Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement 3966: The Habit Ladder: How To Make A New Routine Stick by Tyler Tervooren of Riskology on Building Habits Gradually
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Apr 2, 2026 A deep dive into arranging behaviors so one action naturally triggers the next. Exploration of the habit loop: cue, routine, reward. Practical habit stacking techniques using morning and multi-day examples. Discussion of how sequence changes can accelerate progress or backfire if misordered.
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How The Habit Loop Actually Works
- Habits form through a three-part habit loop: cue, routine, reward.
- Tyler Tervooren uses flossing: finished brushing = cue, flossing = routine, relief about dental health = reward.
Author's Morning Routine As A Habit Ladder
- Tervooren describes a fully automatic morning where each action is pre-scripted and flows without thought.
- He wakes, puts on running clothes, runs five miles, showers, eats, then tackles his most important task.
Stack Habits To Make Routines Automatic
- Stack habits so the end of one becomes the cue for the next to make routines automatic.
- Example: wake → put on running clothes → run → shower → breakfast → hardest work, each step triggering the next.
