Have you ever noticed that you view time differently than others in your life?  Perhaps you’re usually focused on the future, while your partner “lives for the moment” and your sibling ruminates about the past?

Psychologist Philip Zimbardo has researched such differences and categorized them into five “time perspectives”.

Are you facing any big decisions at the moment?

If so, DON’T use a pros and cons list!

Dr. Annie Duke, decision science expert, world champion poker player, and author of the book How to Decide, has bad news about pros and cons lists:  they don’t help us compare choices, and they’re prone to bias. 

When the world is crumbling around you, old adages like “look on the bright side” or “make the best of a bad situation” can sound flippant or hollow. And yet, there is actually scientific truth in such advice.

“Positive Cognitive Reappraisal” is a psychological strategy by which someone actively changes their interpretation of a situation to see it in a more positive way.

𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 10 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴: Will you still be the same?  How much will your personality, values and preferences change?

𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 10 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴: How different were you then?

Do you ever procrastinate? Almost everyone does at some point, especially on difficult tasks, like writing, studying, or exercising. However, research by Suzanne Shu and Ayelet Gneezy reveals that people also regularly postpone enjoyable experiences.

If you have been feeling shocked, scared, or angry lately, you are not alone. 

As described by Psychologist Amit Goldberg in this enlightening podcast, while most of us don’t think about emotions as collective experiences, they are, in fact, shared. Emotional contagion is the human tendency to adopt the emotions of our social surroundings.

Think back to a time you felt really angry, perhaps after you argued with a colleague or family member. Did you do anything to calm down, like distract yourself or reframe the situation?

Have you ever been in conflict with another colleague or team?  How did you feel about their ideas and suggestions?

Reactive devaluation refers to the tendency to dismiss a proposal simply because it comes from an opposing party, regardless of its actual merits.

Do you ever wish you could improve your conversation skills?Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg spent years investigating the science of communication. 

Have you ever felt particularly moved, and connected to those around you, while you were at a concert, a religious ceremony, or a sporting event?

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?  One common resolution is to save more money, which can be difficult because it requires sacrificing now for payoffs later.

Do you know anyone who – despite being presented with strong evidence – continues to hold false beliefs about climate change, vaccinations, or other issues?

Are you someone who loves choosing gifts, or does the thought of picking out gifts fill you with dread?

Do you have a pre-teen or teenager at home?  Or do you work on programs focused on adolescents?

Have you ever chosen an investment, started a relationship, or made a decision at work that turned out badly? 

When was the last time you felt pressed for time?  (I’m guessing it wasn’t that long ago!)

Have you been feeling adrift or disconnected from “who you are” lately?

Have you ever struggled with a big decision – like whether to split with your partner or change jobs – and found you couldn’t make up your mind? 

“Why don’t people care?”