The power of an accountability buddy to help get things done
4/14/202619 min
It’s easy to set big goals — but will you stick with them? The buddy system can help. In this episode, we talk about how to find an accountability partner and build a lasting, productive relationship. This episode was originally published on Jan. 15, 2025.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMarielle Segarra· Host0:00
Every story from Short Wave, NPR's science podcast starts with a question, like why do we have nightmares? How does AI affect my energy bill? At NPR, we are here for your right to be curious about the world around you. Follow Short Wave wherever you get your podcasts because the more you ask, the more interesting the world gets. You're listening to Life Kit from NPR. Hey, everybody. It's Marielle. It's a classic story. We set these big resolutions on New Year's Eve and then drop them by mid-January, and this happens throughout the year, too. We have goals, but life and our routines and habits get in the way. One thing that can help is the buddy system. Francisco Ramirez, who lives in New York, kind of intuitively knew he needed this. He has this stuffed animal rabbit that he keeps on his desk.
Francisco Ramirez· Guest0:58
This is Memo, Memo the rabbit.
Marielle Segarra· Host1:00
Actually, he calls it Memo the High Five rabbit 'cause for a while, every time he finished a task- I would give Memo a high five, and, um, we'd celebrate.
Francisco Ramirez· Guest1:08
I had other versions of this with a paper squirrel. I did all sorts of fun, uh, sort of motivating tools.
Marielle Segarra· Host1:15
But an inanimate object could only provide so much support.
Francisco Ramirez· Guest1:18
So I remember specifically searching high and low for something that would connect me to somebody who wasn't a stuffed animal or a paper squirrel.
Marielle Segarra· Host1:28
Francisco started searching for