- [Narrator] Hey Psych2Goers,
welcome back to our channel.
Do you have habits you wish you could lose?
Some small, some much bigger than others.
You may think learning some healthy habits
will make you happier.
That certainly is a smart idea,
but there are some habits that you could do without.
Working towards losing them
may just be a step to improving your happiness.
So here are six habits that can make you miserable.
Number one, judging yourself too harshly.
Do you judge yourself too harshly?
Sometimes you can fall into the trap
of believing all your thoughts are the truth.
If you often pick it every detail
or negative thought that comes your way,
more of this habitual way of negative thinking can follow.
It can become a habit
to judge yourself too critically all the time,
but trying to push them away entirely
might make matters worse.
Instead, acknowledge that these thoughts are there,
but make your best attempt to question them
before believing them entirely.
Some of our thoughts are not true.
They're just, well, thoughts.
Practice some compassion for yourself
and those harsh self-judgements may start to dwindle down.
Number two, too much social media.
Do you use social media like Facebook,
TikTok and Instagram too much?
A 2013 study from the University of Michigan
published in the journal "PLOS One"
found a correlation
between Facebook use and dissatisfaction.
For two weeks,
researchers text messaged subjects
to see how individuals felt each moment
and how satisfied they were with their lives.
As the research published states,
results indicate that Facebook use
predicts negative shifts
on both of these variables over time.
The more people used Facebook at one time point,
the worse they felt the next time we text messaged them.
The more they used Facebook over two weeks,
the more their life satisfaction levels declined over time.
That habit of checking your social media notifications
every 1/2 hour,
it's time to go.
Number three, comparing yourself to others.
Are you in the habit of comparing yourself to others?
It can be a frequent thought
to compare yourself to other people,
but it can also leave you feeling miserable, why?
There will always be something
seemingly better out there for everyone,
and many people often want what they can't have,
when really looking at what you have and what you value
is a much healthier habit.
We all have our own journey we must take in life,
our own circumstances and our own qualities
that make us unique.
So remember to show compassion for yourself
and look at what positively makes you, you.
Number four, devoting yourself to your favorite TV show.
Okay, so there's nothing wrong
with devoting yourself to your favorite TV show
once in a while, right?
We've all been there,
but research from Emily Moyer-Guse, PhD,
assistant professor of communication
at Ohio State University,
found that when your favorite show comes to an end,
you'll likely experience distress
due to the para-social relationship
you've formed with the show's characters.
The research published in "Mass Communication and Society"
surveyed 403 college students
during the notorious 2007,
2008 Writers Guild of America strike.
This was a time when television writers
from the Writer's Guild went on a strike,
seeking out higher funding for writers
as compared to the high profits of the studios
they were writing for.
Many TV shows were canceled,
which means plenty of disappointed viewers.
The research found that those who watch TV
to escape feelings of pressure,
to relax or to simply enjoy the companionship
of their show's characters
were more likely to be distressed
than those who watched TV simply to pass the time.
Individuals who watched for companionship
were the most distressed when their favorite shows ended.
Sound familiar?
Back in 2011,
many "Harry Potter" are fans
reported feelings of desertion and unhappiness
when the beloved franchise ended.
Whether you're a Slitherin or Griffin,
that must've hurt.
Nothing wrong with getting sucked in
to your favorite TV show,
but just make sure that to make a habit
to have a companion with you
for the final roll of the end credits.
Oh yeah, and bring a box of tissues.
Number five, believing you can't change anything.
Accepting who we are can be healthy,
unless you're ignoring the negative habits
that you can change.
We aren't always set in stone.
We are always changing,
our opinions, beliefs,
habits and actions can change for the better.
So it's best to let go of the belief
that you can't change anything.
There are some things where change is possible.
Researchers suggest that seemingly permanent
parts of your personality can indeed be changed.
In their 2017 review article
published in the journal "Psychological Bulletin,"
researchers reviewed 207 studies
that had tracked changes
in measures of personality traits during interventions,
including true experiments and pre-post change designs.
They found therapy could cause change
in an individual's personality
in as quick as four to eight weeks.
As the review states,
emotional stability was the primary trait domain
showing changes as a result of therapy,
followed by extroversion.
So when you think all hope is lost
or if you've been discouraged with some of your behaviors,
know that positive change can happen.
It is possible to change for the better.
And number six,
often arguing with your siblings.
Do you often quarrel with your siblings?
A 2007 study in the "American Journal of Psychiatry"
found that males are at higher risk for depression
if they have a poor relationship with their siblings.
So which topics seem to cause the most problems.
In 2012, researchers at the University of Missouri
found that teenagers may be at higher risk
of going through depressive symptoms,
anxiety and low self esteem
if their frequent arguments with their siblings
fall into two categories,
those categories were violations of personal domain
or conflicts over fairness and equality.
MU assistant professor of psychology science
Nicole Campione-Barr
found that conflicts over issues of equality and fairness
are correlated greater depression one year later,
according to her research results.
So is it fair to argue with your brother or sister
about who gets the last cookie?
It's a fair argument,
but it's best not to fight about it now.
So which habits are making you miserable?
Now that you know
you can change some of your behaviors for the better,
will you change your habits?
Do you often fight with your siblings?
Share with us in the comments
and let us know what your favorite TV show
you are disappointed to see come to an end was.
Do you watch to pass time
or did you form a para-social relationship
with one of its characters?
"Harry Potter," how you will be missed.
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