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New episode Kannste Vergessen? is online! “Gray Matter and Green Ideas”

The latest episode of Kannste Vergessen? – recorded on the hottest day of 2023 in Germany so far – takes a look at what the climate crisis means for our brains, what the relationship is between environmental factors and the brain, what psychology, neuroscience and activist science can contribute to dealing with the climate-related challenges in the first place, and what benefits extinction can have in the face of these crises.
To this end, Rainer Holl will talk with the two neuroscientists Dorothea Metzen and Sebastian Ocklenburg about climate change and its effects on living beings from a neuroscientific perspective. The two have written a book on the subject, which was published in the summer of 2023: Titled “Die Psychologie und Neurowissenschaften der Klimakrise. Wie unser Gehirn auf Klimaveränderungen reagiert” (Translated: “The Psychology and Neuroscience of the Climate Crisis. How Our Brains Respond to Climate Change” ) the two make a concise and effective review from the perspective of neuroclimate science.

More about the podcast: >>

Direct link to the podcast episode: >>

New Year, New Me: The Facts

As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).

Most common new years resolutions:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. Spend more time with family/friends (35%)

How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?

  • Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week. 
  • 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month. 
  • 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.

What makes resolutions stick?

Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.

The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all. 

Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to “take better care of themselves” could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.

So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.