Will you choose to eat healthier food today?
Asking yourself that question – every day, several times a day – could make you more likely to stick with a healthier, lower-calorie diet.
So instead of making declarative statements like, “I WILL eat healthy” – frame your goals as positive questions, like “WILL I choose to eat healthier snacks?” A review of more than 100 studies in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that people who asked themselves questions were more likely to change their behavior. They were also more likely to STICK with their new habits for 6 months. The researchers call it the “question-behavior effect.” And it works because asking questions is much less confrontational than TELLING yourself what to do. And it’s much less likely to trigger the foot-dragging and resentment that can push you to give up your goals.