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How can psychology apply to your everyday life? Do you think that psychology is just for students, academics, and therapists? Think again. Because psychology is both an applied and a theoretical subject, it can be used in a number of ways.While research studies aren’t exactly light reading material for the average person, the results of these experiments and studies can have significant applications in daily life. The following are some practical uses for psychology in everyday life.
How can psychology apply to your everyday life? Do you think that psychology is just for students, academics, and therapists? Think again. Because psychology is both an applied and a theoretical subject, it can be used in a number of ways.
While research studies aren’t exactly light reading material for the average person, the results of these experiments and studies can have significant applications in daily life. The following are some practical uses for psychology in everyday life.
1MotivationCaiaimage/Sam Edwards / OJO+ / Getty ImagesWhether your goal is to quit smoking, lose weight, or learn a new language, lessons from psychology offer tips for getting motivated. To increase your motivational levels when approaching a task, use strategies derived from research in cognitive andeducational psychology.Introduce new or novel elements to keep your interest high.Vary repetitive sequences to help stave off boredom.Learn new things that build on your existing knowledge.Set clear goals that are directly related to the task.Reward yourself for a job well done.
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MotivationCaiaimage/Sam Edwards / OJO+ / Getty ImagesWhether your goal is to quit smoking, lose weight, or learn a new language, lessons from psychology offer tips for getting motivated. To increase your motivational levels when approaching a task, use strategies derived from research in cognitive andeducational psychology.Introduce new or novel elements to keep your interest high.Vary repetitive sequences to help stave off boredom.Learn new things that build on your existing knowledge.Set clear goals that are directly related to the task.Reward yourself for a job well done.
Motivation
Caiaimage/Sam Edwards / OJO+ / Getty Images
Whether your goal is to quit smoking, lose weight, or learn a new language, lessons from psychology offer tips for getting motivated. To increase your motivational levels when approaching a task, use strategies derived from research in cognitive andeducational psychology.
2LeadershipMorsa Images / Getty ImagesIt doesn’t matter if you’re an office manager or a volunteer at a local youth group: Having goodleadership skillswill probably be essential at some point in your life. Not everyone is a born leader, but a few simple tips gleaned from psychological research can help you be a better leader.One of the most famous studies on this topic looked at three distinctleadership styles. Based on the findings of this study and subsequent research, practice some of the following when you are in a leadership position.Offer clear guidance, but allow group members to voice opinions.Talk about possible solutions with members of the group.Focus on stimulating ideas and be willing to reward creativity.
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LeadershipMorsa Images / Getty ImagesIt doesn’t matter if you’re an office manager or a volunteer at a local youth group: Having goodleadership skillswill probably be essential at some point in your life. Not everyone is a born leader, but a few simple tips gleaned from psychological research can help you be a better leader.One of the most famous studies on this topic looked at three distinctleadership styles. Based on the findings of this study and subsequent research, practice some of the following when you are in a leadership position.Offer clear guidance, but allow group members to voice opinions.Talk about possible solutions with members of the group.Focus on stimulating ideas and be willing to reward creativity.
Leadership
Morsa Images / Getty Images
It doesn’t matter if you’re an office manager or a volunteer at a local youth group: Having goodleadership skillswill probably be essential at some point in your life. Not everyone is a born leader, but a few simple tips gleaned from psychological research can help you be a better leader.
One of the most famous studies on this topic looked at three distinctleadership styles. Based on the findings of this study and subsequent research, practice some of the following when you are in a leadership position.
3CommunicationWestend61 / Getty ImagesCommunication involves much more than how you speak or write. Research suggests thatnonverbal signalsmake up a huge portion of our interpersonal communications. To communicate your message effectively, you need to learn how to express yourself nonverbally and to read the nonverbal cues of those around you.Use good eye contact.Start noticing nonverbal signals in others.Learn to use your tone of voice to reinforce your message.10 Tips for Improving Your Nonverbal Communication
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CommunicationWestend61 / Getty ImagesCommunication involves much more than how you speak or write. Research suggests thatnonverbal signalsmake up a huge portion of our interpersonal communications. To communicate your message effectively, you need to learn how to express yourself nonverbally and to read the nonverbal cues of those around you.Use good eye contact.Start noticing nonverbal signals in others.Learn to use your tone of voice to reinforce your message.10 Tips for Improving Your Nonverbal Communication
Communication
Westend61 / Getty Images
Communication involves much more than how you speak or write. Research suggests thatnonverbal signalsmake up a huge portion of our interpersonal communications. To communicate your message effectively, you need to learn how to express yourself nonverbally and to read the nonverbal cues of those around you.
10 Tips for Improving Your Nonverbal Communication
4Emotional IntelligenceCaiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty ImagesMuch like nonverbal communication, theability to understand your emotions and the emotions of those around youplays an important role in your relationships and professional life. The termemotional intelligencerefers to your ability to understand both your own emotions and those of other people.Your emotional intelligence quotient is a measure of this ability. According to psychologist Daniel Goleman, yourEQ may actually be more importantthan your IQ. To become more emotionally intelligent, consider some of the following strategies.Carefully assess your own emotional reactions.Record your experiences and emotions in a journal.Try to see situations from the perspective of another person.
