Health and Human Nature

Motivation

What Motivates Us to Exercise as We Get Older?

Kristen A. Carter MS on March 12, 2025

As we get older, our perception of exercise changes. We can work with the changes in our brains to start enjoying it.

As we get older, our perception of exercise changes. We can work with the changes in our brains to start enjoying it.

Happiness

How to Stop Chasing Rainbows

Kristen A. Carter MS on February 18, 2025

The media often focuses on celebrating a happy end result to a journey of making health changes, leaving out the ups and downs. This is misleading.

The media often focuses on celebrating a happy end result to a journey of making health changes, leaving out the ups and downs. This is misleading.

Motivation

Change Can Be Daunting; Here’s How to Accomplish It

Kristen A. Carter MS on January 15, 2025

We're often gung-ho about eating healthier, losing weight, or exercising more, but then something stops us in our tracks. Here’s what it is.

We're often gung-ho about eating healthier, losing weight, or exercising more, but then something stops us in our tracks. Here’s what it is.

Health

Is Advice Always Actionable?

Kristen A. Carter MS on December 18, 2024

Advice can fall on deaf ears or be helpful. What makes the difference?

Advice can fall on deaf ears or be helpful. What makes the difference?

Appetite

The Challenge of Holiday and Social Eating

Kristen A. Carter MS on November 26, 2024

How we handle eating in social situations is not just a matter of following advice. Here’s what can really make a difference.

How we handle eating in social situations is not just a matter of following advice. Here’s what can really make a difference.

Guilt

Using Guilt to Improve Health?

Kristen A. Carter MS on October 22, 2024

Feeling guilty about what we have eaten can make us feel out of control — or be the start of a switch to healthier choices.

Feeling guilty about what we have eaten can make us feel out of control — or be the start of a switch to healthier choices.

Health

Born to Run or Born to Sit?

Kristen A. Carter MS on September 18, 2024

We love to sit. But nature has supplied us with the drive to exercise. How can we tap into it?

We love to sit. But nature has supplied us with the drive to exercise. How can we tap into it?

Motivation

How to Leverage Self-Doubt

Kristen A. Carter MS on August 29, 2024

Self-doubt can get in the way of your exercise goals, but there are ways to turn it into a motivator.

Self-doubt can get in the way of your exercise goals, but there are ways to turn it into a motivator.

Deception

Self-Deception Is a Slippery Slope

Kristen A. Carter MS on July 16, 2024

Self-deception is so common that we can take it for granted in ourselves and others. But there are many times when it can be hazardous to our health.

Self-deception is so common that we can take it for granted in ourselves and others. But there are many times when it can be hazardous to our health.

Sleep

Your Gut Can Help You Sleep

Kristen A. Carter MS on June 20, 2024

Sleep can be elusive for many of us but how we get to sleep may have more to do with our guts than our brains.

Sleep can be elusive for many of us but how we get to sleep may have more to do with our guts than our brains.

Health

Taking Health Literacy to the Next Level

Kristen A. Carter MS on May 14, 2024

Health literacy has been linked to positive health behaviors. Filling in some of the gaps can make it even more effective.

Health literacy has been linked to positive health behaviors. Filling in some of the gaps can make it even more effective.

Diet

Dealing With Our Eating Blind Spots

Kristen A. Carter MS on April 23, 2024

Deciding how we are going to eat is not a matter of free will. Our bodies and brains have their own agenda.

Deciding how we are going to eat is not a matter of free will. Our bodies and brains have their own agenda.

Motivation

Getting Past Resistance When Striving for Healthy Goals

Kristen A. Carter MS on March 19, 2024

Changing habits can trigger resistance. Resistance to changing our eating and exercise habits can present unique challenges.

Changing habits can trigger resistance. Resistance to changing our eating and exercise habits can present unique challenges.

Cognition

Metacognition’s Role in Decision Making

Kristen A. Carter MS on February 14, 2024

Thinking about how we think can spark creative ways to make decisions and solve problems.

Thinking about how we think can spark creative ways to make decisions and solve problems.

Magical Thinking

Transforming Resolutions Into Action

Kristen A. Carter MS on January 16, 2024

Preparing to make healthy behavior changes can be tricky. Here are some suggestions that can help.

Preparing to make healthy behavior changes can be tricky. Here are some suggestions that can help.

Diet

Why We Forget What We Eat

Kristen A. Carter MS on December 19, 2023

Forgetting what we eat is extremely common—some foods more than others. How can we embrace what is going on here?

Forgetting what we eat is extremely common—some foods more than others. How can we embrace what is going on here?

Appetite

Why Is Emotional Eating Such a Problem for So Many?

Kristen A. Carter MS on November 20, 2023

Many sabotage their good intentions by indulging in emotional eating. A few simple solutions can help.

Many sabotage their good intentions by indulging in emotional eating. A few simple solutions can help.

Habit Formation

When Saying “No” Isn’t Enough

Kristen A. Carter MS on October 25, 2023

There are many parallels between drug use prevention programs and weight management programs.

There are many parallels between drug use prevention programs and weight management programs.

Laughter

The Gift of Laughing at Your Mistakes

Kristen A. Carter MS on September 26, 2023

We can laugh at ourselves when we blow our diet or exercise plan. This opens the door for us to change our approach the next time.

We can laugh at ourselves when we blow our diet or exercise plan. This opens the door for us to change our approach the next time.

Affective Forecasting

Affective Forecasting: How It Affects Our Health

Kristen A. Carter MS on August 28, 2023

Discovering how we relate to our future selves can explain why we struggle to reach our heath goals.

Discovering how we relate to our future selves can explain why we struggle to reach our heath goals.