Two years ago, my wife was looking for a new type of Journaling experience. She wanted something beyond just blank pages, something that could help guide her thoughts and prompt new ideas.
She went online in search of it and found an elegantly designed journal with millions of sales and thousands of positive reviews. She ordered it and started using it every day. The opening pages were filled with insightful explanations into the power of gratitude, the power of journaling, and much more.
She was excited. She dove in and used it daily.
But after a few weeks I noticed it was sitting in a corner, no longer being used. Although she really enjoyed it at first, her journaling went from daily to intermittent to none. I asked her what had changed, and she said, “it’s always the same, it was great at first, but I can’t answer the same three questions every day forever”.
A light went off.
A few weeks later in one of our team meetings I brought it up for discussion. We had started 100 Behaviors as a vessel to merge the academic with the practical and to create products that could help people build better habits, achieve goals, and improve their lives. We had been yearning to create something deep and meaningful and here was our opportunity.
There were so many ideas bottled up inside us from both our consulting work at The Lantern Group and the hundreds of interviews we have conducted with researchers and practitioners around the world at Behavioral Grooves. We were sitting on a wealth of research that could bring the positive powers of behavioral science to the mainstream consumer world – we just needed that spark, and here it was.
We realized there was a gap in the market – while there were countless personal journals out there, almost all of them follow similar patterns. They offer catchy names and some upfront insights before leading into empty repetition with little challenges or barriers for goal achievement and real meaningful change.
We decided to fill this gap by developing a personal guided journal that goes deeper, is fueled by science, and is actionable, challenging, and rewarding.
We aimed to “remove the fluff” and pull down the barriers – to reduce the friction that often inhibits goal adherence and success.
We did some market research to see if it already existed and, to our knowledge, it didn’t. So, we jumped in headfirst and started brainstorming, writing, and designing. We quickly realized that one of the reasons almost every other journal repeats daily is because… that’s a lot less content you need create.
But we were committed to doing it right even if it was a bigger bite to chew than we anticipated. While there can be power in repetition (e.g., the mere exposure effect), if it is inhibiting long-term adherence then it’s not getting the job done. To achieve what we hoped for, it meant that each day and each week had to provide something unique and interesting, something actionable and scientific, and it needed to be both embedded with and backed by science.
After many, many months, and LOTS of iterations we finally landed on a direction – a weekly guided journal that isn’t just a journal, it’s a journey - a journey that starts with setting goals and then hands you the tools to incrementally work toward achieving those goals while coaching you through the process of doing so. A journal designed by behavioral scientists, that taps into your underlying human drives, biases, habits, and behaviors to help you reach your goals and achieve your dreams.
A journal that utilizes psychological principles including priming, goal-activation, commitment devices, habit formation, and gratitude. A resource to break out of the status quo and jump into the driver's seat to your future success.
And now - after countless hours of research, meetings, writing and creative sessions, late nights and “what are we doings?”, pilot studies, fulfillment challenges, re-brands, re-designs, and re-writes, we finally got it right!
We are excited to introduce you to “The Brain/Shift Journal – Volume 1”. It’s challenging, rewarding, and effective. Order yours today.
Dive in and you will harness the power of behavioral science to improve your life in just 5-minutes a day.
But don’t just take out word for it, here’s your peers are saying about Brain/Shift:
"Brain/Shift is the tool that I needed but didn’t know existed! I’ve used planners and journals for years – but this one is different - it makes it so easy to focus on the things that are important." ~ Tim H., Charlotte, NC
“I love the focus on proven behavioral insights to gently guide you through your own personal goals. Brain/Shift is a fresh, new approach to working towards your long-term wellbeing!” ~ Mary K., London, UK
“I love that it Brain/Shift teaches me Behavioral Science while setting and achieving my goals. The journal is a great tool to help me to identify my goals and the simple daily action steps needed to drive me toward achieving those goals!” ~ Dean S., Minneapolis, MN
“In short, I love this journal. I had a new year's resolution to develop a meditation practice that didn't stick, in part because I wanted something more tangible. This journal is that tangible opportunity that I needed to move the needle in my habits and be more mindful. It's honestly one of my favorite parts of the day, to challenge myself and be more thoughtful on how I want to show up today.” ~ Richard R., Minneapolis, MN
"I love how this journal not only allows me to express my thoughts in varying ways (writing, drawing, doodling, etc), but also challenges me to think differently. The thought provoking cues, quotes and questions encourage me to think outside the box in a way I normally wouldn’t. After 2 weeks of use, I already can feel a positive difference in my everyday outlook & mood, and I look forward to writing in it every morning." ~ Lauren S., Boulder, CO