Mind Hacks

If your parents sent you regular SMS messages about your long-term savings goals, you'd probably save more money, even with the therapy bills. That's because economists believe regular, positive reinforcement via cellphone can actually boost your will to save money. Four economists teamed up with…

We like the smell of a clean home or workplace as much as the next person, but a recent study shows people are consistently more fair and generous when introduced to the smell of a clean environment. Specifically those containing Windex. Photo by Windex Brigham Young University professor Katie…

When it comes to quitting addictions, it's not only a physical battle, but a mental one as well. Researchers are trying to help smokers who want to kick the habit, and they've turned to the virtual cigarette crushing to do it—and apparently it's helping a lot. From web site Science Daily: In…

Don't have the money to shell out for a new HDTV? No problem. A new study says that simply shifting your expectations concerning picture quality can help enhance your viewing experience—if self-deception is something you can accomplish easily enough. Photo by Mike Babcock. A Dutch study wanted…

Generally speaking, things that are good for you aren't always the most enjoyable. But there are certain cases when being "bad" can actually help improve your health. Enjoy blasting your music, for example? Then you're in luck. Photo by rossinabossio. A while back, we covered ten bad things that…

Reader Dave is working his way through the One Hundred Push-Ups program, but found himself stopping after hitting a "magic number." To spur himself onward, he uses guilt psychology, random numbers, and a video recording. We definitely get Dave's point about hitting the "magic number," a somehow…

Business author, blogger, and speaker Seth Godin suggests a simple, sneaky little trick to push your (slightly audacious) ideas past your boss. His suggestion: Add some {brackets}. Photo by Office Now. In doing so, Godin hopes your subsequent conversations with your boss will go something like…

Memory declines with age, but if you'd like to remember where you placed your keys well into your golden years, try implementing a 30-second daily eye exercise. Video how-to site Howcast provides some tips on how to improve memory. Among the more simple suggestions is to start each morning out…

There's a reason why resolutions go bust: Listing your goals is generally much easier than seeing them though. To that end, productivity weblog Zen Habits has created a cheatsheet for habit changing, including pinpointing habit triggers. Photo by a4gpa. According to Zen, part of successfully…

We've known for some time that setting a timer and working in dashes can get help procrastinators jump past those imposing first steps. The Pomodoro Technique takes that further, offering a cyclical system aimed to beat deadline-related anxiety. Francesco Cirillo crafted the Pomodoro Technique in…

Tweak your workflow and inboxes all you want, but your mental memory might always be the weakest link in your day-to-day life. These 10 tools take some of the workload off your brain, and prevent a few forehead slaps. Photo by cogdogblog. Note: We've previously listed some whole-brain,…

To-do lists may work for some, but for others they're an overwhelming reminder of everything yet to be done. Fed up with his to-do list, Slate's John Dickerson suggests "blow[ing] up" the to-do list and figuratively going skydiving instead. Photo by koalazymonkey. Dickerson explains how he upped…

Chinese takeout, a pile of DVDs, your Xbox 360—whatever it is that you don't want to leave behind, make it impossible to forget with this simple memory trick. Photo by Dan4th. Over at the parenting blog Parent Hacks, they've shared an excellent reader tip to help you remember to always take…

The right kind of sound can relax your mind, hone your focus, drown out distractions, or get you pumped to kill your to-do list. We've assembled some research and free resources to help you create your own best workspace soundtrack. Photo by Sara Björk. Does music really make you more…

Having goals is one thing; achieving them is quite another. Productivity weblog Dumb Little Man suggests using the S.M.A.R.T. method to help ensure that your ambitions see the light of day. Photo by Dru Bloomfield. The acronym, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant,…