Action Triggers
Specific cues or situations that prompt desired behaviors automatically.
Also known as: Behavioral triggers, Habit triggers, Action cues
Category: Techniques
Tags: procrastination, habits, behavior-change, cues, routines
Explanation
Action triggers are specific cues that prompt desired behaviors. Rather than relying on motivation or memory, you link actions to reliable triggers: times, places, existing habits, or situations. Examples: 'After brushing my teeth, I will meditate' (existing habit trigger), 'At 9 AM, I will start deep work' (time trigger), or 'When I enter my office, I will review my priorities' (location trigger). Action triggers work by: removing the decision of when to act, creating automatic associations, and leveraging existing routines. Effective triggers are: consistent (happen reliably), specific (clear, unambiguous), and immediately actionable (no barriers between trigger and action). Action triggers differ from if-then plans mainly in emphasis - triggers focus on what initiates action, while if-then plans include the full conditional structure. For knowledge workers, setting action triggers helps: build reliable routines, reduce decision fatigue, and ensure important behaviors happen regardless of motivation.
Related Concepts
← Back to all concepts