The Science of Achieving (and Enjoying) Your New Year’s Resolution
Jan 14, 2024
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Wharton professor and author Katy Milkman shares the science behind habit formation, temptation bundling, and strategies for sticking to New Year's resolutions. The panel also discusses their own resolutions for 2024 and the challenges of behavior change.
Making goals enjoyable through temptation bundling increases persistence and overcomes present bias.
Breaking goals into smaller, manageable chunks increases motivation and success rate.
Using commitment devices and creating a supportive environment increases accountability and increases the likelihood of goal attainment.
Deep dives
Making Goals More Enjoyable
Instead of relying on willpower, it is more effective to make pursuing goals enjoyable. This can be done through temptation bundling, where a fun activity is combined with a more challenging task. For example, only allowing oneself to watch a favorite show while exercising or listening to a podcast while doing household chores. By making the experience enjoyable, it becomes easier to persist and overcome present bias.
The Importance of Breaking Goals into Smaller Chunks
Breaking goals into smaller, more manageable chunks increases the likelihood of success. This can be done by setting smaller, shorter-term deadlines or focusing on bite-sized actions. For example, saving $5 a day is more approachable than saving $150 a month. By making goals more accessible, it becomes easier to stay motivated and on track.
The Value of Commitment Devices
Commitment devices, such as setting self-imposed deadlines or penalties, can help people stay accountable to their goals. By creating immediate consequences for not taking action, individuals can align their short-term actions with their long-term goals. Commitment devices leverage present bias by encouraging individuals to prioritize their future selves over immediate gratification.
Surrounding Yourself with Supportive Environments
Creating a supportive environment can increase the likelihood of goal attainment. This includes surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals who have similar goals, emulating their behaviors, and seeking advice from those who have succeeded in achieving similar goals. Social support and guidance can provide motivation and accountability to help overcome challenges.
Using Frictions to Resist Temptation
Introducing frictions or obstacles that make it harder to engage in undesired behaviors can support goal pursuit. For example, keeping unhealthy snacks out of the house to reduce temptation or placing locks on the cookie jar. By making it less convenient to engage in undesired behaviors, individuals can increase their chances of following through with their goals.
Katy Milkman, Wharton professor and author of How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, joins Offline to discuss the limits of willpower. Katy and Max dig into the science behind habit formation, the psychology of temptation bundling, and all the strategies for sticking to New Year’s resolutions that are more effective—and more fun—than sheer will. But first! Crooked staffers Gabby, David and Ben join Max for a quick and snappy panel on their own resolutions for 2024, and what they’ve learned about changing their behavior in years past.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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