Most of us are tempted to go for comfort rather than healthy practices in coping with social-isolation. It is easier to binge-watch on our couch than going for a run. Self-nudging could be a very effective tool in overcoming this behavior pattern, according to an article published recently in the journal Behavioral Public Policy. Authored by Finnish researchers, the article provided practical tools of self-nudging, which is a behavioral science technique to improve self-control. [1]
How to stop binge-watching TV? Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Self-nudging typically means changing the environment so that we make the right choice. Our environment has a decided influence on our choices. So, changing the environment gives us the nudge we need to make the desired change. The article gives us four handy tools for self-nudging:
- Reminders and prompts: Put up reminders at a visible place before you reach for things you want to avoid.
- Different framing: Use a different framing to categorize your choice. For instance, jogging Vs not-jogging can be framed as healthy Vs sickness.
- Reduce accessibility: Make accessibility to destructive habits harder. For instance, just disable notification on your phone.
- Self-commitment and social pressure: Make a commitment to a friend on completing a task. The pressure of social obligation will force you to meet your commitments.
