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How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions
New year, new you. But before you start on your resolutions for 2025, think back on what you accomplished in 2024. ... The start of a new year signifies a new start to many people, says Katy Milkman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.” “All of us have something in our lives that we could get a little better at, right? None of us are already perfect,” Milkman says. “The new year is a moment — and it's one of many moments, but it's the best recognized — when we recognize on our calendar a new beginning.
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2024 in Review: 10 Most Popular Articles from APS Journals
Podcast: How do the five love languages hold up to empirical research? How does gender equality vary by country globally? Tune in to hear highlights from last year’s most popular research.
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It’s Time to Do Away With Early School Start Times
The first bell echoes off the bricked hallways of Lindbergh High School in Renton, Washington, warning dazed and coffee-clutching students to pick up their pace. It’s December. It’s 7:15 a.m. It’s still dark outside. Yet, in five minutes, they are expected to be sitting in class, alert, and ready to learn. ... Poor sleep and circadian disruption carry numerous costs for teens. Studies point to lower grades and higher rates of car accidents, athletic injuries, risky behaviors, substance abuse, obesity, depression, and anxiety. Cycles of REM sleep primarily occur in the last third of the night.
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Are Ultraprocessed Foods Really That Delicious?
I’m a Gen X-er, so ultraprocessed foods have been a mainstay of my diet since I was a kid. I was raised on bowls of sugary cereal, mac and cheese and instant ramen. I still crave them. And that’s by design, said Ashley Gearhardt, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Gearhardt’s research suggests that some UPF ingredients, like added fats and sugars, can activate the brain’s reward centers in ways similar to those of addictive substances like alcohol and nicotine. “The more you have, the more you want,” she said.
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Eight Ways to Stay Happier This Year, According to Science
... There is another way the past could help you in the present. Research suggests that engaging with our ancestry can have profound psychological benefits. Family stories about overcoming adversity, for example, can be empowering when passed down to new generation. Iris Mauss, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, has also shown that the desire and pursuit of happiness can also increase feelings of loneliness and disconnection. She recommends adopting a more stoic attitude and being more accepting of life's ups and downs.
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If You’re Mentally Struggling During the Holidays, Here’s How to Cope
For many people, celebrating New Year’s Day can include reflecting on a life well lived or a chance to start anew. But for some, the holiday may have dark undertones, according to a recent large study. ... The results may also reflect the known tendency for many people to feel generally less upbeat during the winter months due to seasonal affective disorder, said Dr. Dan Romer, psychologist and research director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, via email. Romer wasn’t involved in the study.