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Emotional IntelligenceCaiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty ImagesMuch like nonverbal communication, theability to understand your emotions and the emotions of those around youplays an important role in your relationships and professional life. The termemotional intelligencerefers to your ability to understand both your own emotions and those of other people.Your emotional intelligence quotient is a measure of this ability. According to psychologist Daniel Goleman, yourEQ may actually be more importantthan your IQ. To become more emotionally intelligent, consider some of the following strategies.Carefully assess your own emotional reactions.Record your experiences and emotions in a journal.Try to see situations from the perspective of another person.
Emotional Intelligence
Caiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty Images
Much like nonverbal communication, theability to understand your emotions and the emotions of those around youplays an important role in your relationships and professional life. The termemotional intelligencerefers to your ability to understand both your own emotions and those of other people.
Your emotional intelligence quotient is a measure of this ability. According to psychologist Daniel Goleman, yourEQ may actually be more importantthan your IQ. To become more emotionally intelligent, consider some of the following strategies.
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Decision-Making
Tara Moore / Getty Images
Research incognitive psychologyhas provided a wealth of information about decision making. By applying these strategies to your life, you can learn to make wiser choices. The next time you need to make a big decision, try using some of these techniques.
Press Play for Advice On Dealing With Decision Fatigue
6MemoryCourtney Icenhour / freeimages.comHave you ever wondered why you can remember the exact details of childhood events, yet forget the name of the new client you met yesterday? Research on how we form new memories as well as how andwhy we forgethas led to a number of findings that can be applied directly in your daily life. To increase your memory power:Focus on the information.Rehearse what you have learned.Eliminate distractions.11 Methods for Improving Your Memory
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MemoryCourtney Icenhour / freeimages.comHave you ever wondered why you can remember the exact details of childhood events, yet forget the name of the new client you met yesterday? Research on how we form new memories as well as how andwhy we forgethas led to a number of findings that can be applied directly in your daily life. To increase your memory power:Focus on the information.Rehearse what you have learned.Eliminate distractions.11 Methods for Improving Your Memory
Memory
Courtney Icenhour / freeimages.com
Have you ever wondered why you can remember the exact details of childhood events, yet forget the name of the new client you met yesterday? Research on how we form new memories as well as how andwhy we forgethas led to a number of findings that can be applied directly in your daily life. To increase your memory power:
11 Methods for Improving Your Memory
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Money Management
JGI/Jamie Grill / Blend Images / Getty Images
Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman and his colleague Amos Tversky conducted a series of studies that looked at how people manage uncertainty and risk when making decisions. Subsequent research in this area, known as behavior economics, has yielded some key findings that you can use to manage your money more wisely.
8Academic SuccessWestend61 / Getty ImagesThe next time you’re tempted to complain about pop quizzes, midterms, or final exams, consider that research has demonstrated that taking tests actually helps you better remember what you’ve learned, even if it wasn’t covered on the test.A study found that repeated test-taking may be a better memory aid than studying. Students who were tested repeatedly were able to recall 61% of the material, while those in the study group recalled only 40%. How can you apply these findings to your own life? When trying to learn new information, self-test frequently in order to cement what you have learned into your memory.
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Academic SuccessWestend61 / Getty ImagesThe next time you’re tempted to complain about pop quizzes, midterms, or final exams, consider that research has demonstrated that taking tests actually helps you better remember what you’ve learned, even if it wasn’t covered on the test.A study found that repeated test-taking may be a better memory aid than studying. Students who were tested repeatedly were able to recall 61% of the material, while those in the study group recalled only 40%. How can you apply these findings to your own life? When trying to learn new information, self-test frequently in order to cement what you have learned into your memory.
Academic Success
The next time you’re tempted to complain about pop quizzes, midterms, or final exams, consider that research has demonstrated that taking tests actually helps you better remember what you’ve learned, even if it wasn’t covered on the test.
A study found that repeated test-taking may be a better memory aid than studying. Students who were tested repeatedly were able to recall 61% of the material, while those in the study group recalled only 40%. How can you apply these findings to your own life? When trying to learn new information, self-test frequently in order to cement what you have learned into your memory.
9ProductivityWestend61 / Getty ImagesThere are thousands of books and magazine articles telling us how to get more done, but how much of this advice is founded on actual research? Take the belief that multitasking can help you be more productive. In reality, research has found that trying to perform more than one task at a time seriously impairs speed, accuracy, and productivity. Use lessons from psychology to increase your productivity more effectively.Avoidmultitaskingwhen working on complex or dangerous tasks.Focus on the task at hand.Eliminate distractions.
