodium Laureth Sulfate To Make Toothpaste Foam More. There’s No Cleaning Benefit, But People Feel Better When There’s A Bunch Of Suds Around Their Mouth. Once The Customer Starts Expecting That Foam, The Habit Starts Growing.

Self-discipline Has A Bigger Effect On Academic Performance Than Does Intellectual Talent.