Wisdom from the Ethics Sage
I stopped working after 8 hours the other day and started to think about the amount of time that I have spent each day still working even after retiring ten years ago. I often say that I am “actively retired.”
It has been almost 50 years since I graduated with my doctoral degree from George Washington University. During that time, I have written dozens of articles, had most of them published, and made dozens of speaking engagements as well. I wondered, should I still be doing this? I mused: How can I make changes in my life?
The phrase “nothing changes if nothing changes” is an aphorism that means “if you keep doing the same things and living with the same habits, your life, environment, or results will stay the same. I know that growth and transformation require deliberate, active effort rather than just waiting or hoping for a different outcome.
A memorable quote that sometimes gets confused with “Nothing changes if nothing changes” is: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Often falsely attributed to Einstein, this phrase actually traces back to 12-step programs like Narcotics Anonymous literature from the early 1980s and was popularized by writer Rita Mae Brown in her 1983 novel Sudden Death.
Core Meanings & Contexts
During my soul searching, I wondered when I developed the habit of getting up at 4 am and working for 8 hours. I remembered that it first occurred about 30 years ago when I was a business school dean. I found that the only way to get meaningful work done was to come to the office early and work for 4 hours before faculty came in to share something, ask questions, or blame someone else with whom they were having a problem [Sometimes it was a decision of mine with which they had a problem].
I started my search for a different/better way of life at my advancing age by consulting AI. It helped to provide context for making changes in my life. First, I found that in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, the phrase serves as a core mantra. It emphasizes that lasting sobriety requires fundamental shifts in lifestyle, daily routines, thoughts, and the people or places you surround yourself with. However, some people (such as trauma survivors or those facing systemic barriers) find the phrase unhelpful or shaming. It can wrongly imply that someone is choosing to stay stuck or not trying hard enough, ignoring factors that are completely out of their control.
Here are three practical frameworks from the AI chatbot that helped me to focus on changing a specific area of my life:
- Habit Stacking
- Instead of trying to force a brand-new habit into your day, anchor it to an existing, automatic routine.
- The Formula: “After I [Current Habit], I will [New Behavior].”
- Example: “After I pour my first cup of coffee, I will write down my top priority for the day.”
- Environmental Friction
- Your environment often dictates your behavior. To change your actions, change your surroundings.
- To break a bad habit: Increase the friction. If you want to stop scrolling on your phone in bed, plug your charger in across the room.
- To build a good habit: Decrease the friction. If you want to work out in the morning, lay your clothes and shoes out the night before.
- The 2-Minute Rule
- When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do. The goal is simply to establish the routine of showing up before you worry about perfecting it.
- Instead of: “I’m going to read for an hour every night.”
- Start with: “I’m going to read one page before bed.”
Making a Lifestyle Change
Making a lifestyle change is challenging, especially when you want to transform many things at once. It is best to think of it not as a resolution but as an evolution.
Lifestyle changes are a process that takes time and requires support. Once you are ready to make a change, the difficult part is committing and following through. So do your research and make a plan that will prepare you for success. Careful planning means setting small goals and taking things one step at a time.
Here is a good tip from American Psychological Association (APA) to help you make lasting, positive lifestyle and behavior changes. Start small, focusing on one thing at a time and receiving support from others, which are proven ways to make changes that will last. Focus on the actions and events that are within your control and break larger goals down into smaller steps.
Can I Change?
I keep telling myself that making the changes that I want will take time and commitment. I am not perfect. Moreover, I am not very patient. Nevertheless, there are useful tips in my blog that I should try myself. [Sometimes I am better at giving advice, and not so much taking my own advice].
I really like the advice in the example above—to write down the priority for the day. It helps to focus on what is most important that day rather than keeping it open ended. It has motivated me to try and change the habits I have addressed—or not!
Blog posted on October 27, 2026 by Steven Mintz, PhD, and professor emeritus from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. You can contact Dr. Mintz at: smintz@calpoly.edu. Visit Steve’s website to find out more about his activities.