She walks like a lion and wants to change, but old habits die hard. You must have heard this phrase, but do you know what does old habits die hard mean?
Well, it is a golden saying and a most-used phrase that means changing what you have been practicing for a long time is quite tricky.
Knowing the meaning and origin of the terms is necessary for understanding this concept. Lack of solid will, absence of self-control, and homeostasis make it challenging to break old habits.
Table of Contents
What Does Old Habits Die Hard Mean? Definition and Origin
According to Mariam Webster, old habits die hard means that it is hard to stop doing things one has been doing for a long time.
This phrase is mainly associated with habits and behavior. Habit building takes time; the same occurs when you want to stop a bad habit.
The subject shows your effort or struggle to change yourself or your behavior. It is examined that whatever you experience becomes a part of your brain. But, all the things you repeat become habits ingrained into your brain.
Once a part of the brain, old habits are hard to break. It means that these habits take time to stop and change.
According to a recent survey, 61 % of Americans are trying to break old habits, but they find it extremely challenging because they believe bad old habits die hard.
Research Shows Old Habits are Hard to Break
A new brain research study shows that old habits die hard. Ann Graybiel explains that the brain and neurons govern all habits and behavior. He experimented on rats, giving them a reward based on habits.
The study found that it is challenging to stop practicing old habits. It also shows that resuming old habits is more accessible than breaking them.
For example, a smoker cannot easily quit smoking. But, if the smoker has stopped smoking and wants to start it again, then it is straightforward to resume this old habit.
Old habits are hard to break because their patterns and behaviors are associated with the basal ganglia of the brain.
Why Do Old Habits Die Hard? Five reasons
Once you learn what old habits die hard means, then you need to understand why old habits die hard. Some of the reasons are given as:
I. Lack of Willingness
Your intentions describe what you want to achieve. The main reason behind each failure of individuals is the unwillingness to change. When you desire something with great purpose, you will ultimately get it.
I have observed many people who need to break old habits, but they cannot do so. The reason is that they want to stay in their comfort zone. You must hardly resist your ancient practices if you’re going to break old habits.
II. Difficulty in Adaptation
Adaptation to new situations is challenging. My friend Walter sleeps excessively. He wants to reduce and change sleep patterns during exams, but old habits are hard to break. This is because adaptation is not an overnight show. It takes time and occurs gradually.
Adaptation is a biological phenomenon. Homeostasis, or the tendency of the body to resist internal changes, makes it hard to stop old habits. As said before, your body’s equilibrium is at risk when you want to adapt to a challenging situation. In such a case, the body resists to adopt.
For example, if you want to sleep before 9 PM, it can be challenging if it is different from your routine.
III. Absence of Self-Control
It is a golden saying that those who control themselves can control others, and those who can influence others can rule the world. As old habits die hard means that they are hard to break, but if you want to break them, self-control is the key to success.
For most people, old habits are hard to break because they cannot control themselves. As a teenager, changing your established pathway is hard. It takes time and needs strong will, but people often fail because it disturbs their comfort.
When you want to change your pattern of the day without a strong will, it indicates the absence of self-control.
IV. No Compromise on Instant -Pleasure
When I asked Walter why he could not break his habit of sleeping too much, he answered that it gives him happiness to sleep for more hours. He is ready to compromise his exam but not pleasure.
People who say they want joy and enjoyment more than anything cannot break old habits quickly. They cannot identify and decide whether happiness is essential or whether they should change their abnormal routine.
It is compulsory to get hurt and suffer to develop a healthy lifestyle. It can be achieved when sacrificing immediate happiness and avoiding instantaneous gratification.
V. Lack of Patience
Patience plays a vital role in breaking old or developing new habits. Everyone wants to build good habits and stop bad habits permanently, but most people cannot wait.
You may have noticed that it is difficult to be patient or wait two or three months to form habits as you need immediate joy.
Those who are masters of patience know that old habits are hard to die because they need patience. It would help if you worked on your personal development and then looked for no instantaneous pleasure.
Examples of Old Habits Die Hard
There are hundreds of examples of old habits die hard. Most of them are bad habits. Some examples are:
- For example, it was challenging for Peter to break his old bad habit of nail biting. He was concerned with it and spent so much time to stop it, but he could not come up with an effective solution.
- Mark expressed his wish to stop the bad habit of smoking, but after many efforts, he realized that old habits hardly die.
- Lying is the most common bad habit in teenagers. If you become addicted, then it is tough to break the habit of lying.
- Cold drinks are highly harmful to health. Most of the teenagers have become addicted to using them. They find it hard to stop the habit of these drinks.
How to Break Bad Old Habits?
Old habits are hard to break, but you can still stop doing things that do not benefit you.
For example, if you want to stop the hand-to-mouth habit, you can make a list of triggers. Identify why and when you repeat this terrible habit. This will help you know all the reasons why you practice it.
Another strategy for breaking bad habits is to reward yourself. Reward boosts your energy and gives you a push to move forward. For example, if you want to stop the habit of being yourself, listen to and value others’ opinions.
Conclusion
As old habits die hard mean that old behaviors and practices are hard to break, still everyone wants to bring change and modify, improve, or mold their lifestyle. The main reason behind this phrase is that you don’t act with commitment and total energy.
To prove this claim wrong, you must understand the phenomenon behind it and develop a critical solution. After that, you can state whether the phrase old habits die hard is accurate.
FAQs
How Can “Old Habits Die Hard” Be Used in a Sentence?
You can use this phrase as the following.
Peter wants to quit smoking, but old habits die hard. It means Peter would find it hard to change or stop the habit of smoking that he has already been doing for a long time.
Do You Think Old Habits are Hard to Die, or Can They Be Stopped Easily?
Old habits are hard to break because they have been ingrained into your mind. However, they are somewhat unstoppable. Old habits die hard meaning shows that you can break old habits by sacrificing your built pattern and leaving your comfort zone.
