The Secret Link Between Your Senses and Lasting Habits (It’s Not Just What You See)

You know how a familiar jingle, the smell of baking bread, or the color of a brand’s box can sweep you into a memory—sometimes before you even notice? Behavioral neuroscience confirms that our brains attach deep meaning to sensory experiences: sound, scent, color, and touch all activate core decision-making and memory networks. That’s why stepping into a store with your favorite playlist or a comforting scent makes you linger and spend more, or why a harsh ringtone can chill your relationship with your own phone.

But it’s not just marketers who can benefit from multisensory design—you can too. When you pair a goal or habit (like studying, sleep, or mindfulness) with consistent, pleasant cues across multiple senses, the neural connection deepens, making the routine easier to repeat and recall. In the research, combinations (image plus sound, or scent plus task) outperformed single-sense triggers. Bad sensory input, meanwhile, can sabotage motivation or memory, even turning a favorite routine into something to dread.

By tuning into your full sensory world, and designing it intentionally, you empower yourself to create habits that are both enjoyable and long-lasting.

Today, note the sensory details that shape your routines: the background music, the smell of your lunch, the feel of your shoes. Choose one habit you want to reinforce, then design a new sensory anchor—add a special song to your study time, or bring a unique scent to your quiet time. Notice how your motivation or memory shifts over a few days. If an environment has negative cues, swap or minimize them. Play with the power of multisensory anchors to build habits that really stick. Start with just one change tonight.