We’ve all felt it—that surge of motivation on the first day in a new job, the determination we feel on New Year’s Day, or the energy accompanying a new school year or back to work.
There’s something psychologically powerful about new beginnings that makes us believe we can stick to our goals and make progress. This isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s a well-documented phenomenon called the “fresh start effect.” But the beauty of understanding this phenomenon is that you don’t need to wait for January 1st to harness its power and set yourself up for success.