How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

by Katy Milkman

Chapter Takeaways An ideal time to consider pursuing change is after a fresh start. Fresh starts increase your motivation to change because they give you either a real clean slate or the impression of one; they relegate your failures more cleanly to the past; and they boost your optimism about the future. They can also disrupt bad habits and lead you to think bigger picture about your life. Fresh starts can be calendar dates that mark new beginnings (a new year, season, month, or week), birthdays, or anniversaries. They can also be triggered by meaningful life events, such as a health scare or a move to a new town. And finally, resets—when the metrics you’re using to track your performance are set back to zero—can also offer fresh starts. Although fresh starts can jolt you into positive change, they can also interrupt you when you’re on a roll, reversing your progress, so beware. A particularly effective time to encourage other people—employees, friends, or family members—to pursue positive change is after fresh starts.