Episode 114: How to Build Habits That Stick (Not Rely on Willpower) – Claire Jackson

Ever wonder why building habits feels easy one week and impossible the next?

In this episode, Australia’s Chief Habits Officer Claire Jackson joins Jeremy and Joey to break down why willpower doesn’t work for neurodivergent brains or neurotypical brains—and how habits stick when they’re built around energy, compassion and real dopamine needs, not perfection.

Claire opens up about her ADHD journey, motherhood, energy management, and practical rituals that made her home and work life calmer and more meaningful. From morning non-negotiables to dopamine-positive environments and the three-task rule, this episode blends science, lived experience, and real-world habit design.

If you’ve ever tried to “just be more disciplined,” this conversation will feel like a breath of relief.

🔍 Episode Highlights

• [00:04:12] Why willpower doesn’t work for ADHD or neurotypical brains
Habits collapse when they rely on self-control alone. Claire explains how dopamine, executive function and emotional load determine whether habits stick.

• [00:09:00] Energy-based productivity instead of hustle or perfection
Learn how to plan your day based on your internal “battery” instead of guilt, deadlines or pressure.

• [00:14:30] Creating dopamine-positive environments
Bright colours, sensory cues and physical spaces that feed your need for stimulation before unhealthy impulses kick in.

• [00:27:37] The “three non-negotiables” habit rule
A practical method for reducing overwhelm: three tasks count, everything else is optional.

• [00:15:49] Rest as a productivity strategy — not a reward
Why protecting the nervous system matters more for progress than grinding harder.

• [00:12:55] Building identity-anchored habits
Real change sticks when habits reinforce: “I matter, and this action proves it.”

• [00:17:33] Compassion over perfection
Success isn’t “never missing a habit” — it’s knowing what to return to when life gets messy.

• [00:18:58] Designing a life that feels good for you
Claire shares how she now builds routines, parenting systems and work rhythms based on values, energy and lived experience.

Connect with Claire:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-jackson-5635592b
Website: https://thehabitlab.com.au/

Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

Connect with Joey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycorea/
Newsletter: https://thepluckyjester.com/newsletter/

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