(by|from) force of habit
1
used to refer to the act of doing something without thinking about it because one has been doing it for a long time and it has become a habit
The idiom "by force of habit" is used to suggest that someone is doing something without conscious thought or intention, simply because it has become a habitual or automatic behavior. This idiom originates from the idea that habits can be powerful, and people may perform certain actions out of sheer force of repetition or routine.
- Even after retirement, he would wake up early by force of habit, just as he did when he was working.
- She reached for her phone from force of habit, even though she had decided to take a break from constant screen time.
- He tied his shoelaces by force of habit, although his shoes were slip-ons that required no laces.
- In the old neighborhood, she turned into her childhood home's street by force of habit, even though she no longer lived there.
- By force of habit, he checked the stock market updates every morning, although he had long since sold his investments.