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So You Reached Your Goal. Now What?
... Goal setting is part of how we demarcate time, said Dr. Katy Milkman, a behavioral scientist at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of “How to Change.” ... It’s normal to feel a bit lost after reaching a goal, especially one you’ve been working toward for a long time, said Dr. Emily Balcetis, an associate professor of psychology at New York University. ... It’s also important to ask yourself what drove you to set a particular goal, said Dr. Elliot Berkman, a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon. If your ambitions are rooted in your values, there’s a greater chance you’ll stay motivated, he added.
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To Build a Habit, Try a Streak
Streaks work for two reasons: what behavioral economists call loss aversion and potential gain, said Dr. Katy Milkman, a behavioral scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. Let’s start with gains: A streak can be profoundly motivating for people, Dr. Milkman said, “because there’s something bright and shiny that they can reach for. There’s a prize, in a sense, that’s making you more motivated to get a thing done.” ... To turn a streak into a habit, you should make it easy to repeat the behavior, said Dr.
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‘I Spent 30 Years Searching For Secret to Happiness – The Answer Isn’t What I Thought’
... Professor Bruce Hood, of the University of Bristol, speaks of the human tendency "to blow things out of proportion…[focusing] on our own failings or inadequacies". He runs ten-week courses at Bristol on the science of happiness and talks about the need to find balance because, as he puts it, "our minds are biased to interpret things very negatively".
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Resilience in Black Americans Spans Multiple Levels of Support
A new study shows that supports at the individual, relational, and community levels work together to foster resilience, expanding notions of mental health interventions.
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The Easiest Way to Feel More Organized
... It’s tempting, of course, to turn this type of manageable task into an existential undertaking. “Instead of thinking, I’m going to spend an hour this week on paperwork, it becomes, I’m going to be an organized person,” said Stephanie Preston, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. She emphasized that for some people, “rage cleaning” every room over a long weekend works. Certain personalities are wired for that kind of stimulation, in the same way that some people like the cold-turkey challenge of Dry January to jump-start healthier drinking habits. ...
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4 Things Therapists Want You to Know Before You Start Therapy
... With the right therapist, you should feel safe and respected. You should not feel as though you’re being secretly judged. With that in mind, try to speak with more than one therapist before committing. Many offer free 10 or 15 minute consultations. And trust your gut. Within about three sessions it will most likely become clear whether you work well together, said Riana Elyse Anderson, a clinical psychologist and an associate professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City. If the fit feels off, then move on. “It’s like dating,” she added. “You want to cut your losses early.”
