This week’s must-reads: Can’t Seem to Stick With Your Commitments? Try Making a Pact.

In my work as a behavioral designer, I come across important stories on how psychology influences our behavior. Every week, I share my round-up of the most important stories at the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. I hope you enjoy them!

Can’t Seem to Stick With Your Commitments? Try Making A Pact (NirAndFar) A pact is a pre-commitment to an outcome that acts as a firewall against distraction.

Stop Thinking About Your Bad Habits! [Do This Instead.] [AUDIO] (Podcast) Deliberate attempts to avoid certain thoughts make those thoughts even more persistent.

Sometimes Mindlessness Is Better Than Mindfulness (Scientific American) Although mindfulness has its merits, psychological research has also revealed that in some circumstances it’s important to be mindless.

Reimagining Social-Emotional Learning to Include Social Media (NAIS) The role social media plays in socialization is often overlooked as a part of social-emotional learning in education.

Hope is the antidote to helplessness. Here’s how to cultivate it. (PSYCHE) You have the capacity to adopt more hopeful patterns of thinking in the face of adversity.

The Secret to a Fight-Free Relationship (The Atlantic) Couples who save disagreements for scheduled meetings show the benefits of a more patient approach to conflict.

Happy reading!

- Nir