Just earlier today, around 4m to be precise, I stepped out of the plane from Tokyo to Helsinki. It’s a 12-hour flight. Wandering slooowly through the security check, I couldn’t help thinking… Simo you’re so tired.
Then, just like that, I realised I cannot be tired.
There’s no way. I just can’t. Because I’m doing the same trip soon enough with three kids.
THEN, I’ll be tired.
And just like that, my mind was bright again. I was energetic and excited for the day ahead.
Because I told myself so.
Time and again, I’m in awe of the power of thoughts and words.
We all know intuitively how persuasion is power: using words to influence others to do something. But we forget how much influence we have over ourselves by being strategic about the words and thoughts we allow into our days.
Or, going deeper… we have a direct influence over our identity itself!
And that’s a powerful idea.
What Identity Actually Means (And how We get it Wrong)
Identity isn’t some unicorn-y (not sure if that’s a word, I totally made that up) unchangeable spirit that inhabits you, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Identity also isn’t your personality type or your star sign.
From a psychological perspective, identity is simply the story you tell yourself about yourself.
When you ask yourself who are you and then listen to your answer specifically on your:
- Capabilities
- Values
- Typical behaviours
The big misconception? Most people think identity is fixed. And that somehow have to change your behaviours first, then maybe your identity will follow. Maybe. But, you know, changing those behaviours is SO HARD, so meh.
Might as well resort to saying “this is who I am” and keep doing nothing.
Here’s what I want you to consider: Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you are becoming (paraphrased from James Clear’s works). But this is a bit of a paradox. Because it’s your identity that determines which actions feel natural and which feel like you’re fighting upstream.
So when you brute force it all and change your behaviour without also working hard on your identity, you’re essentially trying to act like someone you’re not.
And what happens then under stress? Or if you’re busy (like 99% of academics are)?
Well, then you simply default back to who you still deep down think you are.
That’s why our January motivation dies by February.
That’s why your “this time it’s different” is, in fact, no different.
The Real Problem with Your “Academic Fresh Start”
Look around you. Everyone’s always making these resolutions:
“I’m going to never procrastinate again.“
“From now on, I’ll write every day.“
“One grant proposal per month!“
And here’s what’s happening:
Everyone puts a few calendar blocks in their coming days. And give up the first chance they get. Because there’s always the next week!
Remember, the week when you’re supposedly having more time?
Yeah right…
The Calendar Trap
People treat identity change as a systems problem, in this case, a calendar problem.
Pick a date, flip the switch, and become the new wonderfully productive, happy scholar who gets it done day in day out!
But identity doesn’t work on a schedule.
When you wait for Monday, next week, next month, or “after this deadline,” you’re reinforcing the old identity of someone who needs external permission to change.
The productive academic doesn’t wait for arbitrary dates.
They start now.
Because you can’t wait for the behaviours to craft your identity.
The Behavior-First Fallacy
You can’t build lasting habits without addressing the underlying identity first.
“I‘ll force myself to write for 2 hours every morning!” doesn’t work because, quite simply, forcing never does.
If you or your family members have kids, you already know this. Forcing works only when you have willpower. When you can best yourself. And that’s only when you feel great.
And that’s not always.
On the other days?
- You’re fighting your own self-concept every single day.
- You’re fighting who you still think you are.
- You’re fighting your “reality.”
No wonder it’s exhausting. And no wonder it fails every single time.
So, let’s address the underlying issue here!
Three Science-Backed Strategies for Identity Change
Forget the motivational speeches and the productivity hacks.
They’re fun and I listen to them too.
But for now put them aside for a bit.
Here’s what works to rewire who you are. Your identity:
Strategy 1: Identity Voting
So, let’s revisit this one. James Clear’s idea of every action being a vote for the type of person you are is a great one. But a small twist will make it even better.
First, consciously cast these votes every day. But start small. So, going back to that heroic “I want to write 2 hours every morning“, howabout you just write one paragraph?
And make it a short one. Seriously, just four sentences. Every morning.
I learned the power of small actions from BJ Fogg’s works (Tiny Habits, a great book): Starter habit has to be small so you succeed every single time. Then, your brain updates your self-concept based on evidence, one success at a time.
Each small win provides proof of your new identity.
After enough “votes,” your brain accepts the new story.
We build the story about our attitudes and identities by observing our behaviour. Small, consistent wins provide provide undeniable evidence. So your brain will have no other option than to start believing you’re a “morning writer”…
And who cares if this takes 3 or 4 months! You’ve tried this for YEARS already, and this is a small price to pay to make it work!
Strategy 2: Identity Linking
You’re already planning what you do.
Now, start linking it even more consciously to your identity as well.
Instead of “I will write that one paragraph every morning” and just blocking time for it in the calendar, very consciously explain yourself every morning before you start why you’re starting.
“Because I’m the kind of academic who gets shit done consistently.”
Or whatever is your preferred identity formation goal.
The key is to do this daily. You’ll forget it otherwise. And the beautiful part about this is that you can’t lie to yourself either: If your identity is something that you deep down resent somehow, you’ll feel it intuitively.
“That’s not what I even want to be.”
Linking your ideal desired identity, your role of sorts, to your goals and plans makes you more likely to succeed. It’s science.
Strategy 3: Social Reinforcement
Your identity is practically always also, at least in part, social.
Use that to your advantage.
Find (or create) a group that shares your values and goals. This group will most likely also be full of people who share a similar “academic identity” to the one we are talking about here.
Follow academics who seem to do what you aspire to do successfully.
Help them maintain their work, and at the same time you’re helping yourself.
(A real-life hack, by the way: Helping others is the best way to help yourself.)
We all have a psychological need to act consistently with our group memberships. Recent research even shows that people who join communities sharing an identity are 65% more likely to succeed in building new habits.
Start With One Sentence
Here’s an experiment for you: Write your new academic identity in one sentence.
“I am an academic who…”
Not “I want to be” or “I’m trying to become.” Or “Aspiring…”
Close your eyes and see it. Declare it. I am.
I, for example, am an energetic, happy academic.
Why? I mean…that’s who I am? I’m not aspiring to be one.
I am. I take care of my energy and work hard for my “academic happiness” (I do draw a line between academia and life, of course).
Then…the crucial part… VOTE for that identity immediately.
Right now.
One small action that proves you are who you say you are.
Not to me.
To your brain!
It’s Now or Never
Want to know what’s the craziest part about identity? It can change fast. So fast you don’t even believe it yet.
It could change today. Just one decision. And then sticking to it. Believing it.
Being it.
Moments, not months.