Write what you want to reduce nagging and increase follow‑through

A parent was losing sleep to the metallic clatter of a pull‑up bar right outside the bedroom door. Talking hadn’t worked. Promises faded. One evening, they taped a sign to the bar: “Bar closes at 10. This means you. No exceptions. —The Management.” The next week, the workouts finished before ten. When asked why, the teen shrugged, “The bar closes.” The nag turned into a norm.

Another parent, buried by a drift of shoes near the entrance, hung a paper tag that brushed the kids’ hair as they walked in. It simply said, “Shoes?” The message met the moment of choice, and the shoes migrated to the mat without a speech.

Notes work because they reduce cognitive load and social friction. They transform repeated verbal reminders into a visible cue at the right time and place. When the cue is friendly or funny, it carries less threat and more memorability. Signs lose power over time, so rotating them keeps the effect fresh.

In behavioral science terms, you’re changing the environment to make the desired behavior the default. You’re also shifting from person‑to‑person correction to a neutral prompt, which preserves the relationship. When norms live on the wall, you save your voice for connection, not correction.

Pick one recurring friction point, write a short and specific note with a light tone, and place it right where the decision happens. Let the sign do the reminding so you can stop repeating yourself. When it goes stale, pull it down for a few days and bring it back with new wording. Try your first sign tonight and see what changes by tomorrow.