Why is it that even when we know exactly what to do, doing it can feel almost impossible? And once we've built a good habit — or broken a bad one — what actually makes it stick?

In our final fabulous episode of Be Well Age Well, hosts Dr Susannah Ward and Dr John Ward turn to the psychology of behaviour change with clinical and health psychologist Professor Ben Britton.  You now know what do to but doing it may be the barrier – so we explain how you can action your new Longevity knowledge into an ageing well lifestyle!

Professor Britton is a clinical and health psychologist dedicated to improving healthcare through the science of behaviour change. He joined the University of Newcastle in 2025, bringing more than two decades of frontline experience in the Australian public health system, including as Head of Psychology for Hunter New England Mental Health. He is now Co-Founder of the ACCESS Lab, where his research focuses on making psychological interventions effective and scalable in the real world.

Together, they explore:

• What habits actually are, and how they're formed — and broken
• Why knowing what to do isn't the same as being able to do it, and why change feels so hard
• Whether replacing a bad habit with a good one is helpful — or essential
• How to make a new habit easy and automatic
• Practical tips, tools, and supports for breaking unhelpful habits

As always, the conversation is warm, accessible, and grounded in real-world relevance — translating the psychology of change into clear, practical steps listeners can start using immediately.

Key Takeaways & Actions:

• Habits are built and broken through repetition, cues, and context — not willpower alone
• Understanding why change feels hard is the first step to making it easier
• Replacing an unhelpful habit with a helpful one is often more effective than trying to simply stop
• Small, automatic, low-friction changes are what make new habits last

This episode brings a practical, psychology-backed lens to the six pillars of functional longevity explored throughout the series, giving listeners the tools to turn good intentions into lasting habits.

Whether you're a health professional, someone in midlife wanting to build habits that stick, or simply curious about the psychology of change, this episode offers grounded, practical guidance you can put to work straight away.

Reach out to Dr Susannah Ward here www.ataraxiacollective.com.au