Cue. Routine. Reward. This sequence of three steps form the habit loop. Our brain identifies the start and end of a habit by the cue (conditions that resemble those of a past task pattern) and the reward (the goal of the task). During the interim time, it lets the previously memorized routine kick in while taking a back seat in decision making. This allows it to divert mental energy to other newer tasks.

The human brain can’t differentiate between a good and a bad habit. Routines and patterns get saved all the time. That’s why we don’t see when a monthly trip to McDonald’s becomes a weekly or daily ritual.

However understanding this loop helps us to control and manage our habits. Eliminating the cue for a bad habit means we cut it off at the source. Another way is to form new better habits whose urges crowd out the impulses of the old ones.

Habits are all about routines. It’s important to keep at them.