You, But Better

This Hidden Brain podcast episode interviews behavioral scientist Katy Milkman about overcoming self-sabotaging behaviors that prevent us from achieving our goals. The discussion covers common pitfalls like distraction, impulsivity, and laziness, illustrating these with personal anecdotes and examples from popular culture. Milkman introduces techniques like "temptation bundling" (linking enjoyable activities with disliked tasks) and leveraging "fresh starts" (e.g., new year, birthday) to boost motivation. The episode also explores the power of setting smaller goals, providing real-time feedback, and using default settings to nudge behavior change. Listeners gain practical strategies to improve self-control and achieve long-term goals by understanding and working around their mental limitations.