You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, right? Even the simplest of intentions, like remembering to stand up straight, to breathe deeply, or to drink more water can be a challenge to stick with.

We often blame our inability to change on a lack of willpower or motivation, but that’s usually not the problem. When we get caught up in the routine of our day-to-day lives, the commitment to change often flies right out the window—simply because it’s no longer on our mind.

In their book, “Following Through: A Revolutionary New Model For Finishing Whatever You Start,” authors Steve Levinson, Ph.D. and Peter Greider, M.Ed. write, “[C]ontrary to conventional wisdom, poor follow through is not caused primarily by a lack of willpower, insufficient motivation, low self-esteem, fear of success, or deep, dark character defects… It's caused, amazingly, by the paradoxical way the human mind is designed.” Simply put, our minds are great at coming up with wonderful intentions, but pretty bad at remembering them.

One simple way to fix this problem is to create an external prompt, sometimes called a cueing device, that reminds us of what it was we were interested in doing differently.

A cueing device can be anything that gets your attention and that you associate with your desired change of behavior—a sound, object or event. You simply assign a meaning to the cue, and every time you encounter it, you are reminded to change your behavior.

If you’re struggling to change a habit, here are some suggested cuing devices:

• Still Water MPC Tibetan gong random audio for PC. The clear, resonating sound of a Tibetan gong, chiming at scheduled or random intervals, can be downloaded for free from the Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center. Visit their website and click on “Articles & Resources” on the navigation bar on the left, and then select “Mindful Clock Software” from the list. You will be given instructions on how to download the software to your computer.
  
  
• The MotivAider electronic device.  It looks like a pager and can be clipped to your belt or kept in your pocket. Simply set the frequency for the reminder, and the MotivAider will silently vibrate.
  
  
• Wristwatch switch. Swap your wristwatch to your other hand. When you look for your watch, the act of looking at your other wrist will prompt you.
  
  
• Telephone cue. When your phone rings, place your hand on the receiver and allow yourself one ring to reconnect with your intention. This is great if the habit you’re trying to create involves actively listening.
  
  
• Red lights and stop signs. Use the time spent stopped at a traffic sign or light for reflection, relaxation, gratitude or breathing.

In order to work, a cueing device must reliably get your attention. More importantly, you must give meaning to the message it is telling you.

Have you been successful in changing a habit by using a cueing device? Share your story with us by posting a comment.

Want to use this article in your e-newsletter or website? You can use this material in whole or in part, as long as you include this complete attribution and live link: Productivity consultant and trainer Cristin Lind of Clearwater Productivity helps busy professionals enhance their work and enrich their lives. If you’re ready to get more done with less effort, visit www.clearwaterproductivity.com.