Habit Loops

Habit Loops are the cycle of cues, actions, and rewards that reinforce a user’s behavior over time, making it automatic. In design, habit loops are used to encourage users to regularly engage with a product, creating routines that bring them back. For example, social media apps often use notifications (cue), followed by engagement with content (action), and social validation (reward), which together help form long-term habits. Designing effective habit loops can increase user retention and foster deeper engagement.