Environment
Breaking an Unwanted Pattern
4 min read · Optional Library lesson
Patterns you'd rather not repeat usually have a cue and a convenience behind them. Change the setup and you get a pause instead of a reflex.
Name the cue
What reliably happens right before?
Add steps
Make it slightly less convenient — out of sight, further away, logged out.
Offer a replacement
Give the moment something else to do.
Key takeaways
- Friction is a design tool, not a moral test.
- A replacement behavior works better than a blank space.
- Judgment isn't a strategy — setup is.
Reflect
What would make this pattern take three extra steps?