For many of us, the start of the week feels like a new beginning. It can also seem like the best time to start a new habit, whether you’re trying to journal daily or drink more water. The catch? A Sunday or Monday kick-off can also feel overwhelming, making it difficult for the habit to …
Why Starting a Habit on a Wednesday Makes You More Likely to Stick With It Read More »
I am, without a doubt and unequivocally, what you would describe as a Type A person. I am the big planner in our home, an Excel sheet extraordinaire, the chief organizer of our friend group, and a list maker to the max. My morning begins with a cup of coffee, my favorite pen, and my planner (which …
Why “Ta-Da Lists” Might Be the Most Motivating Productivity Hack Ever Read More »
Many people assume that everyone should be able to work toward their goals with ease and consistent motivation, viewing this skill as a standard “strength” that everyone should possess. However, for many of us, especially those who are neurodivergent, it is actually a significant challenge that requires an entirely different approach than the one taught …
Redefining Persistence: Goal-Setting and Neurodivergence Read More »
Success largely boils down to a simple distinction. It’s glaringly obvious once you see it, but also easy to find ingenious ways of ignoring it: do the real thing and stop doing fake alternatives. Consider one person who wrote to me saying she turned down a job working in French. She didn’t feel her French …
As far as goals go, hiking the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is one of the more ambitious ones. When you ask people how they did it—something I’ve been doing for the past two years as a journalist—they don’t credit willpower. Instead, they say that pursuing the goal made them feel fully alive. Perhaps you …
My youngest will be going off to college next fall, meaning I’ll soon be an empty nester. After having raised my kids for the last 22 years or so, a large part of my purpose in life will leave along with my son. I know I’m not alone in feeling both sad and panicky about …
There’s a version of Tuesday where you stand in front of the closet for four minutes, not because you have nothing to wear but because choosing between two nearly identical shirts feels like a problem you physically cannot solve. The day hasn’t even started. You haven’t opened your email or spoken to anyone. But something …
Many of us know someone who genuinely seems to enjoy routines: My most popular article from last year was about how to learn to love self-discipline, and routines raise the same basic question: Are routine-lovers wired differently, or is loving routines just a nut you haven’t cracked yet? The answer is probably a bit of both. …
I usually like to keep things positive. I like to talk with my clients about what they can do to improve themselves and promote better mental and physical health. However, part of my job is to help people identify behavior patterns that prevent them from reaching their goals. That means that we have to talk about …
Kick 5 Bad Habits That Keep You From Crushing Your Goals Read More »
You want that new video game so badly, but you’re trying to knock your credit card balance down. Or you’re binging your favorite TV show and can’t wait to find out if a character lives, but it’s late, and you need to be alert for work tomorrow. Just exert a little self-control, you tell yourself. But …
How to Build Self-control, According to Psychologists Read More »
