Need to work on changing a money habit but finding it hard to get going? Consider increasing the level of tension associated with your poor financial habits. As a human being, when you encounter a truth that makes you feel uncomfortable, your natural tendency is to ignore it, suppress it, or push it to the [...]

This week, reporter Naomi Mannino wrote a comprehensive piece for Mainstreet.com proposing several links between physical health and financial health. I was honored to be interviewed for the article. Here is a selection: Regular physical activity can boost your brain power. Much research has proven that regular exercise has cognitive benefits and can boost your [...]

Last week, I described stage three (preparation) of the stages of change model. Stage three is when people intend to take action soon to change their money habits, but they need to get all of their ducks in a row and to make a specific plan of action. What are the strategies or self-challenges you [...]

I’ve been walking you through the stages of change, or the stages that mark your readiness to transform a habit. This week, I introduce stage three, which is called preparation. It is when a person intends to take action soon, but she needs to get all of her ducks in a row and to make [...]

Last week, I described how you can get stuck in the second stage of change (contemplation). In this stage, you can think of multiple reasons why you should change a given money habit. But you can also think of multiple reasons why you don’t want to. Procrastination and feelings of ambivalence are common. What do [...]

This post is the third in a series examining the “stages of change,” or the stages that mark your readiness to transform a habit. Last week, I presented the first stage of change (precontemplation). This week, I introduce stage two, which is called contemplation. It is when a person feels strongly pulled in two different [...]

Last week I suggested that if you have decided to change one of your money habits, it is helpful to know your starting point, also known as your current stage of change (Prochaska, Norcross, & DiClemente). If you know your stage of change, it will help you design appropriate challenges or “homework” for yourself. These [...]

Which of the following people is most likely to succeed in completing a marathon? Person A believes that if you can walk somewhere, walking beats running hands-down, every single time. Person B can think of a million reasons why participating in a marathon would be a good idea, but he can think of an equal [...]

Ready to work on a money goal? When you’ve designed your goal, write it down. We are more likely to achieve written goals than unwritten ones. The findings of neuroscience support this claim. Brain researchers have discovered that neurogenesis (the birth of brain cells, or neurons) continues throughout life. They have also discovered that neurons [...]

Whenever I begin a new personal change group at work, there is a long pause when group members ponder what unique goal they would like to set for themselves. Last week, one of the group participants gave voice to her hesitation: “It just seems like so much. Like it’s easier to not even start the [...]