Some incredible contributions about human behavior from David Coughlin , Ben Doremus , Jason Gootman , Eilis Olson , Justin McNaughton , John Dieser , Ellery Fisher , Dr. Chad Nowlin , John Mishasek , Adam Harpool.

We dropped the whole thread into chatgpt to get a summary and some suggested practical ways to improve, the result is quite impressive:

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Your observations and those of your respondents have delved into an extremely complex area. The multi-dimensional nature of human behavior, especially as it relates to health, is influenced by a host of factors that include biology, psychology, sociology, and economics, among other things. Let's consider some additional perspectives and hypotheses:

1. Discounting Future Gains: People tend to give more weight to immediate rewards than to future gains, a concept known in economics as hyperbolic discounting. A burger right now often seems much more appealing than a distant, abstract concept like long-term health.

2. Ego Depletion and Decision Fatigue: Willpower is often modeled as a limited resource. Throughout the day, as people make decisions, they "use up" some of this resource, leading to poorer decision-making later on. This could explain why someone might diligently do their job but then opt for a couch and TV time instead of exercise at the end of the day.

3. Social and Environmental Factors: The places where people live and work, and the people they interact with, can heavily influence their health behaviors. If someone lives in a "food desert," for example, they might have limited access to nutritious foods. If their social circle engages in unhealthy behaviors, this can also be normalizing.

4. Cognitive Biases: Confirmation bias, optimism bias, and the illusion of control can all play roles in how people approach their health. Many may under-estimate risks or believe that negative health outcomes will not happen to them personally.

5. The Paradox of Choice: Contrary to conventional wisdom, having too many options can lead to anxiety and inaction. The overwhelming amount of health-related information available today could have a paralyzing effect on individuals trying to make the right choices.

6. Financial Constraints: Sometimes it’s not just about knowing what's good for you; it's also about whether you can afford it. Whole foods, gym memberships, preventive healthcare—all of these can be costly.

7. Educational Gaps: Not everyone is equally informed about how lifestyle choices affect health, nor do they have the same ability to interpret and act on the information they do receive.

8. Health System Barriers: Sometimes the healthcare system itself can be an obstacle, with issues like inaccessibility, high costs, and long waiting times deterring people from seeking preventive care.

9. Survivorship Bias: People might look at those who live long despite unhealthy behaviors and assume that they, too, can beat the odds.

10. Sociocultural Values: What is considered good health, or an acceptable body type, can vary greatly between cultures. This can have a huge impact on what behaviors are considered "healthy" or "desirable" in the first place.

11. The Role of Identity: Some people may see certain healthful or unhealthful behaviors as part of their personal or cultural identity, making change difficult.

12. Instant Gratification: Human brains evolved to seek quick rewards. Modern life has made these quicker and more potent, but our brains have not caught up.

Given the complexity of human behavior and the multitude of factors that influence it, any effective intervention will likely need to be multi-faceted, personalized, and sustained over the long term.

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How to find intrinsic motivation to make changes?

Addressing the multitude of factors that affect one's ability to make healthy choices requires a multifaceted approach. Here are some practical ways to think about these challenges to find intrinsic motivation for making better choices:

Discounting Future Gains

• Visualize Future Self: Use apps or simulations to show how you will look or feel if you maintain a healthy lifestyle versus if you don't.
• Set Near-Term Goals: Instead of aiming for long-term health, set achievable short-term objectives that offer quicker rewards (like losing 1-2 pounds per week).

Ego Depletion and Decision Fatigue

• Automate Healthy Choices: Plan meals and workouts in advance or use services that deliver healthy meals to reduce decision-making.
• Prioritize: Do tasks requiring the most willpower earlier in the day when your reserves are full.

Social and Environmental Factors

• Find Your Tribe: Actively seek social circles that support a healthier lifestyle.
• Environment Engineering: Make your environment conducive to health by keeping healthier foods within reach and perhaps setting up a home exercise space.

Cognitive Biases

• Reality Checks: Use objective data and analytics to counter confirmation and optimism biases.
• Confront Your Biases: Actively seek information that challenges your existing beliefs about health.

The Paradox of Choice

• Limit Choices: Choose a set of meals or workouts you know are good and stick to them.
• Information Filtering: Rely on trusted sources to avoid the overwhelm of too much information.

Financial Constraints

• Invest in Health: View expenses on whole foods or gym memberships as an investment rather than a cost.
• Affordable Options: Seek out community health initiatives or free online resources to help make healthier choices without financial strain.

Educational Gaps

• Knowledge is Power: Use accessible platforms like podcasts or blogs to educate yourself.
• Community Education: Join or create community forums to share and gain knowledge.

Health System Barriers

• Telehealth: Use telehealth services to circumvent long waiting times or accessibility issues.
• Be Proactive: Instead of waiting for annual check-ups, monitor your health at home using basic equipment like blood pressure monitors or diabetes testing kits.

Survivorship Bias

• Objective Risk Assessment: Use real statistics and data to assess health risks rather than anecdotal evidence.
• Consult Professionals: Discuss your risks and lifestyle with healthcare providers for a more nuanced understanding.

Sociocultural Values

• Cultural Sensitivity: Acknowledge that health and body image have different meanings in different cultures and adapt your approach accordingly.
• Open Dialogue: Encourage open discussions about health that include different cultural perspectives.

The Role of Identity

• Identity Reframing: Rather than seeing a lifestyle change as a threat to your identity, reframe it as an enhancement or evolution.
• Community Support: Join or form groups of people who share your cultural background but also support your health goals.

Instant Gratification

• Micro-Rewards: Use apps that offer immediate rewards or feedback for completing health-related tasks.
• Replacement: Find healthier activities that offer immediate rewards to replace unhealthy ones (e.g., a quick workout can replace sugary snacks for stress relief).By addressing these factors individually and holistically, you can tap into intrinsic motivations and make it easier to adopt and maintain healthier habits.

####Author: Betty Health, with help from incredible contributors and chatGPT4