New Year, New You?

"Despite spending the last 15 years studying behavior change, personality development, and developing evidence-based treatments, I still feel the pull. Why? Because wouldn't it be wonderful if meaningful change were quick and easy? The idea that a single insight, habit, or system could instantly transform how we think, feel, and behave is deeply appealing, especially when we're tired and overextended (which, of course, we are as the holidays come to a close)."

"True story. I once bought a Tupperware lid organizer on Prime day believing that this was my ticket to becoming a more organized person in general. In hindsight, this was wishful thinking. Yes, changing your behavior is an important ingredient in personality change. But no single habit is a magic lever. There is no miracle product, supplement, or planner. Bottom line: I'd be highly skeptical if an influencer or advertisement is making big claims that this will change your life."

Bold New Year promises often claim that a single habit, insight, or product will produce sweeping personality change. Those quick-fix appeals become especially tempting when people are tired and overextended. No single habit, planner, or product serves as a magic lever for lasting personality change. Personality consists of characteristic ways of thinking and behaving across situations, so small behavioral tweaks practiced consistently in real-life moments accumulate over time. Skepticism toward influencer claims and reliance on consistent, situation-linked behavior change produce more reliable results than one-off purchases or isolated habits.

Read at Psychology Today