7 Ways to Change Your Brain (And Your Life)

Stop Trying So Hard!

We all set goals. Maybe you want to exercise more, save money, or get a better job. But

usually, after a few weeks, we stop. We feel frustrated and think, "What went wrong?"

Most people think the

answer is to "try harder." But Professor Katy Milkman, a scientist at the Wharton School, says this is wrong. Changing your habits is not a war; it is a skill that you can learn.

Here are 7 scientific truths to help you reach your goals.

1. It is a Skill, Not Magic

The biggest lie is that you fail because you are weak or lazy. This makes you blame yourself. Professor Milkman says that changing is a skill, like learning to drive or using a computer. You don't need to suffer more; you need a better plan and better strategies.

2. The "Mary Poppins" Rule: Make it Fun

If an activity is painful or boring, you will quit. Our brains naturally avoid pain.

To succeed, use a trick called "Temptation Bundling". This means you mix something you need to do with something you love to do. For example, only listen to your favorite podcast while you wash the dishes. If you enjoy the time, you will do it more often.

3. Use a "Fresh Start"

Humans view time in chapters, not just as one long line. We like "fresh starts." Moments like New Year’s Day, your birthday, or even a Monday give us a feeling of a new beginning. Use these days to start new goals. They make you feel like a "new person" who can succeed.

4. Coach Someone Else

If you don't feel confident, try giving advice to another person. Research shows that when you mentor someone, three things happen:

• You feel more confident.

• You think more deeply about the problem.

• You start to believe the advice yourself.

  
  

5. Make the Good Choice the Easy Choice

Humans are naturally lazy. We like the easiest path. Don't fight this feeling. Instead, change your environment.

• Set defaults: Set up your bank account to save money automatically.

• Add friction to bad habits: If you want to eat healthy food, remove all the junk food from your house. If you have to go to the store to buy candy, you probably won't do it.

  
  

6. The Copy-and-Paste Method

We act like the people around us. If you want to change, spend time with people who are already successful at what you want to do.

One study showed that students who had roommates with good grades started to get better grades, too. Find a successful person and "copy" their habits.

7. Plan to Be Human

You will not be perfect. You will have bad days. This is normal.

Don't quit when you make a mistake. In one study, people who allowed themselves two "cheat days" per week were actually twice as successful as people who tried to be perfect every day. Be kind to yourself. A missed day is not a failure; it is just part of the process.

Conclusion

Stop fighting against your brain. Instead, use these tools to make hard things easier. Pick one small, fun strategy from this list and try it this week!

Please answer the following questions in the comments box, at the very bottom, to get ideas from members in the community and enrich your knowledge about this topic.

The "Boring Task" Challenge

In the post, we learned about "Temptation Bundling" (mixing something boring with something fun).

• What is one chore or task you hate doing (for example: washing dishes, exercising, or driving in traffic)?

• What is something fun (like music, a podcast, or a snack) you could combine with it to make it better?

Your "Fresh Start"

We learned that our brains like "Fresh Starts," like Mondays or birthdays.

• When is your next "Fresh Start"? Is it next Monday? Next month?

• What is one small goal you want to start on that day?