I start most mornings with some self-reflection. It’s part of my self-development practice.
Right now, I’m working on confidence and courage through setbacks and challenges.
I’m also practicing honesty. Not polite avoidance. Not sugar-coating. Just saying what’s true, with care.
At my desk, I’ve got a pen and a journal waiting.
Every morning at 5 AM, ChatGPT sends me a prompt. I know exactly what to do, when to do it, and how.
That’s a nudge.
In behavioral psychology, a nudge is a subtle shift in environment or design that influences our behavior - without pressure or rewards.
It works by understanding how we make decisions and guiding us toward better ones.
A good nudge makes the right action easier, more visible, more immediate.
It doesn’t force. It invites.
At some point, many of my clients realize the same thing I did,
They have big aspirations, but consistency of behavior is lagging behind.
That’s where systems design comes in.
A lot of time - it's all about designing better nudges.
One mistake I see often? People confuse nudges with reminders or alarms.
A reminder alone won’t change your behavior.
A good nudge not only reminds - it removes friction.
It makes the next step easier to take.
If my journal were buried in a drawer, and I had to dig it out, figure out what to write, and then somehow master the motivation - would I still be doing this every day? Probably not. I started on April 28. It’s May 13. Still going.
No skipped days.
The next time you're frustrated with not following through on something you really want to do, ask yourself,
Have I made it as easy as it can be?
Science says it takes 18 to 254 days to form a habit. That’s a massive range, isn't it? I firmly believe it shows the difference between things made easy enough or not.
The brain might be smart and ambitious.
But when it comes to daily action?
It still falls for fast and easy every time.
