Outsmart Yourself: Brain-Based Strategies to a Better You

Recent decades have seen an explosion of understanding about our brains, and with this new information come some surprising and counterintuitive conclusions about our behavior and decision-making processes. Begin by examining the disconnect between our actions and our consciousness of those actions. Are we as in control of ourselves as we like to think?

From time to time, procrastination affects us all. Here, you'll discover several evidence-based strategies for reducing procrastination by attacking it at its source. Three tips show you how to be more efficient and effective. Along the way, you'll study the neurochemistry of why we procrastinate - and what makes it so tempting.

The unconscious plays a strong role in developing bad habits. To help you examine and modify your behaviors, Professor Vishton gives you several tips, ranging from the very simple (keep a notebook of your activities) to the complex (employ behavioral psychology). Which of your habits would you most like to change?

What can neuroscience tell us about healthy eating? Can scientific insights help you curb unhealthy snacking? In this first look at food, see how simple changes such as cleaning your kitchen and changing your food's packaging may have a measurable effect on unhealthy eating habits.

To be healthy, you must eat healthy. This second dive into food considers the hormones that drive hunger cues and how your body responds to different foods. Find out why high fructose corn syrup is bad for you - and why exercise might not help you lose much weight.

Our modern world seems to demand multitasking. We constantly check email, make phone calls, and live on the go. But recent research clearly shows that we are more efficient and creative if we can focus on one task at a time - a strategy known as "monotasking." Consider how the brain works when confronted with multiple tasks.

Enter the fray of a negotiation between the "present you" and the "future you." Do you take $10 today, or wait for $15 next week? While the answer may seem logically clear, we have a powerful, built-in desire for instant gratification. Learn what you can do today to make decisions you will approve of tomorrow.

You might think talent is ingrained, and that either you have it or you don't. But cognitive research reveals that practice is just as - if not more - important for success in a given task. Discover strategies for how to practice any skill, and how to stick with it until you become an expert.

We all have a conception of what meditation is - but what actually happens inside your brain? Could it be that meditation built into our evolutionary makeup? And how can regular practice benefit us? Reflect on the answers to these questions and more.

Explore the mysterious realm of sleep. While your body may shut down, your brain performs important, fascinating work to help you be more focused, creative, and productive in your waking life. Here, you'll discover why eight hours of sleep is so crucial. Then you'll consider the role of dreams.

Have you ever wished you could be more creative? From listening to the right music to getting into a creative frame of mind, Professor Vishton offers several practical, easy-to-implement strategies for finding more creative solutions, solving puzzles, and enhancing your mental prowess.

Imagine you could lift more weights or better perform an athletic task without once putting on your sweats or driving to the gym. It turns out that mental training has genuine physical effects, all because the human imagination is such a powerful tool. Learn how to use imagery and the imagination to boost your performance.

There's no doubt that neurons die off and mental decline occurs, but the good news is that we can stave off these ill effects through exercise, new experiences, and more. Delve into the aging brain to see what happens as we get older, and what you can do to mitigate the force of time.

Even if we never experience a major depression in our lives, mild depression is like the "common cold" of mental illness. Yet most people fail to seek help, instead trying to power through these unfortunate down periods. Here, Professor Vishton offers several ways to fight these mild depressions.

From flying to public speaking, we all have a number of arguably irrational phobias. Where do these fears come from? How do we learn them? And most importantly, how do we overcome them? Go on a step by step journey through the world of fear, and learn what you can do to minimize common phobias.

Jog your brain into activity - literally. In this fascinating look at the relationship between the body and the mind, you'll learn why forcing yourself to smile has genuine mental benefits, see how physical activity can aid your problem-solving skills, and more. Test yourself at the end to see these theories in action.

Here, Professor Vishton considers the mechanisms behind anger, which leads to an explanation of how humans mirror each other's behaviors and emotions. Understanding the roots of our anger then provides a way to diffuse tense situations and gain better control of our emotional landscapes.

Shift your attention from outsmarting yourself to the ways people try to outsmart you. This first of a two-part unit on persuasion examines how the "reciprocity effect," apparent expertise, and scarcity are all subtle methods of persuasion. Uncovering these techniques will make you a savvier consumer, negotiator, and more.

Continue your study of persuasion with a look at two common techniques in sales: "getting your foot in the door" with a small request and asking for a big, "door in the face" kind of favor - using either as a prelude to what you really want. Whether you are in the business of persuasion or simply want to be better informed, this information is invaluable.

Humans have a language instinct unlike any other living creature. Explore the exciting world of linguistics and the brain, discovering how language influences our behaviors - even when we are not conscious of it. What you'll learn is that for your physical health and mental well-being, words most certainly matter.

Poets have been ruminating about love for ages, but what do the neuroscientists have to say? Here, consider why people fall in love, and what role simple exposure, facial symmetry, and eyes play in romantic attraction. Review what happens inside the brain when you fall in love.

Look beyond the superficial qualities of attraction and delve into love as a long-term emotional commitment. Examine the three main "love systems" in the brain and what we can learn from them. See why staying in love can be a bigger challenge than falling in love.

We all want to be happy, but achieving this state of being is the million-dollar question. In this first look at happiness, find out precisely why money truly doesn't buy happiness. You'll investigate the effects on your brain of earning a higher salary or winning the lottery, and then reflect on the way time is ultimately more valuable for happiness.

Conclude with some helpful tips for living a happy, fulfilled life. From exercising in green, natural surroundings to putting more value on your time, happiness is most definitely achievable - and it can even become a habit. All it takes is a little work to outsmart yourself.