What Behavioral Science Says About Changing Habits Around the New Year

EPISODE OVERVIEW Wharton professor Katy Milkman explains the “fresh start effect,” a behavioral science finding showing that moments like New Year’s Day, Mondays, and major life changes increase motivation to pursue long-term goals. She discusses why this motivation fades, how present bias affects decisions, and why tools like automation, defaults, and planning are more effective than willpower alone. She also talks about how organizations can use timing to encourage positive behavior change and how AI may support goal follow-through.

PODCAST OVERVIEW Every day, business scholars answer pressing questions in their research - but what do their insights mean for you? In this podcast, Wharton faculty dive into what inspired their studies and how their findings resonate with the world today. Learn how research insights translate into knowledge you can use, with host Dan Loney.

#Behavioralscience #HabitFormation #BehaviorChange #PsychologyOfSuccess #NewYearsResolution ----- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is committed to sharing its intellectual capital through Knowledge at Wharton, the school’s online business analysis journal.

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