E78: Health in your Hands Promises & Pitfalls with Dr Heather McKee
Welcome to another episode of Brain Fuel! I’m so excited to share my conversation with Dr. Heather McKee, one of Europe’s leading lifestyle behaviour change specialists. Heather brings a wealth of experience in health psychology and digital health, and her insights are both practical and inspiring.
In this episode, we explore the science of sustainable behaviour change, the promise and pitfalls of digital health, and how to make real, lasting improvements in our lives and organisations.
Top 3 Takeaways:
- Intrinsic Motivation is Key: Real, lasting behaviour change comes from understanding and tapping into our intrinsic motivations—not just relying on external rewards or pressure.
- Implementation Over Information: Most of us know what we “should” do for our health; the real challenge is turning that knowledge into action. It’s not an information gap, it’s an implementation gap.
- Find Joy in Healthy Habits: Sustainable change is easier when we focus on the healthy habits we actually enjoy, rather than punishing ourselves or chasing short-term goals.
Quote from Heather:
“What we feed the mind is ultimately what becomes our behaviours. Be careful of what your media diet is, because what you consume, consumes you.”
Book Recommendation:
Heather recommends “Good Habits, Bad Habits” by Wendy Wood for a deep dive into the science of habits, and also gives a shoutout to “Atomic Habits” by James Clear for accessible, actionable advice.
If you’re interested in behaviour change, digital health, or just want some inspiration for making positive changes in your own life, this episode is packed with insights and practical tips. As always, if you enjoyed the show, please like, share, or leave a review. And if you have a project or story to share, get in touch at [email protected] I’d love to hear from you!