The Power of Habits

Habits reduce decision fatigue and make progress automatic. With a few design tweaks, you can make good actions easier to start and finish.

Clarify the cue. Attach the habit to a specific trigger (after coffee, at 7:30, when you sit at your desk). Obvious cues beat vague intentions.

Shrink the action. Make the first step so small it’s hard to skip: one push-up, one sentence, one minute. Consistency compounds.

Make it satisfying. Track streaks, check boxes, or pair the habit with a pleasant ritual. Immediate rewards help new loops stick.

Shape the environment. Put tools in reach and friction in the way of distractions. The room should make the right choice the easy choice.

Review weekly: keep what works, adjust what doesn’t, and add one tiny improvement at a time.