1. Dress the Part (Even at Home)

Want to be more productive, confident, or creative? Start by dressing like it.

A Northwestern University study found that wearing specific clothing can influence psychological processes—a phenomenon called enclothed cognition. People wearing a white coat (told it was a doctor’s coat) performed better on attention tasks than those told it was a painter’s coat.

Try This: Working from home? Trade the sando and boxers for a casual but put-together outfit. You’re more likely to act like the version of yourself you’re dressed for.

2. Use “Identity Priming”

Instead of setting goals like “I want to exercise,” reframe it as “I’m someone who never misses a workout.”

This concept is based on identity-based habits. According to James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, habits that reinforce who you want to be are more likely to stick because they become part of your self-image.

Try This: Write a list of identities you aspire to (e.g., “I’m the kind of person who eats healthy.”) Then act in alignment with those identities, even in small ways

3. Make It Harder to Fail Than to Succeed

If willpower isn’t working, tweak your environment.

This is called choice architecture. Behavioral economist Richard Thaler (who won the Nobel Prize) showed how subtle changes in how choices are presented can strongly influence behavior.

Try This: Want to stop doomscrolling? Log out of TikTok. Want to eat better? Place fruits on the table and junk food in a locked cabinet. Make the good habits frictionless, and the bad ones harder to access.

4. Set a “Minimum Baseline” Habit

When motivation dips (and it will), your fallback should be so easy it’s laughable.

BJ Fogg, a Stanford behavior scientist, recommends Tiny Habits like flossing just one tooth or doing one push-up. These create momentum and reinforce identity change over time.

Try This: Instead of “I’ll meditate for 20 minutes,” start with 1 minute of deep breathing before bed. It’s easier to show up consistently when the bar is low.

5. Surround Yourself with Social Proof

We often unconsciously copy those around us, especially when we identify with them. A study published in Nature Human Behaviour in 2017 found that social influence can shape our private attitudes and decisions even without explicit awareness. This reflects our deep-rooted drive to belong and align with the social norms of our peers.

Try This: Want to be more financially savvy? Follow local creators like Jax Reyes or Nicole Alba. Want to be healthier? Join a friend’s walking challenge. Your circle shapes your behavior more than you think.

Becoming a new version of yourself doesn’t mean starting from zero. It means stacking small wins and building an environment where becoming that person is the obvious next step.