The science of how habits work:
It is divided into four simple steps: Cue, Craving, Response, Reward.
Cue- triggers your brain to initiate behavior. Your mind is continuously analyzing your internal and external environment for hints of a reward. When you are close to a reward, your brain naturally leads to a craving.
Craving- They are the motivational force behind every habit. What you crave is not the habit itself, but the change in state it delivers. You do not crave the glass of wine, but the relax feeling it provides.
Response- It’s the actual habit you perform, which can take the form of a thought or an action. If a particular action or thought requires more physical or mental effort than you are willing to expend, then you won’t do it.
Reward- It is the end goal of every habit. The cue is about noticing the reward. The craving is about wanting the reward. The response is about obtaining the reward. Rewards have two purposes 1. They satisfy us, 2. They teach us.
If a behavior is insufficient in any of these four stages, it will not become a habit.
The Four Laws of Behavior Change are a simple set of rules we can use to build better habits. They are:
How To Create Good Habits
Cue – Make it obvious
Craving – Make it attractive
Response – Make it easy
Reward – Make it satisfying

How to Break a Bad Habit
Cue – Make it invisible
Craving – Make it unattractive
Response – Make it difficult
Reward – Make it unsatisfying

In part 5, I will discuss how to effectively build better habits.
Coach Steph
References: “Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results – Atomic Habits”, Author James Clear, Pg. 47,48,52-54, Penguin Random House New York, 2018