THE WEEKLY PAGE 📝 No. 250

What elevators can teach us about habits + what to read, watch, listen to and enjoy...

Apr 18, 2025

Back in the 1980s, researchers wanted to convince people in a 4-story office building to start taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

They made signs that illustrated various stats about the health benefits of taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and even explained the environmental impact of unnecessarily using the elevator.

The signs made no difference.

So, the scientists decided to try something else: they adjusted the elevator settings so that the door waited 16 seconds longer before closing.

Almost immediately, the elevator use dropped by 30%.

They left it like this for a few months, and then eventually put the elevator settings back to what they had been. Surprisingly, though, people didn’t stop taking the stairs.

They had formed a habit of taking the stairs, and they stuck with it.

This is an example of what psychologists call friction, and it can be a useful method when you are trying to change habits.

Consider something you want to do less of and find ways to add or increase friction, such as increasing the time, distance, or effort required to perform the undesirable habit.

By making the less-desirable option just a little bit harder, you create space for change— and often, that’s all it takes. Whether it's putting your phone in another room during work hours, placing snacks on a higher shelf, or moving the TV to encourage reading — a bit of well-placed friction can play a key role in changing our habits.

Have a great weekend!

📚 READ: This *might* be a peek at things to come (😉) but I’m diving into Puppy Brain over the Easter break and I’ve heard it’s a beautiful and informative book. Learn more and order a copy via Bookshop.org.

📺 WATCH: We started the latest season of The Handmaid’s Tale which came out last weekend and wooooooof. Remember when Season 1 came out back in 2017 and it seemed scary but also impossible? And now it feels….underway? Before diving in we watched this 10-minute recap and I was really glad we did — there were so many details I had forgotten from the previous season. After catching up, watch the Season 6 tailer here.

🎧 LISTEN: The Atlantic doesn’t always get it right (I have some criticisms) but they are one US news outlet that I have subscribed to for years, even after moving abroad (I have the print/digital subscription and get the printed magazines sent to my dad — he loves them!). I didn’t even know they had a podcast channel and have been really enjoying their longform pieces in audio format. Check out Radio Atlantic here or wherever you listen to podcasts.

🧡 ENJOY: This looks like rabbit food (another perfect dish for Easter, perhaps?) but I promise it is soooooo much more delicious than a big bowl of grass. We paired it with grilled salmon but I think it’s great on it’s own or with basically any protein. Super simple, super fresh! Grab the recipe for this Lemony Orzo Asparagus with Garlic Bread Crumbs via New York Times Cooking.

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