Focus, habits and time: get started, keep going, rest well

Stage 4 · Lesson 3 of 7

Anchor it to something you already do

Habits that stick

The easiest cue for a new habit is something you already do every day without fail. BJ Fogg, who studies behaviour at Stanford, calls this an anchor. The formula is: "After I [existing action], I will [new habit]."

After I pray Fajr, I will review my flashcards for five minutes. After I put my plate in the sink after dinner, I will open my laptop at the desk. After I sit on the bus, I will listen to one lesson.

Choose an anchor that happens at a similar time and place every day and that fits the new habit.

Common trapanchoring to something that varies a lot, like "when I get free", which never arrives at the same time twice.

A question to check yourself and an AI practice session come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Practise

  • A simple habit tracker table you can see every day, and nothing more

Also worth your time

Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).

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