Much like the rest of the world, I feel compelled to reassess my life when a new year emerges. January becomes a month of inner reflection, 31 days during which I evaluate where I am currently and where I’d like to be in the future. While some elements are “big picture,” others are much more tactical. Think: Adjusting my sleep schedule or modifying my exercise routine—daily habits I can reset with the guidance of a few simple actions and a healthy dose of determination.

Here’s my 3-step approach:

1.Pinpoint what you’d like to happen

Perhaps you’ve become too dependent on coffee. Instead of sticking to a single morning serving, you’re mindlessly sipping mug after mug, and without it, headaches are on the horizon. Rather than subjecting yourself to months more of this dependency, merely decide to put a stop to it. This definitive resolve will force you to pinpoint what you’d like to happen—in this case, to return your intake to one cup per day.

2. Make sure your new habit easy to achieve

Going from six cups of coffee to one isn’t going to happen overnight, but there are certainly things you can do to make it easier. In this case, gathering a stockpile of green tea is a good place to start. Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but enough to produce an effect, so you won’t be quitting cold turkey. Begin by swapping one cup of coffee for green tea and continue doing so until the ratio is one cup of coffee to five cups of green tea. Then begin swapping out green tea for water, ultimately finding your way to a ratio of one cup of coffee to five cups of water.

3. Guarantee your old habit is hard to accomplish

Have several bags of ground coffee in your cabinets? Take them all out, line them up on the counter, and select your favorite. This bag will be the only one to remain in your pantry. The rest will be gifted to your fellow coffee loving friends. It may sound painful, but in the end, it’s a win-win. Your temptation will be majorly minimized and your loved ones will receive a few freebies.

It’s important to note that what feels like the impossible is often just a mindset. This process can be used to reset habits of all kinds, at any time. I encourage you to try it (at least once) and see what you can accomplish. Have questions or need encouragement along the way? I’m always here to help. Schedule a complimentary consultation today.

How to Reset a Habit in 3 Simple Steps