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ProductivityWestend61 / Getty ImagesThere are thousands of books and magazine articles telling us how to get more done, but how much of this advice is founded on actual research? Take the belief that multitasking can help you be more productive. In reality, research has found that trying to perform more than one task at a time seriously impairs speed, accuracy, and productivity. Use lessons from psychology to increase your productivity more effectively.Avoidmultitaskingwhen working on complex or dangerous tasks.Focus on the task at hand.Eliminate distractions.
Productivity
There are thousands of books and magazine articles telling us how to get more done, but how much of this advice is founded on actual research? Take the belief that multitasking can help you be more productive. In reality, research has found that trying to perform more than one task at a time seriously impairs speed, accuracy, and productivity. Use lessons from psychology to increase your productivity more effectively.
10HealthThomas Barwick / Stone / Getty ImagesPsychology can also be a useful tool for improving your overall health. From ways to encourage exercise and better nutrition to new treatments for depression, the field ofhealth psychologyoffers a wealth of beneficial strategies that can help you to be healthier and happier.Studies have shown that both sunlight and artificial light can reduce the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.Research has demonstrated that exercise can contribute to greater psychological well-being.Studies have found that helping people understand the risks of unhealthy behaviors can lead to healthier choices.
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HealthThomas Barwick / Stone / Getty ImagesPsychology can also be a useful tool for improving your overall health. From ways to encourage exercise and better nutrition to new treatments for depression, the field ofhealth psychologyoffers a wealth of beneficial strategies that can help you to be healthier and happier.Studies have shown that both sunlight and artificial light can reduce the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.Research has demonstrated that exercise can contribute to greater psychological well-being.Studies have found that helping people understand the risks of unhealthy behaviors can lead to healthier choices.
Health
Thomas Barwick / Stone / Getty Images
Psychology can also be a useful tool for improving your overall health. From ways to encourage exercise and better nutrition to new treatments for depression, the field ofhealth psychologyoffers a wealth of beneficial strategies that can help you to be healthier and happier.
4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thaler RH, Benartzi S.Save More Tomorrow™: Using behavioral economics to increase employee saving.J Political Econ. 2004;112(S1):S164-187. doi:10.1086/380085Chan JC, McDermott KB, Roediger HL.Retrieval-induced facilitation: initially nontested material can benefit from prior testing of related material.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2006;135(4):553-71. doi:10.1037/0096-3445.135.4.553Ophir E, Nass C, Wagner AD.Cognitive control in media multitaskers.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009;106(37):15583-7. doi:10.1073/pnas.0903620106Solberg PA, Halvari H, Ommundsen Y, Hopkins WG.A 1-year follow-up of effects of exercise programs on well-being in older adults.J Aging Phys Act. 2014;22(1):52-64. doi:10.1123/japa.2012-0181
4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thaler RH, Benartzi S.Save More Tomorrow™: Using behavioral economics to increase employee saving.J Political Econ. 2004;112(S1):S164-187. doi:10.1086/380085Chan JC, McDermott KB, Roediger HL.Retrieval-induced facilitation: initially nontested material can benefit from prior testing of related material.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2006;135(4):553-71. doi:10.1037/0096-3445.135.4.553Ophir E, Nass C, Wagner AD.Cognitive control in media multitaskers.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009;106(37):15583-7. doi:10.1073/pnas.0903620106Solberg PA, Halvari H, Ommundsen Y, Hopkins WG.A 1-year follow-up of effects of exercise programs on well-being in older adults.J Aging Phys Act. 2014;22(1):52-64. doi:10.1123/japa.2012-0181
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Thaler RH, Benartzi S.Save More Tomorrow™: Using behavioral economics to increase employee saving.J Political Econ. 2004;112(S1):S164-187. doi:10.1086/380085Chan JC, McDermott KB, Roediger HL.Retrieval-induced facilitation: initially nontested material can benefit from prior testing of related material.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2006;135(4):553-71. doi:10.1037/0096-3445.135.4.553Ophir E, Nass C, Wagner AD.Cognitive control in media multitaskers.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009;106(37):15583-7. doi:10.1073/pnas.0903620106Solberg PA, Halvari H, Ommundsen Y, Hopkins WG.A 1-year follow-up of effects of exercise programs on well-being in older adults.J Aging Phys Act. 2014;22(1):52-64. doi:10.1123/japa.2012-0181
Thaler RH, Benartzi S.Save More Tomorrow™: Using behavioral economics to increase employee saving.J Political Econ. 2004;112(S1):S164-187. doi:10.1086/380085
Chan JC, McDermott KB, Roediger HL.Retrieval-induced facilitation: initially nontested material can benefit from prior testing of related material.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2006;135(4):553-71. doi:10.1037/0096-3445.135.4.553
Ophir E, Nass C, Wagner AD.Cognitive control in media multitaskers.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009;106(37):15583-7. doi:10.1073/pnas.0903620106
Solberg PA, Halvari H, Ommundsen Y, Hopkins WG.A 1-year follow-up of effects of exercise programs on well-being in older adults.J Aging Phys Act. 2014;22(1):52-64. doi:10.1123/japa.2012-0181
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