{"id":46589,"date":"2021-08-25T10:17:32","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T14:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=46589"},"modified":"2021-08-28T10:58:46","modified_gmt":"2021-08-28T14:58:46","slug":"action-triggers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of Action Triggers in Habit Formation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What are action triggers? How can they help with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/habit-formation\/\">habit formation<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We set up action triggers to prompt particular actions. For example, when you&#8217;re drinking your first cup of tea in the morning (trigger), you create your goals for the day (action). Setting up action triggers to prompt desirable behavior is foundational in forming habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading to learn how to use action triggers to facilitate habit formation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Create Change-Supporting Habits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not always possible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/change-your-environment\/\">change your environment<\/a> to fit your change\u2014your cubicle at work might not have the space for a change-supporting revamp. In these cases, work on rebuilding your habits so that they trigger <em>good <\/em>behaviors instead.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/make-a-habit\/\">make a habit<\/a> of your desired behaviors, they become <\/strong><strong><em>autopilot behaviors<\/em><\/strong><strong> that you naturally fall back on to conserve rational energy\u2014over time, they stop being a conscious effort and become an effortless reflex.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Action Triggers and Preloaded Responses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the base of good habit-building are \u201caction triggers.\u201d These are the<em> triggers <\/em>we set up to prompt a certain <em>action.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, \u201cWhen I leave work (trigger), I\u2019ll go to the gym (action)\u201d or, \u201cOnce I finish dinner (trigger), I\u2019ll start my homework (action).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Using action triggers to prompt certain behaviors works well, but only under certain circumstances. They\u2019re effective for actions you know you <em>need<\/em> to do, such as doing homework or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/closing-phase-in-project-management\/\">finishing a project<\/a>. On the other hand, they usually don\u2019t work with things you don\u2019t want to do\u2014especially if they don\u2019t need to be done.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cAfter work, I\u2019ll put together that IKEA bedroom set\u201d isn\u2019t an effective action trigger. Not only do you not want to do the action, but there also won\u2019t be any serious consequences if you don\u2019t.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>However, when you combine action triggers with <\/strong><strong><em>preloaded responses, <\/em><\/strong><strong>you create powerful habits. <\/strong>A <em>preloaded response <\/em>is a reaction that you\u2019ve thought through and practiced until it\u2019s your reflexive response to a situation that calls for it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, you decide, \u201cWhen I procrastinate on homework by scrolling through Instagram, I\u2019ll block all social media for two hours.\u201d You practice by<em> always <\/em>blocking social media for a few minutes before scrolling. Soon, it becomes a reflexive response.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pairing action triggers with preloaded responses is effective because it prevents you from getting lost in possible solutions or pulled off track by your emotional side. You don\u2019t need to decide how to act in response to an action trigger\u2014you\u2019ve practiced so many times, you already <em>know<\/em> what to do. You don\u2019t needlessly tire out your rational side with deliberation and can focus your energy on getting the right thing done. In fact, research shows that using preloaded responses can increase your chances of achieving goals from 22% to 62%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Create a Preloaded Response&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>While creating preloaded responses, it\u2019s helpful to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/reframe-your-thoughts\/\">reframe your thoughts<\/a> from \u201c<em>What<\/em> is the right thing to do?\u201d to \u201c<em>How<\/em> can I get the right thing done when my action trigger happens?\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your action triggers need to be specific and visible\u2014otherwise, they won\u2019t give a strong enough cue to trigger your preloaded response<\/strong><em>. <\/em>For example, imagine that you\u2019re trying to cut down on drinking.<strong> <\/strong>First, remind yourself what the right thing to do is\u2014avoiding situations that will tempt you to drink. You identify the situations that usually trigger you to drink, and create preloaded responses to them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cWhen the waiter asks me what I would like to drink, I\u2019ll say seltzer.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cWhen I\u2019m walking home after work, I\u2019ll take the long way around the block to avoid walking in front of the bar.\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These action triggers\u2014\u201cwhen the waiter asks me what I would like to drink,\u201d and \u201cwhen I\u2019m walking home after work\u201d\u2014are specific enough to prompt the good behavior you practiced. On the other hand, if you\u2019d chosen a vague action trigger like, \u201cI\u2019ll drink seltzer instead of wine when I go out,\u201d you could easily rationalize an anti-change behavior: \u201cWe\u2019re at dinner, which isn\u2019t really <em>going out<\/em>. Just one glass of wine will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/the-power-of-moments\/chapters-7-9\">Read our summary of <em>The Power of Moments<\/em><\/a> for more ways that pre-loaded responses can help you do the right thing.