Using Fresh Start Days To Build Habits

If you're like most people, your dreams of writing that book this year or getting in shape have begun to fizzle. A recent US News study shows that 80% of resolutions are given up by February 1st.

Will you be in the 20%?

Here’s some help, and an optimistic approach. Our brains are best at starting new habits on what are called "fresh start days." Think about this: why do we even make New Years resolutions? Why don’t we make Wednesday Wishes? Or Cinco de Mayo-mmitments?

In his book, "When" about the science of timing and work, Daniel Pink writes about this concept of Fresh Start Days. We are more likely to start a habit or take action on a fresh start day. A day that feels like the first of a new chapter. He identifies 86 fresh start days in the year where that's most likely:

• The first day of the month (12)
• Mondays (52)
• The first day of spring, summer, fall, and winter (4)
• Your country’s Independence Day or the equivalent (1)
• The day of an important religious holiday—for example,
Easter, Rosh Hashanah, Eid al-Fitr (1)
• Your birthday (1)
• A loved one’s birthday (1)
• The first day of school or the first day of a semester (2)
• The first day of a new job (1)
• The day after graduation (1)
• The first day back from vacation (2)
• The anniversary of your wedding, first date, or divorce (3)
• The anniversary of the day you started your job, the day you
became a citizen, the day you adopted your dog or cat, the day
you graduated from school or university (4)
• The day you learned about this (1)

This book has influenced how we run Caveday and think about the timing of our events and how to take breaks. Hopefully this idea influences how (and when, obviously) you set out to do that thing. With 86 days to choose from, you have no more excuses.

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Caveday is a company aimed at improving your relationship to work. We write regular posts on Medium and send out monthly newsletters with productivity tips, life hacks, and recommendations. Sign up for the mailing list here.

Jake Kahana is a cofounder of Caveday. Sign up for his personal emails, called “The Email Refrigerator” here.