The fresh start effect
lars.yencken.org
The fresh start effect
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Re: The fresh start effect
#2> Were we just cynically capitalising on people's New Year's resolutions, all of which are bound to fail? Or was there something more to it?
It can be both
Re: The fresh start effect
#3> The study describes how people take on difficult things after "temporal landmarks" like the start of a new year, a new month, or even a new week. Despite the replication crisis in social science and behavioural economics, this was an effect that we immediately verified in our own user data at Lifesum.
Can't you send your data to further prove that this effect exists? PR for you, win for science.
Re: The fresh start effect
#4> Were we just cynically capitalising on people's New Year's resolutions, all of which are bound to fail? Or was there something more to it? It can be both
Mega PR hack: bring up and dismiss the question before the reader can make any assumptions
Re: The fresh start effect
#5> Some people are cynical about New Year's resolutions, prefer not to make them, or look down on others who do.
> I have a different perspective. Overall, I admire people who try to make change in their lives for the better.
This is good general advice. Why not just be supportive and nice to people instead of dismissing whatever effort they put in things that they want to do or are passionate about.
This makes it easier for yourself to change too, whenever that is desirable or needed.
Re: The fresh start effect
#6> Some people are cynical about New Year's resolutions, prefer not to make them, or look down on others who do. > I have a different perspective. Overall, I admire people who try to make change in their lives for the better. This is good general advice. Why not just be supportive and nice to people instead of dismissing whatever effort they put in things that they want to do or are passionate about. This makes it eas…
It’s just like quitting smoking. I don’t really care to scorn the 9/10ths (or whatever the number is) who fail. I care to celebrate the 1/10th that succeeds.
It’s more a confession to the mindset of these people who fixate on the pessimistic side of a pitched battle.
Re: The fresh start effect
#7> Some people are cynical about New Year's resolutions, prefer not to make them, or look down on others who do. > I have a different perspective. Overall, I admire people who try to make change in their lives for the better. This is good general advice. Why not just be supportive and nice to people instead of dismissing whatever effort they put in things that they want to do or are passionate about. This makes it eas…
The thinking that goes into things like new years resolutions is also part of a greater ideology though. That in itself dismisses fundamental changes for unrealistic scenarios. That you don't need good housing, working conditions or health care because with this one business, diet or lifestyle trick you will beat the odds. In many countries the majority now are overweight or obese in their sixties. Despite more knowledge, method and products than ever. And that is counting all the outliers who just don't eat much or are very active.
There is nothing wrong with a new years resolution but you have to take it for what it is. Actually getting fitter, eating better and losing weight is a multiple year commitment at least. If it is hard for any extended period of time the likelihood of success is low.
Re: The fresh start effect
#8Hey, I just switched from Noom to Lifesum a few months ago, interesting to come across it here!
Re: The fresh start effect
#9> Some people are cynical about New Year's resolutions, prefer not to make them, or look down on others who do. > I have a different perspective. Overall, I admire people who try to make change in their lives for the better. This is good general advice. Why not just be supportive and nice to people instead of dismissing whatever effort they put in things that they want to do or are passionate about. This makes it eas…
The thinking that goes into things like new years resolutions is also part of a greater ideology though. That in itself dismisses fundamental changes for unrealistic scenarios. That you don't need good housing, working conditions or health care because with this one business, diet or lifestyle trick you will beat the odds. In many countries the majority now are overweight or obese in their sixties. Despite more knowl…
The stereotypical buy-a-gym-membership-use-it-once resolution doesn't encompass the whole of the thing.
Another line of thinking that goes into things like New Years' resolutions is the idea that significant change can only be intentionally and effectively made in a long series of tiny steps. The OP discusses the dual of this idea but misses the main thing:
> The reality is that if you are going to do something that's really difficult, like changing your whole approach to eating, you are likely to either fail, or to accumulate the kind of micro-failures over time that erode your motivation, death by a thousand cuts.
The flip side here is that overall progress is composed of micro-successes over time that build your motivation.
Re: The fresh start effect
#10> Some people are cynical about New Year's resolutions, prefer not to make them, or look down on others who do. > I have a different perspective. Overall, I admire people who try to make change in their lives for the better. This is good general advice. Why not just be supportive and nice to people instead of dismissing whatever effort they put in things that they want to do or are passionate about. This makes it eas…
The thinking that goes into things like new years resolutions is also part of a greater ideology though. That in itself dismisses fundamental changes for unrealistic scenarios. That you don't need good housing, working conditions or health care because with this one business, diet or lifestyle trick you will beat the odds. In many countries the majority now are overweight or obese in their sixties. Despite more knowl…
And yet, success is higher when others support and reinforce.
So don't use statistics as an excuse to be a dick.