The Hidden Trigger Keeping Your Bad Habit Alive

Hi friend,

Ever tried to quit a bad habit… only to find yourself slipping back into it weeks, or even days later?

It’s not just you.

The problem usually isn’t the habit itself. It’s what happens before the habit even begins.

In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explains the psychology behind what he calls the habit loop:

Cue → Routine → Reward.

Most people try to cut out the routine (e.g., stop smoking, quit late-night snacking), but completely overlook the cue, the trigger that launches the behavior in the first place.

🧠 Your brain’s basal ganglia is wired to store these loops long after the habit is “broken.” That’s why old habits feel automatic—they’re still alive, waiting for the right cue.

Want to break the loop for good?

Start with the cue:

• Trying to quit smoking? Don’t join your friends on smoke breaks.

• Want to stop snacking late at night? Don’t buy the snacks.

• Want to break your scrolling habit? Don’t charge your phone next to your bed.

Eliminating the cue makes the routine harder to start—no willpower needed.

🎯 Habit change is less about “trying harder” and more about “making it harder to try.”

What’s one cue you can remove this week?

Reply and let me know; I’m working on mine too.

P.S.

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Thanks for reading!

Selim

www.selimuysal.net | DailyHabits.blog

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