Crowd Out Old Habit with New Behavior

Behavior Change Strategies

Crowding out means introducing a new, desirable behavior that naturally takes the place of an old, unwanted one. Instead of fighting the old habit directly, you fill the time, attention, or energy it occupied with something better.

The key difference from "replacing the routine": crowding out doesn't necessarily share the same cue or reward — it simply occupies the same space.

Example: A reading app that sends interesting article recommendations at times when the user typically opens social media.

Quiz

Pass: 3/3 correct

1. Crowding out differs from replacing the routine because it:

2. Why is adding a new behavior more sustainable than stopping an old one?

3. Which is an example of crowding out?

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