Behavioral scientists have been exploring if — and when — a psychological reset can lead to lasting change. We survey evidence from the London Underground, Major League Baseball, and New Year’s resolutions; we look at accidental fresh starts, forced fresh starts, and fresh starts that backfire. And we wonder: will the pandemic’s end provide the biggest fresh start ever?
I know a lot of people were particularly excited about January 1 of this year.
I got extra emails about, oh, thank goodness it's finally 2021.
I'm so excited.
That's Katie Milkman.
I'm a professor at the Wharton School, and I'm also the author of the book how to change.
And I'm the co director of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative with Angela.
Duckworth as a behavior change specialist.
Milkman sees January 1 as something of a high holy day.
Every year, roughly half of all Americans make a New Year's resolution to break some habit, fix some flaw, pick up some new activity at the top of these wish lists.
And yes, I am calling them wish lists.
You'll see why later at the top are eating better, drinking less, exercising more.
We asked free economics radio listeners to tell us their resolutions for this year.
Some of you set the bar pretty low.
My New Year's resolution is to give.
Myself a frickin break.
I realized I haven't been showering enough, so I made it a New Year's.
Resolution to shower every 36 hours.
And so far, so good.
Visiting the tide pools.
That's it.