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What Is Tiny Habits In Behavioral Design?

Tiny habits refer to small, incremental changes to a person’s behavior that, when repeated regularly, can lead to significant and long-lasting behavior change. The concept of tiny habits was popularized by Dr. BJ Fogg, a researcher and behavioral scientist at Stanford University.

The idea behind tiny habits is that, rather than trying to make large, dramatic changes to a person’s behavior, small, incremental changes are much more achievable and sustainable over the long-term. By starting with tiny habits, individuals can gradually build momentum and make larger changes to their behavior over time.

Tiny habits are usually framed as easy and achievable behaviors that can be performed quickly, with little effort. For example, rather than trying to start exercising for an hour a day, an individual might start by simply doing 5 push-ups after they brush their teeth in the morning. Over time, they can gradually increase the number of push-ups they perform, until they are able to incorporate a more comprehensive exercise routine into their daily life.

Tiny habits are seen as a powerful tool in the field of behavioral design because they make it easy for individuals to build new behaviors into their daily routines, without requiring significant effort or commitment. By starting small, individuals can gradually build up to larger and more significant changes to their behavior, without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated.

In summary, tiny habits are small, incremental changes to a person’s behavior that, when repeated regularly, can lead to significant and long-lasting behavior change. By making it easy for individuals to build new behaviors into their daily routines, tiny habits are a powerful tool for promoting desired outcomes and shaping behavior.

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