"Willpower is like a phone battery; it drains over the course of the day, and once it’s flat, it’s flat."

If you’ve ever started a new habit with high hopes only to watch it fizzle out two weeks later, this episode is for you. In this second instalment of our goal-setting series on How to Be Happy, I’m pulling back the curtain on why "trying harder" is actually a terrible strategy for long-term change.

I explore why the problem isn't your discipline, it's your system. Using the principles we teach at BU Happiness College, I share how to stop pushing against the "boulder" of inertia and start building momentum that feels effortless.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The Willpower Myth: Why relying on sheer discipline is a recipe for burnout.

  
  

• Habit Stacking: The simple secret to "piggybacking" new behaviours onto existing routines.

  
  

• The Boulder & Inertia: Why starting tiny is the only way to get the heavy rocks of your life moving.

  
  

• Environment Design: How to "stack the deck" in your favor by making good habits easy and unhelpful ones hard.

  
  

• Identity-Based Habits: Shifting from what you want to achieve to who you want to be.

  
  

• The Power of the "Tiny Win": Why celebrating an inch of progress is the fastest way to wire your brain for success.

Building better habits doesn't require perfection; it just requires showing up in small, consistent ways.

Action Steps & Resources:

• Master the Science of Happiness: Join the waitlist for our brand new 6 week shortcourse; the Certificate of Happiness Studies (launching March 2026). Click here to join the waitlist: https://s.pointerpro.com/coursewaitlist

  
  

• Pre-order the Book: Secure your copy of my new book, How to Be Happy (launching July!), for a deeper dive into the skills and science of happiness. Pre-order the book here: https://amzn.to/3OieywQ

• Spread the Ripple Effect: If this episode helped you, share it with someone currently struggling to make a change. And remember to subscribe to the show so you don't miss upcoming episodes.

Important announcement: The ‘How To Be Happy’ book is coming and preorders are now open!

PRE-ORDER THE BOOK:

Get your copy of How to Be Happy here: https://amzn.to/3OieywQ

What does it look like to practice happiness skills in the middle of life’s biggest transitions?

Join me and Amy Rankin (Head of Personal Happiness Coaching at BU Happiness College) for a deep dive into emotional regulation, parenting with intention, and the psychology of happiness in life’s challenging chapters.

Key highlights in this episode:

• Navigating Change: Practical tools for emotional acceptance during transitions.

• The Next Generation: How modelling resilience at home impacts the school experience for children.

• Happiness Mistakes: Identifying the traps that keep people from feeling their best.

• The Role of Faith: Exploring what modern wellbeing science says about faith and trust.

• Big News: I am thrilled to announce my book, How to Be Happy, is coming this July.

PRE-ORDER THE BOOK:

Get your copy of How to Be Happy here: https://amzn.to/3OieywQ

(Pre-orders are the greatest way to support our work and help the book reach more people!)

Parenting is one of life’s biggest adventures and its biggest challenges. In this conversation with Australia’s trusted parenting expert Dr. Justin Coulson, we explore what it really takes to raise happy, resilient children while also looking after yourself as a parent and partner.

Dr. Justin draws on decades of experience, research, and his own journey raising six daughters to share approachable, evidence‑informed insights. We unpack the balance between philosophy and practice, how to nurture emotional strength and connection in your family, and why the skills we develop as parents ripple out into the next generation in a profound way.

If you’re navigating the messy, beautiful work of raising kids and want a grounded, thoughtful perspective, this episode will have something for you.

🎧 Check out Justin’s Happy Families podcast and explore his suite of parenting resources at https://happyfamilies.com.au/

📌 Explore enrolment options, self‑study and coaching programs at BU Happiness College: https://www.buhappinesscollege.com/

🎤 Want Declan to speak at your workplace or event? Find out more here: https://declanedwards.com.au/

What actually makes people happy at work? And what keeps great people engaged, energised, and performing at their best?

In this episode, Declan introduces the seven core ingredients of happy employees.

This framework is grounded in wellbeing science, real workplace experience, and years of research into what helps people thrive at work. It sets the foundation for the How to Be Happy at Work series this season, with a deeper dive into each of the seven elements across upcoming episodes.

Whether you’re a leader, manager, or someone who simply wants a better experience at work, this episode will help you reflect on what’s working, what’s missing, and where change might be needed.

🔔 Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the upcoming deep dives into each of the seven factors.

🌱 Explore enrolment options at BU Happiness College and our self‑study and coaching programs: https://www.buhappinesscollege.com/

🎤 Bring Declan in to speak at your workplace or event: https://declanedwards.com.au/

Not all goals are created equal. Some leave us stressed, stuck, or chasing someone else’s idea of success.

In this episode, we explore how to set goals that genuinely boost your wellbeing. You’ll learn what the research says about goal setting and happiness, the common traps to avoid, and how to create goals that feel energising, not exhausting.

If you’ve ever set a goal and wondered why it didn’t make you feel any better… this one’s for you.

