Habit technique · People & support · Part of your days
Do it together
Share the habit with someone — the same time, the same place, or a check-in. Share the habit with someone — the same time and place, or a daily check-in.
Level: Beginner · Free — no account needed to read
Share the habit with someone — the same time and place, or a daily check-in.
Why it may help
Doing something with others adds connection, makes it more enjoyable, and gives the habit another cue: the other person.
When to use it
- Exercise, study, walking
- Boredom
- Low motivation
How to apply it
- Find someone with a similar goal.
- Agree a shared time or a check-in.
- Agree what happens if one of you can’t make it.
An example
Hamza joined a library study group two evenings a week.
The common mistake
Making the habit depend entirely on the other person showing up.
Practise it
Invite one person to share a habit with you.
What the evidence says
Emerging: Early or small studies look promising. Worth testing on yourself; too soon to rely on.
Social support and relatedness support motivation in research; direct evidence for “habit buddies” is still emerging.
Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy (v1) codes: 3.2.
Sources
- Ryan & Deci (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
- Michie, Richardson, Johnston, Abraham, Francis, Hardeman and colleagues (2013). The Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (v1) of 93 Hierarchically Clustered Techniques. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. doi:10.1007/s12160-013-9486-6
Problems it helps with
- “I don’t feel motivated.” — You know it matters, but when the moment comes you just don’t feel like it.
- “My habit became boring.” — It still happens, but it feels flat, and you’ve started skipping it.
Lessons behind it
- The people around you — We drift toward the habits of the people we spend time with. (6 min · Intermediate)
- Autonomy, competence and relatedness — Self-Determination Theory: the three needs that keep motivation alive. (7 min · Intermediate)