According to years of research, the best way to resist unhealthy choices is to consider their long-term consequences. For example, you may remember that eating too much added sugar (found in donuts) can lead to diabetes and obesity. True, people still tend to downplay the importance of these consequences to them.
Here are three approaches to help you stick to healthy habits.
Think short term. This approach was tested in seven studies involving more than 4,000 people. One of these studies required college students to read about the short- and long-term effects of drinking an energy drink and then choose an energy drink or other reward. People who read about short-term results were 25% less likely to choose an energy drink than people who read about long-term results.
Focus on enjoying healthy meals. One study found that if a person focuses on the taste of foods rather than their benefits, they will eat those foods more often. This was discovered when students in five university cafeterias were given food products labeled as healthy or delicious.
reward yourself. A study conducted by marketing professor Marissa Sharif and Caitlin Woolley, an assistant professor of marketing at Cornell University, found that small, regular rewards are more effective at creating long-term healthy habits (exercise, flossing) than large, irregular (random) rewards. . But there’s a problem: Giving yourself a reward too soon can backfire. Rewards are most effective when people first have to work to get them. After that they become regular.
News materials cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
