Habit vs. Routine — What's the Difference?

A recurrent behavior often performed unconsciously.

A fixed program of actions followed regularly.

An action triggered by a specific cue.

A set pattern or method of doing something.

A settled disposition or tendency.

A habitual or mechanical course of action.

An accustomed manner or practice.

A regular course of procedure.

A customary action or way of doing something.

A sequence of actions designed to achieve a specific outcome.

A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.The American Journal of Psychology (1903) defined a "habit, from the standpoint of psychology, [as] a more or less fixed way of thinking, willing, or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience." Habitual behavior often goes unnoticed in persons exhibiting it, because a person does not need to engage in self-analysis when undertaking routine tasks. Habits are sometimes compulsory.

A sequence of actions regularly followed

A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up

Performed as part of a regular procedure rather than for a special reason

A long, loose garment worn by a member of a religious order

Organize according to a routine

A person's health or constitution

A set of customary or unchanging and often mechanically performed activities or procedures

Be dressed or clothed

The practice of such activities or procedures

A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition

A scripted piece of entertainment, especially in a nightclub or theater

An established disposition of the mind or character

(Slang) A particular kind of behavior or activity

Customary manner or practice

(Computers) A set of programming instructions designed to perform a specific limited task.

An addiction, especially to a narcotic drug.

In accord with established procedure

Characteristic appearance, form, or manner of growth, especially of a plant or crystal

Habitual; regular

A distinctive set of clothing or style of dressing, especially of a religious order.

Having no special quality; ordinary

A riding habit.

A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure.

(Archaic) Physical constitution.

A set of normal procedures, often performed mechanically.

To clothe; dress.

A set piece of an entertainer's act.

To clothe in a habit, especially a nun's habit.

(computing) A set of instructions designed to perform a specific task; a subroutine.

An action performed on a regular basis.

According to established procedure.

An action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness.

Regular; habitual.

A long piece of clothing worn by monks and nuns.

Ordinary with nothing to distinguish it from all the others.

A piece of clothing worn for a specific activity; a uniform.

A round of business, amusement, or pleasure, daily or frequently pursued; especially, a course of business or offical duties regularly or frequently returning.

(archaic) Outward appearance; attire; dress.

Any regular course of action or procedure rigidly adhered to by the mere force of habit.

Form of growth or general appearance and structure of a variety or species of plant or crystal.

An unvarying or habitual method of procedure

An addiction.

A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program;

(transitive) To clothe.

A set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program

To inhabit.

Occurring at fixed times or predictable intervals;

The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body.

Found in the ordinary course of events;

The general appearance and manner of life of a living organism.

Fixed or established custom; ordinary course of conduct; practice; usage; hence, prominently, the involuntary tendency or aptitude to perform certain actions which is acquired by their frequent repetition; as, habit is second nature; also, peculiar ways of acting; characteristic forms of behavior.

Outward appearance; attire; dress; hence, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit.

The distinctive clothing worn commonly by nuns or monks; as, in the late 1900's many orders of nuns discarded their habits and began to dress as ordinary lay women.

To inhabit.

To dress; to clothe; to array.

To accustom; to habituate.

An established custom;

A pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition;

(religion) a distinctive attire (as the costume of a religious order)

Excessive use of drugs

Put a habit on

Habit refers to a recurring, often automatic behavior or action.

Yes, habits can become part of a broader routine.

Routine is primarily a noun but can also serve as an adjective.

Routine is a set sequence of actions or activities that is usually planned and followed regularly.

Yes, habits can be either good or bad.

Routines generally carry a neutral or positive connotation.

Parts of a routine can become habitual over time through repetition.

Habit is primarily a noun, but it can also serve as a transitive verb.

Generally, altering a routine is easier as it involves conscious planning.

Routines are usually planned and formed intentionally.

Identify your goals and design a sequence of actions to achieve them.

Habits are usually formed through repetition and often triggered by cues.

Breaking a habit can be challenging due to its automatic nature.

A routine usually takes more conscious effort as it is often planned.

Identify triggers and replace bad behaviors with better ones.