Working Hard with Grace Beverley Why You're Addicted To Starting But Never Finishing
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Sep 29, 2025 
Nir Eyal, a behavior design expert and author of 'Indistractable,' dives into the neuroscience behind why we love starting projects but often abandon them. He reveals that dopamine spikes when anticipating rewards, making new beginnings addictive yet fleeting. Listeners learn practical strategies like setting minimum milestones, visualizing progress, and using the 10-minute rule to manage distractions. Nir emphasizes that overcoming impulsiveness lies in forethought and reframing one’s identity towards being a finisher, not just a starter.
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Break Projects Into Tiny Tasks
- Break big projects into the smallest possible tasks you can actually complete.
- Small completions create momentum and produce satisfying dopamine hits.
Use A Cooling-Off Period For New Ideas
- Delay immediate action on new ideas by using a cooling-off period.
- Only act on ideas you still want after 48 hours to avoid half-finished projects.
Tie Rewards To Completion, Not Initiation
- Reward yourself for finishing steps, not for starting them.
- Deny indulgences (e.g., TikTok) until you complete the work you committed to.
