<p>Make achievable commitments to test new routines and approach it as a series of experiments.</p><p><b>Try your new routine for a while and tweak it or switch to a new one if it doesn’t suit you.</b></p>

Commit To Change And Tweak as You Go

<div><div><div><div><div><p><b>Habits are comprised of cue, routine and reward</b>. The cue triggers a routine, and the routine generates a reward.</p><p><b>The habit loop is</b> powerful and<b> hardwired into our psyches</b>, which explains why it is so hard to shake. We actually never break bad habits, but replace them with more positive alternatives.</p></div></div></div></div></div>

The Psychology Of Bad Habits

<p>Behavior change is hard. Slip-ups are common, so when they happen, don't beat yourself up or retreat into negative self-talk. Instead,<b> anticipate your failures and plan for them.</b></p>

Anticipate Setbacks

<p>Once you have a clear breakdown of what's happening at each stage of your habit loop, brainstorm healthier routines that will produce the results you want.</p><p><b>Create a list of options of alternatives that might provide comparable reward to the one you are trying to eliminate. </b>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).</p>

Explore Alternatives

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

Identify The Stages

It's 3 p.m., and you're knee-deep in an afternoon energy slump. You head towards the office kitchen to grab a glass of water where you're encountered by a box of treats that seems to be calling your name. "Just one," you swear. But that's the third time you've given in to your sweet tooth this week.

Anticipate Setbacks

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