-
It’s a week into January and a quarter of us have already abandoned our New Year’s resolutions
The Washington Post: Considering the number of people who make New Year's resolutions — somewhere between 40 and 50 percent of us, according to various reports — there isn't an overwhelming amount of recent research on how successful we are. But as you might not suspect, the data we do have show that 46 percent of us succeed — or say we succeed — for at least six months. Change is hard, but for a while we seem to be able to keep it up. Still, the speed at which many of us fail is pretty surprising. A 1989 study by John C.
-
How We Learn Fairness
The New Yorker: A pair of brown capuchin monkeys is sitting in a cage. From time to time, their caretakers give them tokens, which they can then exchange for food. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that capuchin monkeys prefer grapes to cucumbers. So what happens when unfairness strikes—when, in exchange for identical tokens, one monkey gets a cucumber and the other a grape? When Sarah Brosnan and Frans de Waal carried out just this experiment, in 2003, focusing on female capuchin monkeys, they found that monkeys hate being disadvantaged. Read the whole story: The New Yorker
-
We’ve Got Resolutions All Wrong
NPR: This weekend, Facebook's "Memories" reminded me of a post from Jan. 2, 2009: "Tania Lombrozo is generating New Year's resolutions...that look a lot like last year's." I could, unfortunately, post the same again today. In fact, one of my resolutions for 2015 — to be smart about my smartphone — was shared here last year on 13.7, and I can report pretty imperfect success. I'm surely not alone in failing to achieve my resolutions: How many people resolve to eat healthier diets and to exercise more regularly, year after year? It's an unfortunate reality that good intentions aren't enough to bring about good behavior, especially when that behavior is hard. Read the whole story: NPR
-
Parents: Your math anxiety is only making homework harder for your kids
Quartz: While doing a math problem with my six-year-old recently during a classroom session for parents, I barked at her, “Just put the number in any circle.” She looked at me as if I was speaking a different language. Turns out, I was. Her teacher, who overheard the conversation, corrected me. The sum, she explained, goes in the top circle. Three circles form a pyramid and the bottom stack are for addition or subtraction while the top is for the total. I wrongly assumed order was insignificant. ...
-
Want to do something good for your health? Try being generous.
The Washington Post: Every day, we are confronted with choices about how to spend our money. Whether it’s thinking about picking up the tab at a group lunch or when a charity calls asking for a donation, we are faced with the decision to behave generously or not. Research suggests that spending money on others can improve happiness, but can it also improve your physical health? Read the whole story: The Washington Post
-
5 Ways to Maintain Your Vacation Happiness
U.S. News & World Report: After returning from a great trip – be it a quick coastal getaway or a more far-flung retreat – it's easy to reminisce about our most remarkable travel moments. Whether you're daydreaming about the fun you had sinking your toes in the sand, gliding down a snow-covered mountain or stumbling upon a beloved local bistro or treasured cultural site, positive memories tend to leave a lingering impression long after your journey. But while all breaks must come to an end, the blissful feelings triggered don't have to disappear as soon as you revert to your normal routine.
