A Productive Conversation Michelle Segar talks about habits and The Joy Choice
Dec 21, 2022
Michelle Segar, a lifestyle coach and award-winning researcher at the University of Michigan, shares her insights on creating sustainable behavior changes. She discusses the importance of flexibility in habit formation and how adapting habits can enhance enjoyment. Segar introduces the 'P.O.P.' method—PAWS, Open options, and Pick the joy choice—to navigate life's unpredictability. She also emphasizes the emotional and societal influences on habit formation, encouraging a mindset shift to see each moment as an opportunity for positive change.
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Why Diet And Exercise Are Different
- Eating and exercise are uniquely tied to weight, societal norms, and identity which complicates change.
- Ignoring those dynamics undermines typical behavior-change approaches and long-term success.
Automatic Habits Often Fail Here
- Habit formation is widely touted but often fails for complex behaviors like eating and exercise.
- Many people can't rely on automaticity because these behaviors involve tensions and context shifts that break habits.
Habit Science Has Limits
- Habit research often comes from animal models and simple routines, so it doesn't map to human complexity.
- Eating and exercise are multi-step, context-sensitive behaviors that resist single-cue habit loops.
