Via Envato Elements
To change a habit, you must keep the old cue, and deliver the old reward, but insert a new routine in the middle.
Example:
Let’s say you have a bad habit of drinking Coke with every meal. Your cue is, perhaps, the Coke in the fridge or your afternoon lull. Your craving is the feeling of wanting a sweet, bubbly drink. Your routine is drinking Coke. Your reward is the good feeling you get from satisfying your craving.
To replace this habit, what you have to do is change the middle component: the routine. You can now replace the routine of drinking Coke with a healthier option. Your cue and reward remain the same.
Keep in mind that for the reward to stay the same, you need to fulfill the craving. So, you should not start by replacing Coke with water. That clearly won’t satisfy the same craving. Instead, you can start by replacing Coke with flavoured sparkling water – a healthier option.
Insight from ‘The Power of Habit’ by Charles Duhigg
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