The Gentle Push: The Transformative Power of Reminders

How Simple Nudges Can Lead to Lasting Habits and a More Meaningful Life

One night, I awoke to find that it was just moments before Fajr — the first prayer of the day. In about five to ten minutes, the muezzin would begin the call to prayer, inviting everyone to join in worship. However, I wasn’t in the mood to pray and made the resolute decision to go back to sleep, regardless of the call. I lay there, trying to drift off, but sleep eluded me. Just then, the sound of the Adhan filled the room. I thought to myself, “I’ll just sleep, right after the Adhan and will not pray.”

I had firmly decided to ignore the call, but then the muezzin’s voice pierced through my thoughts: “Salah (prayer) is better than sleep.” He repeated it twice, and in that moment, something shifted within me. I sprang out of bed, performed ablution, and headed to the mosque.

Once there, I joined my fellow worshippers and immersed myself in the prayer, even spending extra time in the mosque reflecting and connecting with the community. How had this transformation occurred? I had been so resolute in my reluctance to pray, yet here I was, fully engaged and present. What had sparked this change? I found myself pondering the answer.

I soon realized that my shift in mindset came when I heard the phrase, “Prayer is better than sleep.” Deep down, I understood that prayer is mandatory for every adult Muslim and cannot be skipped or delayed without a valid reason. Neglecting to pray is a sin, as it goes against what we are commanded to do. Yet, I still felt no desire to pray and opted for sleep instead. Even though I already knew and believed in the importance of prayer, I needed that gentle nudge to motivate me to follow through with what I was meant to do.

This experience made it clear to me that, even though I know and believe in many things — what’s right and wrong, what’s better and worse — I still need reminders to act correctly. Without them, I risk making poor choices and feeling regret later. There’s also the danger of repeating those mistakes over time. A gentle reminder at just the right moment can truly make a difference.

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” — Tony Robbins

We need to keep reminding children to avoid certain behaviors and focus on doing good things. It’s not enough to tell them just once; we have to repeat it many times. This helps kids develop good habits and get rid of bad ones. With the right guidance in their early years, their thoughts will be clear, and their actions will be positive.

Many people think this only applies to kids, but adults need it even more. Don’t just think about your own need for reminders; consider your family, friends, and colleagues, too. They can all benefit from regular encouragement.

If we receive these reminders consistently, they start to settle in our subconscious. Eventually, we won’t need to consciously remind ourselves; the prompts will come naturally when we need them.

Let’s explore a couple of studies that support this idea.

Boosting Medication Adherence Through Reminders

One notable study on the importance of reminders is the research conducted by Woloshin et al. (2009), which examined the effectiveness of reminders in improving medication adherence among patients. The study aimed to determine whether reminders could enhance adherence to prescribed medications in patients with chronic conditions.

Researchers recruited a group of patients who were prescribed medications for conditions like hypertension and diabetes. The participants were divided into two groups: one received regular reminders via text messages or phone calls about their medication schedules, while the control group did not receive any reminders.

Increased Adherence: The group that received reminders showed a significant increase in medication adherence compared to the control group. Patients in the reminder group reported taking their medications more consistently.

Behavioral Insights: The study highlighted that despite patients knowing the importance of their medications, external prompts were necessary to encourage consistent behavior.

This study underscores how reminders can effectively bridge the gap between knowledge and action, illustrating their vital role in health management and behavior change. The findings suggest that simple interventions, like reminders, can have a substantial impact on improving health outcomes.

Building Better Habits Through Reminders

One interesting study conducted by Diana Tamir and Jason P. Mitchell in 2010, titled “The Importance of Reminders in the Formation of Habits.”

The study aimed to investigate how reminders can facilitate the formation of habits and encourage consistent behaviors in non-health-related contexts. The study involved college students who were tasked with forming new habits, such as studying more regularly or engaging in specific extracurricular activities. Participants were divided into two groups. One group received regular reminders (via emails and notifications) about their goals and habits, while the control group did not receive any reminders. The intervention lasted for several weeks.

Increased Habit Formation: The group receiving reminders showed a significantly higher rate of adherence to their intended habits compared to the control group. This was measured through self-reported behavior logs and follow-up surveys assessing their commitment to the new habits.

Psychological Insights: The study found that reminders not only served as prompts but also reinforced participants’ motivations and intentions. The act of receiving reminders was associated with an increased sense of accountability, making participants more likely to engage in the desired behaviors.

Long-term Impact: Follow-up assessments several weeks after the intervention revealed that the reminder group maintained their new habits better than the control group, indicating that reminders helped solidify these behaviors into lasting habits.

The research concluded that reminders play a critical role in habit formation. By providing external prompts, reminders can enhance motivation, accountability, and ultimately, the successful establishment of new behaviors.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle

Simple Strategies to Achieve Your Goals

Getting help to stay on track with our goals can make a big difference. By using simple techniques like DIY methods, partnering up, or utilizing reminders through devices, we can create a supportive environment for ourselves. Here are some effective strategies:

Do It Yourself

Take charge of your habits by setting up your own reminders. Use apps or calendars to schedule regular check-ins with yourself. You can create a daily routine that includes specific tasks, making it easier to stay focused and motivated.

Find a Partner or Ask for Help

Team up with a friend or family member who shares similar goals. You can encourage each other, share progress, and hold one another accountable. Regular check-ins can keep you both motivated and make the process more enjoyable. If you’re unable to find a partner, reach out to someone you to trust assist you, having others involved in any way can make the journey easy, in reach and enjoyable.

Hire a Coach

Consider working with a coach or mentor who can provide guidance tailored to your goals. They can offer expertise, motivation, and structured plans to help you stay on track. Having someone to guide you can make a significant difference in your progress. This is why every professional individual and team has one coach or more.

Use Devices and Technology

Leverage technology to your advantage. Set reminders on your phone, use productivity apps, or employ smart home devices to send you alerts about tasks. These tools can help you stay organized and on schedule without much effort.

Take Time to Reflect

Make it a habit to regularly reflect on your progress. Set aside a few minutes each week to review what’s working and what isn’t. This reflection can help you adjust your strategies and keep you focused on your goals.

Small Gestures Matter

Incorporate visual reminders into your environment. Put sticky notes on your fridge, set calendar alerts, or leave reminders on your laptop. These small gestures can keep your goals front and center, making it easier to remember what you need to do.

By combining these techniques , you can create a supportive framework that encourages you to stick to your goals and make lasting changes in your life.

People often go through life without thinking enough or in the right way, so they needed to be remind what’s best for them. By using different reminder techniques, we can take the right action at the right time.

When we do something regularly, it starts to feel natural and becomes part of who we are. Eventually, we won’t need to push ourselves or remind ourselves anymore — it will just happen. As one good habit becomes part of our lives, we can build on that and create even more positive habits.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” — Oscar Wilde

Reviving Life by Living Authentically

In our busy lives, we often forget to truly live and enjoy the moment. We either just exist or spend our time chasing things, and we forget to take a moment to be quiet and appreciate now. We don’t spend enough time with our families or stay connected with friends. We forget to love without conditions and to be kind for no reason. We’ve lost touch with living authentically and instead have taken on a fake way of life.

Even when we realize these hard truths, we can’t expect to change overnight. Change takes time and effort. If we stick to our plan, it will gradually improve our overall experience and bring us happiness, slowly but surely.

We shouldn’t underestimate the power of reminders. They give us the push we need and help us stay disciplined and focused on our goals. Make it a habit to remind yourself and those around you that we all have the ability to achieve great things in life.

“Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” — John C. Maxwell