Are You Ready for a Fresh Start? (Update)

This Freakonomics Radio episode explores the "fresh start effect" and its impact on behavior change, particularly in the context of New Year's resolutions. Katy Milkman, a behavior change specialist, discusses the psychological shifts that fresh starts can trigger, such as providing a sense of a clean slate and encouraging big-picture thinking. The episode examines the success rates of New Year's resolutions, the role of fresh starts in achieving goals, and how these principles apply in various real-world scenarios. Examples include Andy Byford's career in overhauling public transit systems, a study on commuter behavior after a London Tube strike, and an analysis of baseball players' performance after being traded. The podcast further investigates the potential downsides of fresh starts, with insights from Hengchen Dai's research on the "reset effect" and Bob Tewksbury's experiences in baseball.