What is Cue?
A cue is the trigger that prompts a behavior — an external or internal signal that starts a habit or action. It’s the first step in the habit loop (cue → routine → reward).
In behaviour-change and productivity contexts, a cue is any stimulus that reliably signals it’s time to do something. Cues can be external (a time of day, a location, a notification sound, seeing your running shoes) or internal (a feeling of boredom, stress, or hunger). When paired repeatedly with a routine and a perceived reward, a cue helps make the routine automatic and reduces the need for conscious decision-making.
Usage example
Practical application
Designing or noticing useful cues helps you turn desirable actions into automatic habits, cutting down decision fatigue and increasing consistency. For busy people and neurodivergent individuals, explicit cues — like placing a notebook next to your bed or using a visual object on your desk — can scaffold routines when executive bandwidth is low. Digital tools that capture your intentions and schedule reminders can also turn fleeting thoughts into reliable cues to act; for example, voice-first task managers can record what you plan to do and surface it at the right cue so you don’t have to remember everything mentally.
FAQ
How is a cue different from a reminder?
A cue is any trigger that naturally or deliberately prompts a behavior; a reminder is a deliberate, often artificial cue (like an alarm or notification) created to prompt action. Reminders are one type of cue, but cues also include environment, time, emotions, and preceding actions.
How do I identify what cue is driving a behaviour I want to change?
Observe what immediately precedes the behaviour for several repetitions: time of day, location, people present, preceding action, or your internal state. Keeping a quick log for a week helps reveal patterns and the most reliable trigger to target.
Can internal states like stress be effective cues?
Yes. Internal cues such as stress, boredom or tiredness often trigger habitual responses (e.g., snacking or doom-scrolling). These can be harder to change because they’re less visible; strategies include substituting a healthier routine when the feeling arises or creating external cues that interrupt the automatic response.
How long until a cue reliably forms a new habit?
Related blog posts
Charge mentale familiale : des habitudes vocales simples pour partager le travail cognitif à la maison
Nous portons des choses dans nos têtes qui ne parviennent jamais sur une liste. Les rendez-vous, les idées de cadeaux, le...
État de flux à la volée : optimiser votre attention lors de journées de travail fragmentées
Si cela vous semble familier, vous n'êtes pas seul. Les vies professionnelles modernes prospèrent sur le changement de co...
Architectures de petites habitudes : construire des routines qui tiennent grâce à la science des nudges
Je pensais autrefois que le vrai changement nécessitait de grands gestes et des engagements quotidiens massifs. Je commen...
Désencombrement numérique : élaborer un régime de notifications pour une concentration durable
Les notifications étaient censées nous informer et nous connecter. Au lieu de cela, elles sont devenues un piège à produc...
Micro-succès, macro-mouvement : les neurosciences derrière la célébration de chaque tâche
Peu d'entre nous débouchent du champagne après avoir répondu à une facture, et pourtant le cerveau a besoin d'un signal q...