Tag Archives: "resolutions"

My recent post, Beware of “decoy habits,” spurred a lot of conversation, and it’s clear to me that the subject is much more complex, and interesting, than I initially realized. Readers made many thought-provoking comments. One reader pointed to research that suggests that talking about a goal can lead to the false feeling of already having achieved that goal. I’ve … →

Every Wednesday is List Day, or Tip Day, or Quiz Day. I spend a lot of time thinking about questions such as, “How do we change?” “Why is it so hard to make ourselves do things that we want to do?” ( for instance, why is it so hard to make myself go to bed?) and “How can we stick … →

I’ve written a lot about abstainers vs. moderators. In a nutshell, the difference is: abstainers find it easier to resist temptation by giving up something altogether, while moderators find it easier to indulge in moderation. I’m an abstainer. I find it very easy to give something up, but I drive myself crazy when I try to indulge in a limited … →

Tomorrow is the big day! Day #1 for New Year’s resolutions! Are you ready? It’s fun to think about New Year’s resolutions, and I always make them (in fact, I make resolutions throughout the year). If my happiness project has convinced me of anything, it has convinced me that resolutions—made right—can make a huge difference in boosting happiness. So how … →

Every Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: How to stick to your New Year’s resolutions — 7 tips. The new year is approaching, and that means it’s the season for resolutions. I’m part of the 45% of Americans who usually make New Year’s resolutions; I’m a big believer in the power of small changes to make us happier. Along the … →