11/28/2022
Much like our thoughts, our habits form loops in which they play themselves out over and over again. 🔁
These loops often become a subconscious part of our routine. They also give us insight into how and why a habit has been developed.
A habit loop has 3 main components:
🔔 The cue: triggers the habitual behavior. Cues come in many different shapes and forms. They usually fall into one of the following categories: location, time, current emotional state, people around you, and your last action or another habit.
🤖 The routine: This refers to the habit or repeated behavior that follows a cue. In the beginning, a new routine or habit requires conscious effort, but over time, the routine is carried out automatically.
🏆 The reward: In this case, “reward” refers to what the routine behavior does for you. Rewards help reaffirm behaviors.
Example 1: First thing in the morning, I walk into the bathroom (cue) where I brush my teeth (routine), which gives me nice smelling breath and a fresh mouth (reward).
Example 2: I'm stressed (cue) so I'm going to binge eat in front of the tv (routine), which will provide me with a temporary calm feeling (reward).
Breaking a habit loop can be difficult as the process is usually more complicated than simply quitting the behavior.
Instead, you’ll want to follow these guidelines to rewire your brain and create new habits that align with your goals.
1️⃣ Identify the loop. If you’re feeling “stuck” with your habits, try writing them out like the examples above to identify your habit loops.
2️⃣ Try changing the routine. Per example 2, if you feel stressed, you could sit down in front of the tv with a coloring book instead of a snack. You’ll get the same reward of a calmer feeling, without the guilt of overeating.
Keep in mind that you didn’t form your habits overnight and breaking them will take time.
🙏 Be patient with yourself as you rewrite your habits. Staying consistent and moving forward even if you mess up will help you form new habit loops in no time!
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