FRIED. The Burnout Podcast #straightwithcait: Why Behavior Change Is So Hard (and What Your Brain Has to Do With It)
Healing happens faster with guidance. Give yourself permission to ask for and receive help: https://caitdonovan.com/coaching
Most people think they’ve failed at change when they’ve actually just hit the part where being human takes over.
Cait Donovan is taking a closer look at why behavior change is so hard to maintain and why relapse isn’t a sign of weakness but proof that your brain is doing exactly what it’s designed to do. She explains how old habits never fully disappear, they just sit quietly, waiting for a moment of stress or fatigue to reappear. Change takes effort, repetition, and compassion for the part of you that’s still learning.
Cait shares how progress depends on context and patience. A new habit might feel strong at home but crumble at work, and that’s normal. The real work isn’t about erasing the old pattern but building trust in your ability to return to the new one again and again. This episode is a reminder that being human is not the problem, it’s the process.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Understanding Why Behavior Change Feels Impossible
01:39 How the Brain Builds and Keeps Old Habits
04:10 Why New Behaviors Don’t Stick in Every Environment
06:20 Relapse as a Normal Part of Behavior Change
09:01 Final Takeaways: Being Human Is the Process
Connect with Cait:
Healing happens faster with guidance. Give yourself permission to ask for and receive help: https://caitdonovan.com/coaching
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm