Why the random aspect? The “Habit Judo” link includes this as well, but didn’t seem to offer an explanation either.
Personally, I’ve just kept a calendar on my wall, with check boxes for each habit. Looking at it and seeing a string of failures or half-completes is usually enough motivation, without needing to bribe myself. I tend to do horrible with self-bribes, though :)
Why the random aspect? The “Habit Judo” link includes this as well, but didn’t seem to offer an explanation either.
Personally, I’ve just kept a calendar on my wall, with check boxes for each habit. Looking at it and seeing a string of failures or half-completes is usually enough motivation, without needing to bribe myself. I tend to do horrible with self-bribes, though :)
Intermittent reinforcement. Brains seem to get hooked on that better than to deterministic rewards.
The calendar chain sounds like it does most of the same stuff as this one does, and is a lot simpler. I’ll keep that one in mind too.