The habit loop consists of a cue or trigger, a routine, and a reward. Duhigg provides a personal example where at 3:00 p.m. every day he would go to his cafeteria and buy a cookie. Over time, this ultimately led to his gaining weight. Curious about what was at the heart of the weight gain, he conducted a few experiments and realized that his cue was the time of day (3:00 p.m.), his routine was a trip to the cafeteria to purchase a cookie, and surprisingly, the reward was socialization with friends and colleagues—not the taste of the cookie itself. As a result, he saw an opportunity to change the overall habit by tweaking specific components of the habit loop. He decided to maintain the reward of socialization, while modifying the less healthy routine of purchasing and eating a cookie. At 3:00 p.m., instead of going to the cafeteria for a cookie, Duhigg started to find ways to socialize within his office environment and avoid the cafeteria altogether. He soon found his craving for the cookie had disappeared.
Changing a habit may not always be about changing the routine. It could involve changing or eliminating the cue or replacing an unhealthy reward with one that is healthier. In short, to stop or modify a bad or unwanted habit, you must understand the habit loop, and identify what part of it is creating unwanted results. You can then redesign it (or stop it all together) so that new, healthier habits can form.
Cue: The signal that causes you to do the habit in the first place.
Routine: The action you take that ultimately leads to a reward.
Reward: What you receive that is pleasurable from the routine.
Identify the Cue, Routine, and Reward in Your Habit: In order to modify your habits or behaviors, find which part of the loop is causing unfavorable results. Modifying that part will create healthier habits. Examine your habit and identify the cue, routine, and reward.
Decide Which Part Needs to Change: Decide what part of the habit loop needs to be modified. Specifically, what part of the habit loop is causing unhealthy or unwanted results?
Identify Opportunities for Modification: Once you understand which part of the habit loop needs to change, come up with ways to modify it so you can reap healthier or more attractive results or outcomes.
Follow the Rewritten Loop: Finally, rewrite your loop so it acts as a guide that you can follow as you try make the change.
What habit are you hoping to change? Share which part of your habit loop is contributing to unfavorable results and how you hope to modify it for the better in the comment section below!
Learn more about making changes you want with A Whole New You: Six Steps to Ignite Change for Your Best Life.
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