They could smell the chocolate and they began searching for it. When the mice were first put in the maze, their brain activity spiked.

Using special equipment, the researchers could monitor the brain activity of the mice as they sniffed their way to the chocolate. The mice had to find their way to a piece of chocolate that’d been placed at the end of a T-shaped maze. Have a PLAN – Simply think ahead and figure out what your choices are when the CUE appears, what ROUTINE you might follow to still achieve the REWARD you seek.In the 1990s, a group of researchers at MIT were studying mice to learn more about how habits are formed in the brain.The one(s) that remains consistent is likely to indicate the CUE. Repeat this exercise whenever the urge appears and detect which element(s) remain consistent. So, write those categories down and answer them whenever the urge hits. Isolate the CUE - All habitual cues fall into one of 5 categories: location, time, emotional state, other people, immediately preceding action.Then set a timer for 15 mins and if after those 15 mins you still have the craving, then you know the reward you tested is not satisfying the craving.

As soon as you get the reward, write down three things that you feel or think. So, whenever you follow the routine, tweak the reward. You are just trying to find out WHY you are following that routine. Experiment with the REWARDS - Once the routine is activated, try out different rewards.Routines are usually easy to identify as they are observable behaviours. What’s the CUE, what’s the ROUTINE, what’s the REWARD, and what’s the CRAVING. Identify the HABIT LOOP - Figure out the components that form the habit loop you want to modify.Hence, people are more willing to use their willpower when they feel as though they are voluntarily adding to a cause instead of being coerced or forced to do so.

Studies show that giving employees more control over small elements of their job can boost their self-discipline without any other changes. Now, instead of reacting with volatility, Starbucks employees could automatically handle any incidents and have a plan to deal with stressful situations.

The power of habit charles