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Start by identifying the right cues from "summary" of Tiny Habits by B. J. Fogg
To create a new habit, you must first start by identifying the right cues. These cues act as triggers that signal to your brain that it's time to perform a specific behavior. Cues can come in many forms, such as a time of day, a particular location, an emotional state, or even the presence of other people. The key is to pinpoint the cues that will reliably prompt you to engage in the desired behavior. When selecting cues for your new habit, it's important to choose ones that are both specific and consistent. Specific cues are clear signals that leave no room for ambiguity. For example, if you want to start flossing your teeth after brushing, you could use the act of putting down your toothbrush as the cue to pick up the floss. This specific cue makes it easy to remember and execute the behavior. Consistency is also crucial when it comes to cues. Your chosen cue should be something that occurs regularly and predictably in your daily routine. This could be a daily alarm on your phone, a recurring event on your calendar, or a specific action that you perform at the same time each day. By aligning your new habit with a consistent cue, you increase the likelihood of it becoming automatic over time. Additionally, it's helpful to leverage existing habits as cues for new behaviors. By piggybacking your desired behavior onto an established routine, you can take advantage of the cues that already prompt those actions. For example, if you want to start doing push-ups every morning, you could attach this new habit to your existing habit of getting out of bed. This way, the act of getting up becomes the cue for doing push-ups, making it easier to integrate the behavior into your daily routine.- By identifying the right cues for your new habit, you set yourself up for success. These cues serve as the starting point for creating lasting change in your behavior. By being intentional and strategic in selecting cues that are specific, consistent, and aligned with your existing routines, you can make it easier to adopt and maintain the habits you desire.
