How to build healthy habits for a more productive you

Cue. Behavior. Reward.

What are some good behaviors you do every day without ever thinking about it?

The kind that just happens automatically.

Perhaps, brushing your teeth in the morning.

Maybe it’s putting on your glasses?

Buckling up when you get in the car?

Whatever they might be, you just do them. At one point in your life, these behaviors weren’t second nature – it took practice, until one day it was just automatic. So how did that happen?

The technique you developed was a habit loop, which consists of three prompts: the cue, the behavior, and the reward. The same method can be used to increase work productivity.

The more you practice, the sooner the behavior will become a habit.

Let’s see how the Habit Loop technique works:

The Cue

A cue is when you pinpoint something in your usual routine that will trigger you to do the behavior. When I finish breakfast each morning, I’ll make my to-do list. The cue would be to leave a notepad and pencil on the kitchen countertop to remind you each morning that the list must be created.

The Behavior

A doable, quick behavior (like brushing your teeth) are most effective for creating habits, so choose a simple action you can do each day that takes fewer than five minutes. Practice it every time you have the cue. So pick up that pencil and jot down the top three or five things you’d like to accomplish that day to get you going.

The Reward

This is what makes the behavior worth repeating. Your reward can be a physical sensation (a sign of relief after the list is created) or emotional (a happy feeling that your day is getting organized.) It’s this loop of cue-to-reward that creates a habit.

Let’s look at a few examples of how to build good work habits.

1. Be punctual – Set an alarm to leave 10 minutes early. Alarm sounds. Leave for work.

2. Dress professionally – Lay clothes out the night before. See clothes. Dress for the day.

3. Meet deadlines – Set due dates. Write deadline dates a few days earlier. Meet your goals.

The more you practice, the sooner the behavior will become a habit.