Partitioning

Splitting up a large unit into smaller units creates additional decision moments for a person so instead of continuing with something, a person has to make an active choice to open or start an additional unit. Being forced to make that active choice may make it more likely that they make a choice to stop that behavior. For example, breaking up a bag of cookies into smaller bags creates a decision moment when a person has to make an active choice to open another packet of cookies.

Applications

• Consider changing a default or pre-set setting to require that a person actively make a choice to continue doing something that is not their ideal behavior. (Many online streaming companies do the opposite and automatically start playing the next episode as their default setting.)

• Consider setting timed periods for a behavior, for example an app that closes automatically after 30 minutes.

Considerations

This is a specific way to add friction (the opposite of simplification) and is most effective when a person wants to reduce doing something. If you want them to continue doing something without having a moment to pause to consider stopping, then eliminate any partitions.