Self-Improvement Archives

How to Figure Out Who You Want to Be: Naming Your True Desires

Do you tend to keep doing the same thing without a good reason for it? Which work tasks do you truly enjoy? What skills does your future self have? In Think Big, behavioral science expert Grace Lordan addresses the fact that many people fail to transform their lives despite a desire to do so. She acknowledges that achieving big goals takes a few years and provides practical advice for making the journey toward your ideal self. Read more to discover how to figure out who you want to be—the first step on that journey.

Procrastination & Emotional Regulation: The Surprising Connection

How do negative emotions affect procrastination? How can you use emotional regulation to overcome procrastination? In The Procrastination Cure, Damon Zahariades considers possible psychological sources of procrastination. He presents several models of how a task that stirs up strong emotions or triggers negative thoughts can lead you to procrastinate. Keep reading to learn about the psychological roots of procrastination, emotional regulation’s role in defeating the habit, and how negative self-esteem stalls tasks.

Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything

What’s the best way to remember what you learn? How can you plan for interruptions when you study? What are some tips for effective note-taking? Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe is a user-friendly guide to improving your approach to learning. Whether you’re a student in school or picking up a new skill, you can become a more effective learner. Continue reading for an overview of this practical book.

The Mind Illuminated: Book Overview and Takeaways

How can you become an enlightened meditator? How can The Mind Illuminated book help you achieve mindfulness? The Mind Illuminated is a guide on achieving mindfulness so you can reduce stress in your life. Whether you’re an expert in meditation or want to get started, you can use The Mind Illuminated‘s practices to achieve serenity. Read below for a brief overview of The Mind Illuminated.

First Impressions: How to Use the Halo Effect to Your Advantage

What’s a great way to make a good first impression? How might you connect with people better if you knew what they care about? Peter D. Andrei says the key to rhetoric is understanding how people think. He discusses several cognitive biases in the context of persuasive communication. One of these is the halo effect, and he explains how to use the halo effect to your advantage. Continue reading to learn Andrei’s strategies and see how they might help you communicate more persuasively.

How to Build Up Confidence by Proving Yourself Wrong

Are you lazy, unskilled, or hard to get along with? How can you prove yourself wrong about any of these beliefs? Behavioral science expert Grace Lordan urges you to make and implement a plan to transform yourself into the person you want to be. She discusses how to recognize and address internal obstacles by getting confident about your abilities and potential. Read on to learn how to build up confidence in yourself and your dreams.

How to Manage Tasks With Effective Lists and Schedules

Do you have trouble keeping track of your to-do items? How do you manage tasks to stay organized? Throughout The Procrastination Cure, Damon Zahariades mentions a few tools that he suggests you include in your system for managing your time and tasks. We’ve collected his tips and tricks for using lists and schedules to support your success. Learn how to manage tasks and stay on top of things below.

How to Mentally Rehearse: Practice Through Imagination

What if you could practice doing something by just using your imagination? What makes mental rehearsal so effective? What’s the right way to do it? If you want to get better at something, it makes sense that you need to practice. But Ron Friedman argues that it’s easy to practice incorrectly or inefficiently. So, to avoid wasting your time and effort, he offers several guidelines for effective practice. One of these is to mentally rehearse. Continue reading to learn how to use mental rehearsal to improve any performance.

How to Use the Contrast Effect Bias to Be More Persuasive

What made John F. Kennedy such an effective communicator? How might you use the same techniques? If you want to influence people, you must understand what makes them tick. In How Highly Effective People Speak, Peter D. Andrei shows how to take advantage of cognitive biases to persuade people. One of these is the contrast effect bias. Continue reading to see how using the contrast effect in your communication is one of the most effective ways to improve your rhetorical skills.

How to Practice Effectively: 3 Ways to Make the Most of Practice

Do you keep a practice journal? Is your practice too easy or repetitive, or does it stretch you? In Decoding Greatness, Ron Friedman shares his advice for doing great work—whether that means getting a show at an art gallery, winning a marathon, or nailing a big product pitch. One strategy for improving your performance is effective practice. Read on to learn how to practice effectively by implementing Friedman’s three recommendations.