Cue-Routine-Reward Loop

The Cue-Routine-Reward loop describes how habits form and stick. A cue is a trigger that signals your brain to start a behavior—like feeling hungry (cue). The routine is the behavior itself, such as eating a snack. The reward is the positive feeling or benefit you get afterward, like feeling satisfied. Over time, this loop repeats, reinforcing the habit. Your brain learns to associate the cue with the reward, making the behavior become automatic. Understanding this cycle helps identify ways to change habits or develop new ones effectively.