Part One: Background Context What is Behavioural Science? Behavioural science is the study of how people actually think and act—not how they should act in theory. It looks at the small, often unconscious factors that drive our decisions and routines. It’s why you pick one product over another, why you stick to habits that make no sense on paper, and why you sometimes find yourself persuaded without realising it. Brands have long used behavioural science to shape customer experiences, from how products are priced to how they’re presented. One principle in particular—anchoring—shows up everywhere. The Anchoring Principle Anchoring is a cognitive bias where our minds rely too heavily on the first piece of information offered (the “anchor”) when making decisions. Once an anchor is set, everything else is measured against it—whether it’s a price, an idea, or even a morning mood. Part Two: How to Use Anchoring to Hack Your Workday If big brands can anchor our choices, we can definitely anchor our own minds. That’s exactly what I’ve designed the 3-step Anchoring Process to do, and it’s all laid out in the Reflection section of the Moi Daily Journal. I built this process on behavioural science principles and the psychology behind how we form habits and mindsets. The idea is simple but powerful: by starting your day with these three steps, you’re giving your brain a kind of “mental anchor” to return to whenever you face stress or challenges during the day. So here’s how it works: 1. Frame Your Best-Self Attributes: Each morning, you’ll define the feelings and behaviours that represent your best self. 2. Identify Triggers: Then, you’ll note down potential triggers that could throw you off. 3. Reaffirm Your Best-Self: Finally, you’ll reaffirm those best-self qualities, especially how they feel, so they’re top of mind. The outcome? When you’re in back-to-back meetings or dealing with those everyday stressors, your brain naturally returns to the morning anchor points. Instead of getting caught up in reactivity, you’ll find yourself guided back to the mindset you intentionally set.
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