Commitment Device Database 🔓

Listing of different commitment devices to help you stick with your intentions and achieve your long-term goals. Read this article for more information on Commitment Devices and how to make the most of this database.

Growing open-sourced database of different commitment devices to help you stick with your intentions and achieve your long-term goals. Read this article for more information on Commitment Devices and how to make the most of this database.

Select tabs to filter selection 👇

Schedule time with friends

Not only good for mental health, but can help limit undesired behavior (working too long, inactivity etc)

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Subscribing to a Habit Weekly Pro

Ensuring you stay informed on the best and latest in the behavioral design field [sorry, we couldn't help adding this 😄]

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Get a dog

A canine companion provides companionship and encourages outside exercise, humanity's silver bullet.

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Small lunch boxes

Having smaller lunch boxes can help to easily limit food portion sizes (reducing overeating and food thrown away)

Book gym class

Signing up for a gym class increases likelihood of attending

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Brush teeth after dinner

Makes eating snacks after dinner taste worse

Delete your social media accounts

Stop spending so much time on social media (and maybe give your password to your Mom so you can't log back in).

Buy a robotic vacuum cleaner

Automating or subbing out chores reduces the effor to help keep surroundings clean.

Tie yourself to a mast

Physically restrain yourself from tempting sirens. Or create a current (good) choice that prevents you from future (bad) choices

Buy commute card (to reduce driving)

Makes it easier to justify using public transit over solo vehicle use (you want to get the most of your monthly communting fee)

Buy gym membership

Investing in a long-term membership hurts more financially if you waste it

Donor-advised fund

Giving is shown to make you happier, and it's good for the world. A giving fund enables you to commit money into a tax-deductible giving account.

Deleting apps or games

Reduce distractions on devices

Don't buy an unlimited metro (if you're a cyclist)

Not buying an unlimited metro card because once the subway fare is a sunk cost you won’t be as motivated to commute by bike.

Download app that limits screen time

Screentime restrictions reduce distractions and increase productivity.

Electric timers

Use sockets with electric timers for work station or entertainment equipment

Get rid of the TV in your bedroom

Free up time to spend more purposefully - can include removing TVs all together.

Going somewhere without internet access

Create a situation that allows you to do deep work, like Maya Angelou

Hire an accountability coach

Hiring someone to keep you accountable

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Join a team sport

Joining a team sport is a great way to exercise

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Keep phone in a different room

Putting your phone away from you at day/night removes the temptation to check it when you need to focus or sleep

Make a bet with someone

Put your money where your mouth is by making a bet of doign something with a friend or collegue

Social 👨‍👩‍👦Financial 💸

Make a pact with someone

Making a plan of doing something together with another person helps you to follow through

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Make your goals public

Give accountability to your goals by sharing it publicly

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Order groceries online

By ordering food in advance, you could be more able to avoid purchasing unhealthy foods on impulse

Pay for personal trainer or coach

Get support and accountability from a professional

Social 👨‍👩‍👦Financial 💸

Pre-order food

Pre-ordering food lessens the chance of overreating and allows for meal planning, sticking to certain food groups

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Pre-schedule regular workout meetings with friends

Use social pressure as a motivator to exercise.

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Prep meals in advance

You’re less likely to waste money and calories on unhealthy takeout food.

Create sunk costs

For example, buy a gym membership even when it would be cheaper to buy individual passes, i.e., purposefully making it a sunk cost.

Purchase an annual gym membership

Ensure future gym visits will not require out-of-pocket payment.

Purchase vices in small packages

Limit portion sizes for unhealthy items (eg, cigarettes, junk food, alcohol)

Put down deposits for vacations, prebook

Putting money down will encourage setting aside time for friends, family, and self

Put money in a deposit contract

Forfeit money by failure to achieve a specific goal by a given date (eg, quitting smoking within 6 mo)

Replace dinnerware with smaller plates and cups

Having smaller plates can help to easily limit food portion sizes (reducing overeating and food thrown away)

Schedule workouts with an exercise partner

Disappoint a friend by failure to visit the gym

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Set screentime restrictions

Screentime restrictions reduce distractions and increase productivity.

Set up an automatic payment to savings account

Set for day after receiving paycheck. Remove the friction of memory so you don’t have to remember to save money.

Set up auto-pay on your banking app

Help you pay your bills on time every month

Sign up for a fruit or vegetable box subscription

Help you plan for and to eat healthy meals.

Storing "junk" in hard-to-reach places

Make it harder to eat junk food or have access to "junk"

Take disulfiram

Ensure that drinking alcohol in the future will cause illness

Turn phone on grayscale

Removing color from your phone makes looking at social apps not as fun

Unplugging electronics

Make it easier to read, write or wind-dwon before bed

Use a purposefully handicapped computer

Create a situation that allows you to do deep work, like many famous writers.

Work alongside someone

Get a remote work mate who works "alongside" you online.

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Schedule time with friends

Not only good for mental health, but can help limit undesired behavior (working too long, inactivity etc)

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Subscribing to a Habit Weekly Pro

Ensuring you stay informed on the best and latest in the behavioral design field [sorry, we couldn't help adding this 😄]

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Tie yourself to a mast

Physically restrain yourself from tempting sirens. Or create a current (good) choice that prevents you from future (bad) choices

Hire an accountability coach

Hiring someone to keep you accountable

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Make a bet with someone

Put your money where your mouth is by making a bet of doign something with a friend or collegue

Social 👨‍👩‍👦Financial 💸

Make a pact with someone

Making a plan of doing something together with another person helps you to follow through

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Make your goals public

Give accountability to your goals by sharing it publicly

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Create sunk costs

For example, buy a gym membership even when it would be cheaper to buy individual passes, i.e., purposefully making it a sunk cost.

