How to Change a Habit...for Real This Time

By Lydia Wallie, Nutrition Director

Cue, routine, and reward. These are the three phases of habits. Let’s say you wake up in the morning with the cue of craving coffee and reach for the morning cup of joe. Then, you proceed through your routine of drinking coffee on the porch, and you’re rewarded with all the happiness that coffee, morning quiet, and nature bring.

So what if for some reason you needed to remove coffee from your life? What’s the process for changing this habit, or any habit?

First, find out what the cue, routine, and reward are. Then, change the routine.

Here’s what a new habit might look like:

You wake up in the morning with a coffee craving (cue). Instead of reaching for coffee, you reach for a cozy mug of herbal tea, dandy blend...or whatever your palette prefers (NEW routine), and then you’re rewarded with that same happiness. It might not be quite as happy as coffee at first. But hopefully over time, it will become an adequate replacement. This is the process that you can use to change your habits.

Cue, routine, and reward. Determine them. Then change your routine.

Ready to change your nutrition habits? We have many strategies for replacing your current routines with healthier alternatives that are simple and taste amazing. Register for our New Year Nutrition Challenge by January 2. Full registration details are here!!

(NOTE: If you ever do this with coffee or any other caffeinated drink, it's highly recommended to gradually reduce the caffeine over a period of time rather than replacing it cold turkey.)