As a smart, ambitious person, you know that bad habits keep you from reaching your goals. You know you’re capable of self-control. Yet, despite your best efforts, you’ve been unable to change. Whether it’s mid-day snacking, procrastinating, or skipping workouts, feeling powerless in the face of bad habits can really take a toll on your motivation, even your self-esteem. What if it’s not a lack of willpower to blame? What if the advice you’ve been given about how to break a bad habit is actually wrong? If you’ve been trying different methods over and over but nothing’s working, it’s time for a new approach that leverages the science of behavior change.

The psychology driving habits can help you understand the mechanisms that have been preventing real success. When you break it down, habits are comprised of three distinct stages: 1) Cue 2) Routine3) Reward.

In the example of mid-day munchies, the cue is fatigue. This triggers a routine: getting up and heading to the kitchen. The reward? A tasty snack that gives you a temporary energy boost.

It turns out that the habit loop is incredibly powerful and is something that has been hardwired into our psyches. It also explains why habits are so hard to shake. The truth is, we actually never break bad habits, rather “bad” behaviors are replaced with more positive alternatives.

If you’re ready to kick a bad habit for good, here are three steps for leveraging the habit loop to finally change your behavior.

 

Step 1: Identify the Stages

First identify the cue, routine, and reward that lead to your habit. Look at circumstances surrounding the behavior including the time of day, who you’re with, and what emotions you’re feeling.

For example, recognize how after a tough day at work (cue), you come home and plop down on the couch (routine). Flash forward and you’ve finished an entire series on Netflix (reward). The downside is you’ve also squandered free time that could have been used for working on your side business.

 

Step 2: Explore Alternatives

Now that you are aware of what is happening at each stage of the habit loop, begin to brainstorm healthier routines that will produce the results you desire. What alternative behaviors might provide comparable rewards to the one you are trying to eliminate? What else would give you a sense of accomplishment, happiness, relaxation—whatever core need your current “bad habit” is satisfying?

Create a list of options. Could you swap out your open-ended Netflix binge for brief meditation or a walk with your partner? Focus on new routines that will help you decompress after a stressful day (the cue) and leave you in a positive frame of mind to get freelance work done (reward).

 

Step 3: Commit to Change & Amend as You Go 

Now it’s time to experiment with subbing in new routines to get a sense of what works best for you. Make achievable commitments to test drive new routines and approach them as a series of experiments. Maybe you try a post-work meditation for two weeks and find it’s not for you. After more testing, you may find more vigorous exercise is what helps you get in zone.

 

Step 4: Anticipate Setbacks

Behavior change is difficult. No one is immune from the occasional slip-up, so when it happens, don’t beat yourself up or retreat into negative self-talk. Instead, make your habit loop bulletproof: anticipate and plan for setbacks. If you’re trying to stick to a diet, think through situations that might challenge your healthy eating habits such as fancy dinners, traveling for work, or high-stress times.

 

Once you learn how to work within the psychology of habits, rather than against it, chances are you’ll find greater success in beating negative behaviors once and for all.