The strategy focuses on establishing a habit of brushing teeth for a minimum of 5 seconds each morning for a month. It involves using reminders and triggers, such as setting daily alarms and creating habit trackers. For instance, placing a toothbrush in a visible location or associating brushing with having breakfast helps in forming automatic prompts.
To make the process enjoyable, the strategy suggests choosing an appealing toothpaste flavor or listening to a favorite song while brushing. Engaging in activities like playing a short video can make the routine fun, akin to a game, thereby increasing motivation.
Building accountability is achieved by involving others, such as informing friends or joining a dental hygiene group. This communal support helps maintain the commitment. Sharing goals with family or through social media provides external encouragement, fostering a sense of responsibility and communal progress.
The strategies
⛳️ Strategy 1: Use reminders and triggers
- Set a daily alarm at your preferred brushing time
- Place your toothbrush and toothpaste in a visible location
- Associate brushing with another morning activity such as after breakfast
- Put a note in a visible spot reminding you to brush
- Use a sticky note on your bathroom mirror as a visual cue
- Set a recurring reminder on your phone for brushing
- Create a habit tracker and also mark each day you complete the task
- Link toothbrushing to another consistent daily routine like getting dressed
- Utilise smart home devices to remind you with alerts
- Set a calendar event as a digital reminder
⛳️ Strategy 2: Make the process enjoyable
- Choose a toothpaste flavour you enjoy
- Listen to a favourite song while brushing
- Buy a toothbrush in a colour or design that you like
- Play a short video or podcast during brushing to make it enjoyable
- Use a timer to make the activity feel like a game
- Find a brushing technique that makes it comfortable
- Reward yourself after completing the task each week
- Create a positive morning mantra associated with brushing
- Visualise the benefits of toothbrushing for motivation
- Compile a playlist of 5-second jingles for inspiration
⛳️ Strategy 3: Build accountability
- Inform a friend or family member about your commitment
- Post your progress on social media for public accountability
- Join a community or group focused on dental hygiene
- Share your goal with a dental professional for external encouragement
- Create a checklist and share with a partner to monitor progress
- Incorporate brushing into a shared family or household chore
- Use a checking app where friends can remind you
- Engage in challenges with peers for mutual support
- Invite a buddy to start the habit with you for mutual success
- Submit a reflection on the importance of brushing after a month
Bringing accountability to your strategy
It's one thing to have a plan, it's another to stick to it. We hope that the examples above will help you get started with your own strategy, but we also know that it's easy to get lost in the day-to-day effort.
That's why we built Tability: to help you track your progress, keep your team aligned, and make sure you're always moving in the right direction.
Give it a try and see how it can help you bring accountability to your strategy.