Put money in a deposit contract

Forfeit money by failure to achieve a specific goal by a given date (eg, quitting smoking within 6 mo)

Storing "junk" in hard-to-reach places

Make it harder to eat junk food or have access to "junk"

Small lunch boxes

Having smaller lunch boxes can help to easily limit food portion sizes (reducing overeating and food thrown away)

Brush teeth after dinner

Makes eating snacks after dinner taste worse

Delete your social media accounts

Stop spending so much time on social media (and maybe give your password to your Mom so you can't log back in).

Buy commute card (to reduce driving)

Makes it easier to justify using public transit over solo vehicle use (you want to get the most of your monthly communting fee)

Download app that limits screen time

Screentime restrictions reduce distractions and increase productivity.

Get rid of the TV in your bedroom

Free up time to spend more purposefully - can include removing TVs all together.

Keep phone in a different room

Putting your phone away from you at day/night removes the temptation to check it when you need to focus or sleep

Order groceries online

By ordering food in advance, you could be more able to avoid purchasing unhealthy foods on impulse

Pre-order food

Pre-ordering food lessens the chance of overreating and allows for meal planning, sticking to certain food groups

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Prep meals in advance

You’re less likely to waste money and calories on unhealthy takeout food.

Purchase vices in small packages

Limit portion sizes for unhealthy items (eg, cigarettes, junk food, alcohol)

Replace dinnerware with smaller plates and cups

Having smaller plates can help to easily limit food portion sizes (reducing overeating and food thrown away)

Set screentime restrictions

Screentime restrictions reduce distractions and increase productivity.

Sign up for a fruit or vegetable box subscription

Help you plan for and to eat healthy meals.

Take disulfiram

Ensure that drinking alcohol in the future will cause illness

Turn phone on grayscale

Removing color from your phone makes looking at social apps not as fun

Buy a robotic vacuum cleaner

Automating or subbing out chores reduces the effor to help keep surroundings clean.

Deleting apps or games

Reduce distractions on devices

Download app that limits screen time

Screentime restrictions reduce distractions and increase productivity.

Electric timers

Use sockets with electric timers for work station or entertainment equipment

Going somewhere without internet access

Create a situation that allows you to do deep work, like Maya Angelou

Keep phone in a different room

Putting your phone away from you at day/night removes the temptation to check it when you need to focus or sleep

Set screentime restrictions

Screentime restrictions reduce distractions and increase productivity.

Turn phone on grayscale

Removing color from your phone makes looking at social apps not as fun

Use a purposefully handicapped computer

Create a situation that allows you to do deep work, like many famous writers.

Work alongside someone

Get a remote work mate who works "alongside" you online.

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Get a dog

A canine companion provides companionship and encourages outside exercise, humanity's silver bullet.

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Book gym class

Signing up for a gym class increases likelihood of attending

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Buy gym membership

Investing in a long-term membership hurts more financially if you waste it

Don't buy an unlimited metro (if you're a cyclist)

Not buying an unlimited metro card because once the subway fare is a sunk cost you won’t be as motivated to commute by bike.

Join a team sport

Joining a team sport is a great way to exercise

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Pay for personal trainer or coach

Get support and accountability from a professional

Social 👨‍👩‍👦Financial 💸

Pre-schedule regular workout meetings with friends

Use social pressure as a motivator to exercise.

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Purchase an annual gym membership

Ensure future gym visits will not require out-of-pocket payment.

Schedule workouts with an exercise partner

Disappoint a friend by failure to visit the gym

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Small lunch boxes

Having smaller lunch boxes can help to easily limit food portion sizes (reducing overeating and food thrown away)

Brush teeth after dinner

Makes eating snacks after dinner taste worse

Order groceries online

By ordering food in advance, you could be more able to avoid purchasing unhealthy foods on impulse

Pre-order food

Pre-ordering food lessens the chance of overreating and allows for meal planning, sticking to certain food groups

Friction 🚧Financial 💸

Prep meals in advance

You’re less likely to waste money and calories on unhealthy takeout food.

Purchase vices in small packages

Limit portion sizes for unhealthy items (eg, cigarettes, junk food, alcohol)

Replace dinnerware with smaller plates and cups

Having smaller plates can help to easily limit food portion sizes (reducing overeating and food thrown away)

Sign up for a fruit or vegetable box subscription

Help you plan for and to eat healthy meals.

Storing "junk" in hard-to-reach places

Make it harder to eat junk food or have access to "junk"

Schedule time with friends

Not only good for mental health, but can help limit undesired behavior (working too long, inactivity etc)

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Get a dog

A canine companion provides companionship and encourages outside exercise, humanity's silver bullet.

Social 👨‍👩‍👦

Delete your social media accounts

Stop spending so much time on social media (and maybe give your password to your Mom so you can't log back in).

Donor-advised fund

Giving is shown to make you happier, and it's good for the world. A giving fund enables you to commit money into a tax-deductible giving account.

Electric timers

Use sockets with electric timers for work station or entertainment equipment

Get rid of the TV in your bedroom

Free up time to spend more purposefully - can include removing TVs all together.

Put down deposits for vacations, prebook

Putting money down will encourage setting aside time for friends, family, and self

Unplugging electronics

Make it easier to read, write or wind-dwon before bed

Set up an automatic payment to savings account

Set for day after receiving paycheck. Remove the friction of memory so you don’t have to remember to save money.

Set up auto-pay on your banking app

Help you pay your bills on time every month

Buy commute card (to reduce driving)

Makes it easier to justify using public transit over solo vehicle use (you want to get the most of your monthly communting fee)

Don't buy an unlimited metro (if you're a cyclist)

Not buying an unlimited metro card because once the subway fare is a sunk cost you won’t be as motivated to commute by bike.

Anything missing?

Add Commitment Device 🔓