goals | SPSP

What Would Your Future Self Tell You?

Writing a letter to one’s future self—and then writing a response from the future self back to the present self—seems to help students map out paths to future success.

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Does Sharing Your Goals On Social Media Make You More Likely To Achieve Them?

From posting your workout of the day on Instagram (#BootyGains) to sharing your future plans with your relationship partner (#CoupleGoals), there is a lot of temptation to share your personal goals on social media.

Wellness gurus and fitness bloggers seem to be divided between whether sharing goals on your social media sabotages you or holds you accountable.

Are you more likely to reach your goals if you share them publicly on your social media?

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It’s a Meaningful Life: The Surprising Existential Benefits of Self-control

Having self-control not only promotes physical health and life satisfaction, it can foster a sense of meaning in life.

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What is the Secret to Success?

By Melissa J. Ferguson, Cornell University and Clayton R. Critcher, University of California, Berkeley

At hundreds of colleges and universities across the country, thousands of students are in the midst of the fall semester, trying to manage the academic tasks of studying, exams, papers and lectures. A lot is riding on their academic performance – earning (or just keeping) scholarships, landing summer internships, gaining employment and of course acquiring new skills and knowledge.

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Psychology News Roundup: ICYMI November 1, 2019

What's funny, why some people like fear, and the complexities of failure are a few of the topics on this week's ICYMI roundup. See what you may have missed in the world of personality and social psychology.

Recently in the news, written a post, or have selections you'd like us to consider? Email us, use the hashtag #SPSPblog, or tweet us directly @spspnews.

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Making Friends While Pursuing Goals

Student Poster Award Winners Jessica Gamburg, Rima Touré-Tillery, & Y. Jin Youn were invited to write a post for the blog.

By Jessica Gamburg

After making a new acquaintance, how do we choose whether to pursue a friendship with that person? And what role do our own important goals—e.g., weight loss, physical fitness, abstinence from alcohol—play in behaviors surrounding the formation of new friendships?

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Why We Think We Can Keep Those New Year's Resolutions

By Benjamin A. Converse and Marie Hennecke

Here we go again. Year after year, with great confidence each time, we choose all the goals we are going to start pursuing next year. Next year, we’ll start eating healthier. Next year, we’ll start going to the gym more. Next year, we won’t check email right before bed. Why do we expect so much from ourselves next year?

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