Step One: Identify the Routine

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First step in #The Framework for Changing Habits, is to know the how of what causes the habit in the first place or to identify the Habit Loop1.

Are you tempted to eat your favorite burger on your way home after a long day of work? Do you grab a few beers before sitting down to watch television? Is it easier to procrastinate knowing that you have plenty of time to finish your work in the afternoon?

Knowing what causes you to do something brings down your habit’s first line of defense. Otherwise, forcing yourself to stop drinking or forcefully restricting your diet would only result into a disappointing relapse which can, in turn, make the habit more problematic.

Once you fully understand what triggers your habit, the next step for you is to experiment with the rewards#.

Resources

  1. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - Appendix: A Reader’s Guide to Using These Ideas

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