Color! Journal! Take a personality test, Left Or Right Brained?!?!

Each week, it seems like there’s a new bullshit trend aimed at making you slimmer, happier, or more productive. Most of them claim to be backed by psychological or physiological research, but many of them are not or they got proven to be false (which often gets ignored by the masses)

So here goes I created this list to help you sort out which tricks might be helpful and which ones are better forgotten. Take a look.

Tidying up to be healthier: Try it — research backs it up.

Some studies suggest that physical orderliness — a clean, neatly organized office, for example — is linked with some positive outcomes, like eating healthier.

A 2013 study, found that when they gave a set of volunteers in two types of rooms a choice between a chocolate bar and an apple for a snack, the people in a cluttered room were more likely to choose the chocolate bar, while those in the neat room were more likely to choose the apple. When the same participants were given the option to donate money to a charitable cause, those in the orderly room also tended to give more money than those in the disorderly room. So give it a shot.

Taking multivitamins to avoid getting sick: Skip them; most of them don’t work.

Decades of research has failed to find any substantial evidence that the vast majority of vitamins and supplements do any significant good. Some of them might even be harming us. Several supplements have been linked with an increase in certain cancers, for example, while others have been associated with a rise in the risk of kidney stones. Still others have been tied to an overall higher risk of death from any cause.

That said, certain vitamins — like Vitamin D and folate — are tough to get from food, so you might want to add those to your daily regimen.

Using astrology to boost your success: Skip it — it’s not scientific in the slightest.

One easy way to determine that astrology is unscientific is this: It’s so-called predictions can’t be tested, which is one of the standard components of the scientific method. Instead, horoscopes are carefully worded to be highly general, such as “You will face great difficulties ahead.” Well duh. Any result, from getting fired from your job to getting a raise, could be seen as fitting those expectations.

Still, horoscopes remain popular, something psychologists think is at least partially a result of the fact that we’re biased to see “personalized” results as accurate. This is called the Forer Effect after psychologist Bertram Forer. In 1948, Forer gave each of his students a personality test and then told them that each “result” was individually unique. He asked them to rank the tests accuracy and on average, they said it was 85% accurate. Later, he revealed to the students that he’d lied and given them all the exact same result.

Low-fat diets to lose weight: Skip them — they don’t work.

Low-fat diets don’t work. Our bodies need fat, protein, and fiber to function properly.

An 8-year trial involving almost 50,000 women, roughly half of whom went on a low-fat diet, found that those on the low-fat plan didn’t lower their risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or heart disease. Plus, they didn’t lose much weight, if any.

Meditating to calm the mind: Try it — research suggests it can help.

Meditation facilitates more communication between two brain regions involved in self-control and focus, and second, it lowers levels of a substance called IL-6 that’s been linked with stress and inflammation. IL-6 can also sometimes be used as an early indicator of later health problems.

Using personality tests to pick your career — skip them; science suggests they’re not worth it.

One similarity the Meyers-Briggs personality test shares with astrology is that it relies on binary choices. According to the test, for example, you’re either “introverted” or “extroverted.” In reality, very few people would qualify as simply one or the other.

This point is hammered home by the fact that statistical studies of the Myers-Briggs show that its data follows a normal distribution — where the data falls around a central value with no bias to the left or the right, forming a balanced hill shaped curve — instead of a bimodal one, where the data are lumped around two peaks.

Thinking positive to turn your dreams into reality: Skip it — studies suggest it may do the opposite.

“Positive thinking” — a school of thought in the psychology world that suggests that viewing the world more optimistically can help you feel more satisfied and less stressed — has some limitations. While thinking optimistically sounds great on paper, it falls short in reality. People who daydream about a better world end up merely fantasizing about a reality rather than taking concrete actions to make it happen.

So, I hope that helps and you can ignore some of the BS out there and focus on what works and as always, thanks for reading and until next time.

P.S. If you liked this post then you’ll like my books as well. You can get them on Amazon.

For each of the best self help books on this list, I give my highest recommendation. With the new year upon us, I encourage you to jump out of your comfort zone and pick several of these to add to your library and read this year.

So here goes:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who wants to travel in search of an extravagant treasure. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist. The story of the treasures he finds on his journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the signs along life’s path, and, above all, following our dreams

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With powerful insights and spot on anecdotes, Covey reveals a pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity–principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Tolle takes readers on an inspiring spiritual journey to find their true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth and spirituality: the discovery of truth and light. In writing about enlightenment, he introduces you to it’s natural enemy, your mind. He goes further by showing readers how to live in the present moment.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Kiyosaki tackles the “financial literacy” that’s never addressed in schools. He had two father figures growing up. One who struggled paycheck to paycheck for a lifetime whom he called “poor dad” and the other who was a multimillionaire eighth grade dropout he lovingly calls “rich dad”. The concept behind the book is that rich people have money work for them while the poor work for money. This is a must read to change anyone’s negative belief system on money or to further your understanding on how money can work for you.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This is one of the most timeless self help books ever written. Carnegie believed that most successes come from an ability to communicate effectively versus brilliant insights. This book teaches these skills by showing you how to value people and help them feel appreciated rather than manipulated.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Hill was one of the first ever self help authors, and his books are incredibly relevant today. Think and Grow Rich condenses his laws of success and provides you with 13 principles of personal achievement. It is noted that an individual with desire, faith, and persistence can reach great success by eliminating all negative energy and thoughts and focusing at the greater goals in hand.

