By skyforbes 1. Trigger: "What internal or external cue should prompt me to use this system?"
Eyal's first step applied to habit design. AI helps you identify the right moment for action. "I want to build a daily learning habit but keep forgetting. What internal or external cue should prompt me to use this system?" Gets you beyond "I should remember" to actual behavioral triggers.
2. Action: "What's the simplest possible behavior that moves me toward my goal?"
The ease-first principle from the Hooked Model. Perfect for overcoming inertia. "I'm overwhelmed by my fitness goals. What's the simplest possible behavior that moves me toward my goal?" AI designs the minimum viable action that actually happens, not the perfect plan that doesn't.
3. Variable Reward: "How can I build unpredictability and discovery into this process?"
Eyal's insight about why habits stick. AI gamifies your systems. "My morning routine feels boring and I keep skipping it. How can I build unpredictability and discovery into this process?" Creates the dopamine variability that makes habits addictive in a good way.
4. Investment: "What small commitment now makes the next iteration easier?"
The escalating commitment loop. Changes how you think about progress. "I start projects but never finish them. What small commitment now makes the next iteration easier?" AI designs compound behaviors where each action primes the next.
Advanced: Full Hooked Loop Design
"Design a complete habit loop for [goal]: What's my trigger? What's the easiest action? How do I add variable rewards? What investment makes tomorrow easier?" AI architects your entire behavioral system using Eyal's framework.
The breakthrough: Eyal proved that habit formation follows predictable patterns. AI helps you reverse-engineer those patterns for any behavior you want to install.
Secret application: Breaking bad AI habits
Use the model in reverse: "What triggers my doomscrolling? What's the action I'm repeating? What variable reward am I chasing? How am I investing in continuing this pattern?" AI helps you see and disrupt destructive loops.
Trigger Engineering Prompt:
"Help me identify 3 external triggers and 2 internal triggers that could reliably prompt me to [desired behavior]." Gets you beyond relying on willpower to environmental design.
Action Simplification Prompt:
"I want to [big goal]. What's an action so simple that I literally can't say I don't have time, but still moves me forward?" Forces you past perfectionism to actual behavior.
Variable Reward Design Prompt:
"How can I add elements of mystery, social validation, or personal discovery to [routine task] so it stays engaging long-term?" AI injects novelty into repetitive behaviors.
Investment Stacking Prompt:
"What can I do today that makes tomorrow's version of this task easier or more appealing?" Creates the compounding effect that makes habits self-reinforcing.
I've been using this framework for everything from building coding skills to maintaining relationships. It's like understanding the psychology of why some habits stick effortlessly while others require constant willpower.
Eyal-level insight: Use AI to audit your existing habit loops. "What habit loops am I currently stuck in? Map them using: Trigger → Action → Variable Reward → Investment." Reveals the architecture of your actual behavior versus your intended behavior.
Product thinking applied to life: Ask AI to design your goals like a product manager: "If my morning routine were a product that needed 80% daily active users, how would I apply the Hooked Model to redesign it?"
Reality check: The Hooked Model is powerful, which means it can create dependencies. Add "while maintaining my autonomy and long-term wellbeing" to ensure you're building helpful habits, not addictive ones.
Pro move: Chain the four steps for complex behavior change. "I want to learn Spanish daily. Design my: trigger strategy, minimum action, reward variability system, and investment mechanism that makes each day easier than the last."
What behavior have you been trying to build through willpower alone that would work better if you designed it as a habit loop with proper triggers, actions, rewards, and investments?
If you are keen, you can explore our totally free, well categorized meta AI prompt collection.