The new year is finally here, and, with our resident blogger back from maternity leave, we're once again able to provide you with your weekly update - before the Shopper hits the streets.
It's the time of year for positive life changes - but how can you be sure that you'll actually carry out your resolutions through the rest of the year? Our front page story has a few psychologist-certified tips and tricks. First, according to psychologist Roy Baumeister of Florida State University, it's important to keep your brain in shape. If you think of your brain as a muscle, keeping it fed and well-rested, you'll be able to utilize the region that controls willpower more easily. It's also a good idea to limit yourself to focusing on one resolution at a time, and to make specific goals, like saying "I will cut back on my sugar consumption by cutting soda out of my diet." Rather than "I will eat less sugar."
Researchers also agree that the most successful resolutions belong to those who are able to get back up when they fall down. The key is not necessarily to succeed initially, but to keep trying, even after making mistakes. Another way to ensure that your resolution will be successful is to find substitutes for the things you're giving up. For instance, if you resolve to drink less, you should also resolve to enjoy another relaxing ritual before bed, like reading a book or taking a bath. Finally, according to University of Scranton John Norcross, it's important to remind yourself that it's not a race. Norcross says that most of us tend to overestimate how much we can accomplish in the short run, and overestimate how much we can accomplish in the long run. Making small changes and taking it slow can ultimately have a huge impact, if we just stick with it.
No comments:
Post a Comment