Engage the Fresh Start Affect with Temporal Landmarks

By Sarah Lyman Kravits, LifeBound Director of Training and Certification | Dec 23, 2025

Reflect, Renew, Re-engage

There's a reason people often take the opportunity at the end of the calendar year to take stock of growth, set new goals, or plan for habit change. Behavioral science research has shown that temporal landmarks, also called "chapter breaks," help us to establish a boundary between what we did in the past and what we have the potential to do in the future. The onset of a new year is only one of many possible temporal landmarks — people also use the end of a month or week, a birthday, the beginning of a season, or other significant days as an opportunity to think back on what was and plan what might be. The research finding that people are often more able to drive positive change following a temporal landmark is referred to as the "fresh start effect."

Temporal landmarks aren't magical in and of themselves. As the research has demonstrated, they are linked to increased self-efficacy through the new actions they motivate. Taking the reflective pause that a temporal landmark inspires, a person can establish some distance from past events (and associated disappointments or failures), thoughtfully plan more effective actions, and put them to work.

Coaches, the December holidays and New Year provide a chapter break for you as much as for your coachees. Questions like the following can help establish separation from your past self, set goals to move toward a future self, and begin to take action toward those goals:

What would be best to leave behind from last semester?
What would I/you like to change as the New Year begins?
Describe the ideal spring semester. What actions can bring my/your present self in closer alignment with that ideal self?
What worked well, or what was accomplished, last semester that I/you can make happen even more in the upcoming semester?
How can I/you use smaller temporal landmarks — weeks, months, other significant days — to inspire reflection and structure goal timing?
What change would bring a clear benefit — and what first step toward it can happen soon?

We at LifeBound wish you peace, reflection, community, and joy this holiday season, and steps toward powerful growth as you begin 2026.

Prepare for the new year with a LifeBound coaching course:

3-Day Virtual Coaching: Next Class - Jan 5, 7, 9
Self-Paced Coaching: Choose your own dates!
Coaching Certification: Spring, Summer, and Fall Cohorts

Explore which course is right for you at www.lifebound.com.

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Make 2026 the Year Coaching Solves Higher Ed’s Toughest Challenges

Higher education is grappling with unprecedented challenges—rising mental health crises, the need for greater career readiness, and the unfortunate reality that many students struggle to secure meaningful employment or are let go shortly after starting. These issues affect not only individual students but also university outcomes like enrollment, retention, and long-term institutional success.

By equipping your staff with coaching training, you can help students build resilience, achieve meaningful employment, and address many challenges that universities face today. Allocate your budget toward LifeBound’s training options this year and plan ahead to ensure your institution is prepared to address these critical needs effectively. Let’s create a campus-wide culture of coaching and make an impact!

LifeBound offers multiple ways to train academic coaches, faculty, or staff:

3-Day Virtual Coaching Course

A dynamic, interactive course focused on practical coaching techniques.

January 5, 7, 9

February 23, 25, 27

March 6, 13, 20

more dates online >

Time: 3 days, 6 hours each

Format: Online

Cost: $1,500 per person. Contact us about group rates.

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Self-Paced Coaching Course for Academic, Personal, and Professional Success

A flexible, 15-hour program designed for those who want to deepen their skills at their own pace. The course dives deep into foundational and advanced coaching techniques as well as motivation, resilience, career readiness, cultural competence and coaching diverse student populations, and includes private sessions with a LifeBound Coach. Institutional packages are available for group training.

Choose Your Own Dates!

Time: 15 hours (self-paced), plus 3 hours with LifeBound Coach

Format: Online

Cost: $1,500 per person. If you’ve already completed the 1-Day or 3-Day program, email contact@lifebound.com to receive a discount code for $500 off the new Self-Paced Course. Contact us about group rates.

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LifeBound Certification Program

For coaches ready to take their skills to the next level, the LifeBound Certification Program offers an in-depth dive into advanced coaching practices and strategies, culminating in certification as a LifeBound Coach.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Cohorts

Format: Online or in-person as available

Cost: $5,000 per person

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Let’s make 2026 a year of transformation for your institution and the students you serve!

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