The nudge canon: useful prompts without the nagging

A good nudge makes a useful choice easier. A bad one creates anxiety, hides an agenda or keeps demanding attention.

The standard for a SarvFlow nudge

Every prompt should be understandable, proportionate and dismissible. It should explain the signal behind it, avoid false certainty and make clear that the person remains in control.

The smallest helpful intervention usually beats the most impressive one. A £10 adjustment, a pause until tomorrow or a reminder timed to payday can be more effective than a complete financial overhaul.

Five rules

• Relevant: tied to a real goal or recognised pattern
• Timely: delivered when action is feasible
• Small: low effort and easy to reverse
• Transparent: the reason is visible
• Respectful: silence and dismissal are valid choices

What we reject

No streak anxiety. No manufactured emergencies. No shame disguised as motivation. No optimisation that ignores family life or wellbeing. No commercial recommendation presented as neutral guidance.

The product should learn not only which suggestions a person accepts, but when it should say nothing at all.