"I'll Start Monday": Why the Perfect Start Date Keeps Moving
Why "I'll start Monday" feels like commitment but often delays change, what research on the fresh-start effect and procrastination shows, and how to start smaller now.
Articles – page 4
Why Wanting to Quit Does Not Mean Wanting Every Part of Quitting
Why you can want to quit a habit and still resist it: what research on ambivalence shows, a worked example, and an exercise for mapping what you’d lose.
"I'm Not Addicted, I Just Like It": The Distinction That Dissolves on Inspection
Why insisting 'I'm not addicted' defends against a label rather than addressing the behavior, what research on the continuum of substance use and behavioral dependence shows, and how to assess the situation without needing a diagnosis.
"But I Enjoy It": When Pleasure Is the Last Argument
Why 'but I enjoy it' feels like a complete argument for keeping a habit, what research on wanting versus liking and hedonic adaptation shows, and how to check whether you still enjoy the thing or just the idea of it.
"I'm Only Hurting Myself": The Perimeter That Is Smaller Than You Think
Why 'I'm only hurting myself' underestimates the reach of a habit, what research on secondhand effects of substance use and caregiver burden shows, and how to honestly map who else is touched.
"I Don't Want to Be Boring": When Identity Makes Quitting Feel Like Loss
Why quitting a habit can feel like losing part of your personality, what research on identity and behavior change shows, and how to separate who you are from what you do.
"It's a Reward, Not a Problem": When Pleasure Becomes the Defense
Why framing a habit as a reward makes it harder to question, what research on hedonic adaptation and wanting versus liking shows, and how to tell whether the habit still earns its label.
"It's Just a Phase": Waiting for the Habit to Pass on Its Own
Why framing a habit as a phase postpones action, what research on habit duration and self-change shows, and how to tell the difference between a genuine phase and an entrenched pattern.
"It's Genetic, I Can't Help It": When Biology Becomes an Excuse
Why citing genetics can serve as either honest context or a justification for inaction, what research on heritability of addiction shows about what genes do and don't determine, and how to use the information without letting it become an excuse.
"I Can Stop Anytime": The Claim That Never Gets Tested
Why 'I can stop anytime' feels like evidence of control but avoids the test, what research on perceived behavioral control and self-efficacy in addiction shows, and how to run the experiment honestly.