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Do Now
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Have you stuck with them? Why or why not?
Intro
The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back to Roman times. To this day, each January 1, people around the world make commitments to reach a goal, create a new habit or complete a project. But how many people actually stick with these resolutions? Studies have shown that success rates are low…and a quick informal survey of friends and family usually gives the same result. Changing behavior is difficult to do. However, a researcher at Stanford University is working on a technique to help people do just that—one tiny habit at a time. BJ Fogg runs Stanford’s Persuasive Technology Lab. He suggests not to tackle big, lofty goals all at once, but to focus on a part of your goal, a tiny habit. By taking baby steps and declaring success every time you accomplish one of those small steps—essentially rewarding yourself for good behavior—you provide positive reinforcement which helps create new habits.
Resource
KQED QUEST's segment Think Tiny: The Science of New Year's Resolutions
It’s been a little more than a week since the New Year began – which means while some of us are sticking to our resolutions, others may have already given up.
