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Time: We only perceive something to be simple if we have the time available to perform the function.

Money: Similarly, if something stretches our financial resources, we do not consider it simple.

Physical effort: We consider things that are physically easy for us to be simple.

Brain cycles: Simple things don’t tax our thinking, and we shy away from things that require us to think too hard.

Social deviance: This goes back to the acceptance motivation. A simple act fits into societal norms.

Nonroutine: How far something is out of one’s normal routine will define its level of simplicity.

Prompts

Finally, Fogg notes three types of prompts:

1. 
   Spark: A spark is a type of prompt that immediately leads to a form of motivation. For example, if opening your e-mail leads to a level of fear over what you might find there, you’re likely to adopt a habit that will change that fear.
   
2. 
   Facilitator: This type of prompt works when motivation is high, but ability is low. For example, if you want to use a certain kind of software on your computer but are tech-averse, a tool that makes that software easier for you to use is likely to cause you to adopt this behavior.
   
3. 
   Signal : In some cases, you’ll have both high motivation and high ability. The only other thing you need to make a behavior a habit is some kind of reminder or signal. If you love making brain smoothies,
   

all you need is to walk into your kitchen in the morning and see the blender to prompt you to make one.

CREATING A NEW HABIT

The Fogg Behavior Model shows us everything that needs to be in place for a particular behavior to become a habit. We know that making habits of behaviors we consider good for us is important to our growth, and we also know that the key to breaking bad habits is to replace them with more constructive ones. But how do you make something a habit? Just remember WIN:

W is for Want: Make sure you really want it. It’s nearly impossible to turn something into a habit if you don’t want to do that thing. Does one of the motivators in the Fogg Model apply to the habit you’re trying to adopt? If not, is there something close to this habit that might accomplish something similar for you?

I is for Innate: Does the new habit you’re trying to adopt align well with your innate abilities? Remember that you’re unlikely to make something a habit when it is consistently difficult for you to perform. If the habit you’re trying to adopt is something that you’re good at or you know you can be good at, you’re well on your way.
N is for Now: Create a prompt for yourself that encourages you to perform the new habit now. This can be anything from a reminder on your phone to placing something in your office that makes you remember to set aside time to do what you’re setting out to do.