Self-Help, Solved
Show notes
We pulled over 2,600 studies and ranked 19 of the most common self-improvement techniques across three dimensions: research quality, consistency of results, and actual effect size. Then we sorted them into four tiers: legitimately works, works sometimes, probably not helping, and straight up bullshit. Microdosing landed in the bullshit tier. Crystal healing outperformed several "serious" techniques. And the number one most effective strategy is something so stupidly simple it's almost annoying.
We also get into why everything at the bottom of the list shares one thing in common, why the middle of the list is mostly a fancy placebo, and why nearly everything at the top has been around for thousands of years.
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CHAPTERS
Chapters
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:06:02 Category 4: Bullsh*t
- 00:06:13 Suppressing Negative Thoughts
- 00:10:53 Microdosing Psychedelics
- 00:17:29 Intuitive Decision-Making
- 00:24:11 Catharsis / Venting Anger
- 00:27:29 Category 3: Probably Not Helping
- 00:27:45 Crystal Healing
- 00:30:11 Willpower / Ego Depletion
- 00:35:02 Power Posing
- 00:39:57 Learning Styles
- 00:41:18 Positive Affirmations
- 00:44:58 Morning Routines
- 00:51:37 Category 2: Works Sometimes
- 00:52:36 Positive Visualization
- 00:59:59 Energy Healing
- 01:09:35 Cold Water Immersion for Mental Health
- 01:16:53 Speed Reading
- 01:23:50 Category 1: Legitimately Works
- 01:23:54 Gratitude Interventions
- 01:29:45 Meditation for Stress/Anxiety
- 01:33:31 Eat the Frog / Hardest Task First
- 01:38:42 Bibliotherapy
- 01:47:30 Behavioral Activation
- 01:59:19 Conclusion
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