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I’m constantly told that developing good habits is the key to surviving college life. Students are bombarded with advice on how to stick to routines, manage our time better and turn our daily actions into productivity hacks, but what if all the preconceived notions about habits might be overrated? The secret to thriving at Syracuse University isn’t just about rigid routines, but also learning to break out of them when needed.

At its core, habit formation is often seen as a psychological safety net, a framework that helps us navigate the demands of our busy lives. We create habits as a way to cope with the chaos of academic schedules, social events and extracurricular activities. In theory, this makes sense; habits streamline our decisions, reduce mental effort and create stability.

But here’s the catch: while forming habits helps us build consistency, too much reliance on routine can actually hinder our ability to adapt, solve problems creatively and seize new opportunities. In fact, habit formation research by psychologist Wendy Wood found that 43% of our daily actions are driven by habit rather than conscious decision-making.

While habits make life easier by reducing mental effort, they also limit our capacity for creativity and growth. By sticking too closely to the same behaviors, or being too “locked in” all the time, we might miss out on new experiences that challenge us to think differently or push beyond our comfort zones.

Flynn Ledoux | Illustration Editor

College is supposed to be a time of exploration and experimentation. Yet, when we confine ourselves to routines, we risk turning this dynamic period of our lives into a repetitive cycle. The conventional wisdom that tells us to stick to strict study schedules or exercise routines might actually be doing more harm than good. Breaking away from these patterns could occasionally lead to moments of unexpected growth, whether it’s discovering a new passion, meeting someone who changes your perspective or just finding a different way to approach your coursework.

This idea ties into what’s known as the “Exploration-Exploitation Trade-Off” in psychology. According to research by cognitive scientist Alison Gopnik, young adults, including college students, are at the perfect age when it comes to exploring new ideas and learning from varied experiences.

According to Gopnik, being too rigid in our routines can shift us toward “exploitation” mode, where we only stick to what we know works, instead of “exploration” mode, where we test out new ideas and stretch our creative muscles. In other words, breaking habits is fundamental in unlocking the kind of intellectual growth and personal discovery that makes the college experience so rewarding.

For example, the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is known to encourage healthy eating. But it can also lead to a narrow view of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. At SU, students often find themselves falling into a routine of sticking to the same familiar options in the dining halls. While consistency in healthy eating is essential, it’s important to realize that this habit limits opportunities for exploration and variety in our diets.

True growth doesn’t come from following a monotonous routine of just one type of “comfort” meal, but rather, from embracing the diverse food options available on campus. A study points out that meaningful lifestyle changes aren’t just about maintaining consistent habits; they also involve building routines that are adaptable and sustainable over the long-term.

Relying exclusively on the same meals can lead to missed opportunities for enriching experiences. Step outside your comfort zone and explore the variety of food that Syracuse dining spots have to offer. Challenge yourself to venture out to local eateries to explore new flavors and cuisines. True habit formation isn’t about sticking to familiar options; it’s about knowing when to adapt and change course.

We often look to habit formation as the answer to achieving success, but the reality is that our growth happens outside of our comfort zones. This doesn’t mean we should throw out all our habits and routines entirely. Instead, it’s time we start celebrating those spontaneous decisions, like switching up our study methods even if it disrupts our planned schedules.

Breaking away from established study habits can actually enhance learning and retention. Many of us tend to stick to the same studying habits, relying on familiar methods that may not always be the most effective. A study by Rohrer & Taylor from 2006 found that varied practice, such as using different study techniques or changing study environment, can significantly improve academic performance. This approach, known as the “interleaved practice,” encourages students to mix different topics or skills during study sessions, rather than focusing on one at a time.

This research revealed that students who engaged in interleaved practice outperformed their peers who used traditional methods, which illustrates that stepping outside of routine can lead to deeper understanding and greater retention of material. Thus, by allowing ourselves to deviate from our usual study patterns, we can not only combat monotony but also foster a more dynamic and effective learning process.

So, as a student community, let’s challenge ourselves to think differently about habits and routines. Instead of asking how we can better stick to them, maybe we should be asking when we should break them. After all, sometimes the most meaningful progress comes from a little disruption in our well-worn patterns. Let’s make room for the unexpected and see where it takes us.

Sudiksha Khemka is a freshman nutrition major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at skhemka@syr.edu.

Published on October 20, 2024 at 10:55 pm