作者用研究量化「预设偏误」的威力：某公司把 401(k) 从「自行选择是否加入」改成「必须主动做出加入/不加入决定」后，员工加入率提高了 28 个百分点。另一篇研究在美国 Medicare Part D 发现，约 90% 受益人留在预设方案，即使方案每年变动、且未必最符合其用药需求；德国资料则显示，当可再生能源电价方案被设为预设时，消费者选择较贵绿电的机率几乎是非预设情境的 10 倍。

建议的行动重点是把「被动」改成「主动」：翻查帐单找出周期性扣款并取消低价值服务；调整 401(k) 提拨，把储蓄重新设回符合目标的自动化轨道；花 20 分钟整理手机主画面、改预设搜寻引擎等。文章也指出预设位往往牵涉巨额利益（例如报导称 Google 在 2022 年对 Apple 的预设搜寻合作付款达 200 亿美元），并提到反垄断判决对竞争的影响；最后提醒可检视器官捐赠的「选择加入」状态，并用行事历、固定预约等自订预设提高执行率。

The piece argues that instead of New Year’s resolutions, you should treat Jan. 2 as “Defaults Day”: a one-time audit of the invisible defaults that run life (auto-renewing subscriptions, 401(k) contribution settings, phone and browser options). The idea is simple—change a default once, then benefit all year. The gym example illustrates the trap: January sign-ups spike, but by March attendance fades while monthly fees can keep accruing.

It highlights strong evidence on default bias. In one company, requiring employees to make an active 401(k) choice (“enroll” or “don’t”) increased enrollment by 28 percentage points compared with an opt-in system. A Medicare Part D study found about 90% of beneficiaries stayed in the default plan even as it shifted year to year and could fit worse. In Germany, consumers were almost 10 times more likely to pick pricier renewable electricity when that option was set as the default.

The recommended playbook is practical: scan statements for recurring charges and cancel low-value services; reset your 401(k) rate; spend 20 minutes reorganizing your phone and changing digital defaults like search. It notes that default placement can be worth huge sums (reports cite Google paying Apple $20 billion in 2022) and ties defaults to competition policy. It also suggests reconsidering organ-donor opt-in status and creating personal defaults (calendar workouts, recurring sitters) to raise follow-through rates.