🌿 For every new subscriber, we protect one square metre of rainforest. So please make sure your subscribe and share the show with people in your life

🔗 Check out our brand new website to explore our short courses, coaching, and self-study programs at BU Happiness College: https://www.buhappinesscollege.com/

As the year comes to a close, Declan Edwards and Ami Rankin are sitting down together to reflect, reset and celebrate everything we’ve learned on the How To Be Happy journey.

In this special end-of-year wrap-up, we look back at the biggest lessons, the most powerful moments, and the standout conversations that shaped our community this year. From mindset shifts to practical wellbeing strategies, Declan and Ami unpack what truly moved the needle on happiness; both for our listeners and in their own lives.

Whether you’ve been here since episode one or discovered the podcast this year, this is the perfect way to reconnect with what matters, acknowledge your growth, and set yourself up for a more intentional, more joyful year ahead.

Hit play, reflect with us, and let’s step into the new year with clarity, compassion and confidence.

Thank you for being part of the How To Be Happy community, we can’t wait for what’s coming next.

Click here to join the waitlist for our upcoming short courses and self study programs: https://s.pointerpro.com/coursewaitlist

Click here to join the waitlist for Declan's book: https://s.pointerpro.com/bookwaitlist

Are your people busy, but not productive?

In this episode of How to Be Happy at Work, we explore why focus is becoming the ultimate competitive advantage in today’s workplaces. From the rise of “bullshit jobs” to the epidemic of false urgency, Declan unpacks how modern work culture is sabotaging performance, purpose, and wellbeing: and what leaders can do to turn it around.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why constant multitasking and responsiveness kill productivity

✅ How “if everything’s a priority, nothing is” plays out in teams

✅ The neuroscience of focus and deep work (and how to reclaim it)

✅ How to prioritise meaningful work over performative busyness

✅ 6 evidence-backed ways to boost focus, performance, and wellbeing at work

✅ How to shift from fire-fighting to clarity, purpose, and progress

This episode is packed with real-world examples, science-backed insights, and practical tools you can implement with your team today; whether you're a team leader, people & culture professional, or executive looking to create a high-performance, human-centric workplace.

🔔 Subscribe, rate, and share to help us build happier, more effective workplaces.

Want to bring me in to work with your team? Check out my speaker site here: https://declanedwards.com.au/

Feeling overwhelmed, tense, or stuck in constant overdrive? This episode is your reset button.

In this science-backed deep dive, happiness researcher Declan Edwards unpacks the psychology of stress, explores why Australia and New Zealand rank among the top 3 most stressed populations globally, and shares practical tools to reduce chronic stress in your daily life.

You’ll learn:

• The 3 types of stress (chronic, acute, and eustress), and why not all stress is bad
• The shocking Gallup statistic showing that 47% of people report stress as their dominant workplace emotion
• Why stress is considered a “silent killer” and how it impacts your physical and mental health

The Top 5 evidence-based ways to reduce stress; including simple breathing techniques, emotional literacy, movement, connection, and mindset shifts

How most episodes of this podcast double as stress-reducing tools (and how to revisit them)

This is one of the most actionable episodes we’ve released: blending neuroscience, storytelling, and real-world strategies to help you stress less and live more.

To access our free happiness tools and explore upcoming projects like my new book, click the link below. Please remember to subscribe and share the show to help spread the ripple effect.

https://linktr.ee/that_happiness_guy

Ready to fast track your personal growth and happiness skill development? Check out our courses and coaching services at https://buhappinesscollege.com/

Can better communication transform workplace culture?

In this episode from the archives, I interview Chris Huet; a former fighter pilot, award-winning poet, and master of leadership communication. Chris combines military precision with poetic insight to help leaders cut through noise and truly connect with their teams.

We unpack:

• What makes communication stick
  

• How stories and metaphors build trust
  

• Why emotional intelligence is essential in modern leadership
  

Chris’s background is one of the most fascinating I’ve come across, and his insights into clarity, empathy, and influence are timeless.

🗣️ Originally co-hosted with Josh — our former GM at BU Happiness College.

🎧 Archived from our old podcast Working Well — links and references may be dated, but the wisdom still hits home.

Links in the shownotes:

Click here to connect with Declan: https://linktr.ee/that_happiness_guy

Click here to bring Declan to your workplace: https://declanedwards.com.au/

Click here to connect further with Chris: https://www.icmi.com.au/chris-huet/

Ever feel like you're constantly fighting against life? Trying to control people, outcomes, or the future and it's exhausting you?

In this episode of How to Be Happy, we're diving into why trying to control everything is making you less happy; and how to finally let go without giving up. Learn about the Locus of Control model, explore the power of surrender (including my personal story with The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer), and discover practical tools to help you release the need for control and find peace, purpose, and focus in your day-to-day life.

We’ll unpack:

• Why control is often an illusion (and how it backfires)
• How to work with your circle of control, influence, and surrender
• Why surrender isn’t weak, it’s a powerful happiness skill
• How the “raft and river” metaphor can transform your stress
• The surprising link between trust, faith, and wellbeing
• Research-backed tools to help you let go and flow with life

This is a must-listen if you’re tired of micromanaging life, struggling with anxiety or overthinking, or want to cultivate calm confidence in the face of uncertainty.