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Leaders Can Help Teams Build Habits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Teaching others <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-habit\/\">how to build a habit<\/a> is an essential leadership tool. When you help your team cultivate change-supporting habits, they naturally move toward your goals without needing continuous oversight. <strong>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/characteristics-of-a-good-leader\/\">good leader<\/a> understands that change resistance is usually <em>situational<\/em>, not personal. <\/strong>People aren\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/why-do-people-resist-change\/\">resisting change<\/a> out of spite\u2014they just don\u2019t know how to make the change stick.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Help your team cultivate change-supporting habits that a) serve your mission and b) are easy to adopt.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tool #1: Action Triggers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You might help your team members decide which actions should trigger which responses\u2014and remind them until the action and response become an established habit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, you want team members to send out project status reports each Friday, but by the end of the week, everyone is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/\">too busy<\/a> or overwhelmed to remember. \u201cRemember to send your status report\u201d is too vague\u2014there\u2019s no specific action to trigger the desired response. Instead, you make a specific action trigger: \u201cOn Fridays, while you have your first cup of coffee at your desk, type up your status report and send it out.\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For future changes, have team members create their own action triggers\u2014ask them when and where they\u2019ll perform change-supporting behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tool #2: Checklists&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Checklists are a useful tool in distracting or complex environments where people may forget change-supporting behaviors. Checklists force people to remember and perform <em>all<\/em> the behaviors necessary to change.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, a Michigan hospital that wanted to reduce their ICU\u2019s infections from IV insertion created a checklist for the process and required all doctors to use it. Everything on the list was information that the doctors already knew\u2014the handwashing process, the steps of disinfecting, and so on\u2014but could easily be forgotten in the distracting context of their work. Over 18 months, the ICU nearly eliminated their IV infections, saving 1,500 lives.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/the-checklist-manifesto\">Read our summary of <em>The Checklist Manifesto<\/em><\/a> for more tips on controlling complex situations and avoiding mistakes with checklists.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are action triggers? How can they help with habit formation? We set up action triggers to prompt particular actions. For example, when you&#8217;re drinking your first cup of tea in the morning (trigger), you create your goals for the day (action). Setting up action triggers to prompt desirable behavior is foundational in forming habits. Keep reading to learn how to use action triggers to facilitate habit formation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":46597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,42,43],"tags":[465],"class_list":["post-46589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-management","category-motivation","category-self-improvement","tag-switch","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Role of Action Triggers in Habit Formation - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Action triggers are actions set up to prompt desirable behavior. Learn how to use action triggers to facilitate habit formation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Role of Action Triggers in Habit Formation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Action triggers are actions set up to prompt desirable behavior. Learn how to use action triggers to facilitate habit formation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shortform Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-25T14:17:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-08-28T14:58:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/action-triggers.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"750\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"371\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elizabeth Whitworth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Elizabeth Whitworth\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Elizabeth Whitworth\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d2928cf6c11a69ced1491d6a5b74fb13\"},\"headline\":\"The Role of Action Triggers in Habit Formation\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-25T14:17:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-08-28T14:58:46+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/\"},\"wordCount\":1082,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/action-triggers.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Switch\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Management\",\"Motivation\",\"Self-Improvement\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/\",\"name\":\"The Role of Action Triggers in Habit Formation - Shortform Books\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/action-triggers\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/action-triggers.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-25T14:17:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-08-28T14:58:46+00:00\",\"description\":\"Action triggers are actions set up to prompt desirable behavior. 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