The science of fresh starts, with change expert Katy Milkman
Jan 2, 2025
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Katy Milkman, a behavioral scientist and bestselling author, shares her insights on the art of making effective changes. She discusses the concept of 'fresh starts' and how they can be leveraged for growth in personal and professional realms. Katy introduces 'temptation bundling' to overcome procrastination and offers science-backed strategies to enhance New Year's resolutions. She also emphasizes the power of 'micro wins' in organizational change and the importance of accountability and incentives in achieving lasting behavioral change.
Katy Milkman highlights the concept of temptation bundling, which combines enjoyable activities with tedious tasks to enhance motivation and habit formation.
The podcast emphasizes the significance of 'fresh starts' in goal-setting, while also recognizing the need for sustainable strategies to maintain progress beyond initial motivation.
Deep dives
Masters of Scale Business Awards
The episode highlights the opening of applications for the 2025 Masters of Scale Business Awards, which recognizes organizations that demonstrate significant achievements aligned with the show’s themes. The awards aim to include companies at all stages, encouraging stories from not only well-known entities like Fortune 500 companies but also from smaller businesses. This inclusive approach underscores the importance of celebrating various success stories, regardless of an organization's size or stage of growth. Interested parties are prompted to apply by visiting the specified website, emphasizing the desire for diverse narratives from different journeys.
Temptation Bundling for Habit Formation
Katie Milkman introduces the concept of temptation bundling as a powerful strategy for developing good habits while overcoming the hurdles of tasks people often dread. She shares her personal experience with exercising, where she turned her love for audiobooks into motivation by allowing herself to listen only while at the gym. This technique transforms the perception of the dreaded chore by linking it with a guilty pleasure, making the activity more enjoyable and something to look forward to. The underlying principle suggests that combining an unpleasant task with an indulgence can fundamentally alter the motivation and experience associated with the chore.
The Impact of Fresh Starts
The notion of 'fresh starts' is explored as a psychological phenomenon that motivates people to set new goals during significant life transitions. Research indicates that moments such as the beginning of a new year or the start of a week trigger a fresh mindset that encourages healthier habits and goal-setting behaviors. However, Milkman warns that while fresh starts can provide a temporary boost in motivation, they often are not sufficient for sustained behavior change, particularly for goals that require ongoing effort. It’s essential to not only harness this initial motivation but also to implement strategies that help maintain progress beyond these fleeting moments.
Barriers to Change and Effective Solutions
Identifying obstacles to personal behavior change is crucial for long-term success, according to Milkman, who encourages a 'premortem' approach to anticipating what might hinder one's goals. Common barriers include impulsivity, procrastination, and a lack of confidence, which can derail even the best intentions. Solutions involve creating detailed plans that outline specific actions and timelines to encourage accountability and clarity. By addressing these barriers through understanding and strategic planning, individuals can improve their ability to sustain change and achieve their goals.
‘Fresh Starts’ are a powerful tool for making change. So to kick off 2025, Katy Milkman stops by to give us science-backed strategies for reaching our goals. Milkman is a behavioral scientist, Wharton professor, and bestselling author of How to Change. In this episode, she sits down with host Jeff Berman to share proven ways to carry the momentum of positive change in our personal and professional lives beyond January.