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

This self help book is rooted in traditional Toltec wisdom, four agreements in life are essential steps on the path to personal freedom. As beliefs are transformed through keeping these agreements, shamanic teacher don Miguel Ruiz asserts lives will “become filled with grace, peace, and unconditional love.”

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

This is considered a classic self-help book that inspired future books on the law of attraction. Its underlying premise is that noble thoughts make a noble person, while lowly thoughts make a miserable person. James Allen reveals how our thoughts determine reality. He shows you how you can master your thoughts to create the life you want instead of simply drifting through life unaware of the inner forces that keep us held in failure and frustration.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

This self help book has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. He holds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure but the discovery and pursuit of what we find meaningful.

See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar

As one of America’s most gifted speakers/authors in motivation, the late Zig Ziglar shares the secrets of climbing the stairway to personal success. He presents a proven program of self-development based upon the foundation of a winning self-image.

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Dr. Peale shows you 10 simple rules to obtain confidence, 3 proven secrets for vigor, 5 techniques to overcome defeat and much, much more. This book proves that an attitude can change lives, win success in all things, and overcome obstacles.

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles

Originally published in 1910, this book takes the mystery out of wealth accumulation and breaks it down into a scientific formula. The text is divided into 17 quick, no nonsense chapters that show you how to oconquer mental barriers, and how creation, not competition, is the true key to attracting wealth.

The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

Millions of people all over the world have improved their lives using this book. Schwartz will help you sell better, lead more effectively, earn more money, and (this is a big one) find more happiness and peace of mind.He proves that you don’t need innate talent to achieve massive success but you do need to understand the habit of thinking and behaving in ways that get you there.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers

We’ve all got fears which is why I love this book! Whatever your fear, here is your chance to push through it once and for all. You’ll discover how to move from victim to creator, the 10-step process to turn off the negative talk in your head and how to create more meaning in your life by overcoming those fears.

Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

Tony Robbins is famous for his motivational speaking but this is, by far, one of the best self help books of all time. Robbins shows you his most effective strategies and techniques for mastering your emotions, your body, your relationships, your finances, and your life through a step-by-step program teaching self-mastery that enables you to discover your true purpose, take control of your life and harness the forces that shape your destiny.

For each one of us, the meaning of life is different. But we are all seeking answers so that we can find our own true meaning of life. Today’s fast-paced and highly competitive culture has spawned thousands of self-help books, each promising to be the key to living a happier and a more successful life.

With so much choice, it is easy for quality titles to get lost among the shelves. The following self-help books are some of the most influential self-help books of all time.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

The Power of Habit looks at the psychological processes behind the habits that form our daily routines. It discusses how our daily habits become unconsciously engrained by our brains to free up processing power for more important tasks. This is why it is so hard to break habits like smoking. Duhigg breaks down each habit we form into three steps, which is called ‘The habit loop‘. The three steps are the cue, the routine, and the reward. The Power of Habit gives the reader a road map to put the habit loop theory into practice and start consciously observing which routines are triggered by which cues, and the rewards for these routines. Establishing new habits is just a matter of consciously assigning a cue and reward to each routine you wish to establish.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living By Dale Carnegie

Carnegie’s book defined how a generation of readers face the worry of controlling every aspect of their lives. Carnegie’s simple philosophies on how to handle worry in various aspects of our lives, such as decision-making and how we are perceived by others. It provides various stories, from all types of people, which show how they used these strategies to conquer worry and live a fulfilled life.

The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be By Jack Canfield

The Success principles are a culmination of tips, tricks, and skills. Canfield’s book covers 64 principles of success that cover a wide variety of subjects, such as love, finances, and interpersonal relationships. Throughout the book Canfield provides stories of famous celebrities and significant people from history who have used these principles to achieve greatness. With daily practice, these principles of success can fast track anyone to realizing their goals.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy

Murphy’s book on the subconscious mind shows just how much of our choices are made on autopilot. Murphy teaches his readers how the subconscious mind is the key to many aspects of life. Murphy uses scientific research to back his claims regarding the power of the subconscious. This scientific basis makes ‘The Power of Your Subconscious‘ a great choice for the rational skeptic.

How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie

How to win friends and influence people is the classic self-help book that everyone should read. This book will help you in learning to relate to and deal with others. The book focuses primarily on influence for business purposes. However, there are lessons to be learned and used in your personal life as well.

The Magic of Thinking Big By David Schwartz

The Magic of Thinking Big was first published in 1959 and its philosophies on setting goals still hold true. The book’s most important philosophy is thinking highly of oneself. It preaches the importance of setting lofty goals and embracing the power of positive thought to achieve these goals. Another core concept is the power of visualization. Schwartz provides strategies for visualizing yourself achieving your goals and channeling that feeling for motivation. As these visualizations start manifesting themselves, the next step is to spread the good news. Broadcasting good news sends out gratitude to the universe and keeps the positive cycle flowing.