October 31, 2025

260 - Temptation Bundling: The Science-Backed Trick to Make Habits Stick

17 minutes

What if you could make your hardest habits feel easier—without relying on willpower? There’s a simple, science-backed strategy that pairs what you “should” do with something you “want” to do, so you actually look forward to it.

The good news is, you don’t need more motivation. Instead, you can create instant gratification that makes you want to keep engaging in a habit like going to the gym or doing chores.

Some of the things I share are:

What “temptation bundling” is—and why it works in your brain

The dopamine-based reason this makes good habits stick

One strict rule that transforms chores into treats (and why cheating ruins it)

How temptation bundling differs from habit stacking and commitment devices

Real-life examples you can copy for the gym, cleaning, travel, and taxes

The mistake that makes bundles fail (competing attention) and how to avoid it

Mentally Strong App

⁠Get Free Mental Strength Coaching for This Episode — ⁠⁠Episode 260 Exercise⁠⁠

Try this exercise hands-free — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 260 Exercise Voice (Subscribers only)

⁠Subscribe to the app to unlock all the features — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MentallyStrong.Downpat.Ai⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with the Show

Buy a copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Amy on Instagram — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AmyMorinAuthor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit my website — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmyMorinLCSW.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sponsors

OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.oneskin.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Quince — Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/stronger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!

Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shopify.com/mentallystronger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

L-Nutra — Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ProlonLife.com/MS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift.

Jones Road Beauty — Use code STRONGER at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jonesroadbeauty.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad

Lola Blankets — Get 35% off your entire order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lolablankets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by using code STRONGER at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.

AirDoctor — Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AirDoctorPro.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!

BetterHelp — This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/mentallystrong⁠⁠⁠⁠

AquaTru — Go to ⁠⁠⁠AquaTru.com⁠⁠⁠ now for 20% off using promo code STRONGER

Uncommon Goods — Go to ⁠⁠⁠UncommonGoods.com/Stronger⁠⁠⁠ for 15% off

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more

View all episodes

By Amy Morin

4.8

363363 ratings