Nir Eyal's Blog, page 13

Habits Are Overrated

These days, when someone says they want to form a “habit,” what they often mean is that they want to make drudgery effortless. That is, they don’t want to actually do the work, rather they want to have done it—past tense. The trouble is, trying to build a habit is often a self-defeating trap.

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Need Motivation? Make a Price Pact

Probably the only research paper I’ll ever call “delicious” is one called, “A Tale of Two Pizzas.” In the study, researchers offered one group of people plain pizzas, plus the option to add ingredients for an additional charge. To a second group, they offered topping-loaded pizzas, with the chance to remove ingredients and pay less. Same thing, right? Of course, not...

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Researchers Say We’re Trapped in a “Cycle of Distraction.” Here’s How to Break Free.

Let’s say you’re on a diet. You’ve cut calories and avoided junk food like a champ. But now you’re faced with a powerful adversary: chocolate cake. You somehow muster the strength to resist, but as you exit the kitchen, you can’t stop thinking about the chocolatey goodness you could’ve enjoyed. Abstinence can often backfire.

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The Pinky Promise: Stick To It – Or Shed Some Blood

A pinky promise is a surefire way to make you do what you say you’ll do. People have a long history of breaking promises, to themselves and to others. For as long as people have been squelching on their commitments, they’ve tried to come up with ways to keep them. Consider the pinky promise.

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The Pinky Promise: Stick To your Goals–Or Lose Some Blood

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Tame Daily Distractions With a ‘Precommitment Pact’

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“Digital Body Language” Is Everything: Interview with Erica Dhawan

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Good News! Your Willpower Isn’t Limited–Don’t Believe the “Ego Depletion” Theory

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Getting Over FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out

FOMO, the "fear of missing out,” refers to the feeling of “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere.” Most people at one time or another have been preoccupied by the idea that someone, somewhere, is having a better time, making more money, or leading a more exciting life.

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Choice Architecture: Your Decisions Aren’t Entirely Yours (Interview with Eric Johnson)

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