Happy 2022! #newyearnewme, right? Haha, we kid. But it is that time of the year where a lot of North Americans set New Year's resolutions. But do they work? How can you actually change your life so that you’re achieving the goals that matter most to you? Today we discuss whether you should even set resolutions, and if you do, how to best reach those goals! Also, you get to hear the story of T’s most embarrassing New Year’s Eve party (hint: a soiled Marc Jacobs bag is involved…)   T’s article: “How to trick your brain into keeping a New Year’s resolution” Sarah Chodosh, Jan 1, 2022 from Popular Science (https://www.popsci.com/how-to-accomplish-new-years-resolution) K’s article: “A large-scale experiment on New Year’s resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals” Oscarsson, Martin et al., PloS one vol. 15,12 e0234097. 9 Dec. 2020, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234097 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7725288/)

Remember when your parents finally explained the birds and the bees to you? Remember when your mom fully prepared you for your first period? No? Yeah...we don't remember either. Today T & K share how they learned about their lady bits and funny encounters along the way!

Join us as K explains why she was away for so long. She gets into her recent diagnosis of ADHD and how it has impacted her as well as how it impacts women and girls in general. Surprisingly (not) there is not much research done on women with ADHD but in this episode, K and T do their best to normalize the discussion and bring some awareness through their own experiences! Isn’t that the best way to do it? K’s article: https://chadd.org/for-adults/women-and-girls/

We’ve all been there before--you’re having a conversation with someone and they drop one of those comments that is just straight up offensive. If you’re like us, these situations may feel awkward AF. Do you call the person out? Do you laugh awkwardly and back away? Today T & K talk about why those comments are so offensive and why you should probably say something.    T’s article: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a32769018/silent-racism-george-floyd/   K’s article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/think-act-be/201811/when-is-it-gaslighting-and-when-is-it-not

You know that feeling when you want to make a change in your life (and maybe even make progress) but keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again? Whether it’s sticking to a gym routine or meditating everyday, we know that feeling! Today T&K discuss the frustration associated with setbacks and how you can keep moving forward towards your goals despite slipping up every now and then.    T’s article: James Clear, “Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead.” (excerpt from Atomic Habits) online: https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems   K’s article: Juliana Breines, “The Dangers of Self-Forgiveness—And How to Avoid Them”, Psychology Today, July 12, 2012.

Given that all the pandemic restrictions are slowly starting to lift, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about that old thing you might remember - FOMO! What is it, where does it come from, and maybe a few tips to get ready for when you start seeing people getting back out there and living their best [instagram] life.    K also goes on a little rant about mental health but that’s pretty standard over here.    T’s article: Madeline Fry Schultz, “How I Got Over FOMO as an Introvert” August 18, 2016 in Verily Magazine, online: https://verilymag.com/2016/08/introverts-quiet-extroverts-fomo-confidence   K’s article: Zach Friedman, “How to be Happy; 20 Ways to be Happier Today” August 13, 2019 in Forbes Magazine, online:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2019/08/13/how-to-be-happy/?sh=2e8b893d13f9    Dont forget to check out the guided meditation by Headspace available on Netflix!

T and K are going through some changes in their lives and found themselves lacking closure. The pandemic doesn’t help. Join us as they discuss where this need for closure comes from and what we can do about it!    T’s article: Kruglanski, A. W., & Fishman, S. (2009). The need for cognitive closure. In M. R. Leary & R. H. Hoyle (Eds.), Handbook of individual differences in social behavior (p. 343–353). The Guilford Press. Take a short version of the test mentioned in T’s article here: https://www.thecut.com/2015/12/this-quiz-shows-how-well-you-handle-uncertainty.html K’s Article:  Pam Ramsden, “The Psychology of Closure” University of Bradford, October 2018. Available online: https://theconversation.com/the-psychology-of-closure-and-why-some-need-it-more-than-others-104159

In this episode, T & K share our listeners' comments and questions. Did your question/comment make it onto this episode? Listen and find out!    P.s. K shares the recipe for a Gibson, so if you’ve ever wondered what pickled onions taste like in alcoholic beverage form, tune in ;)

It’s spring cleaning time over here at It’s Funny You Should Ask and today T & K discuss why it’s in your best interests to declutter your space. In case you didn’t know how the KonMari method works, K will give you a primer! Also tune in to hear K’s weird obsession with price tags….   T’s article: Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Jan. 3, 2019, “The Unbearable Heaviness of Clutter” The New York Times, online: www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/well/mind/clutter-stress-procrastination-psychology.html T’s article about where donated items go: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/donated-clothing-where-it-ends-up-1.4662023   K’s article: Amanda Garrity, Jan 11, 2019, “What Is the KonMari Method? Here's How to Declutter the Marie Kondo Way” Good Housekeeping, online: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/a25846191/what-is-the-konmari-method/

Today T & K discuss how their definition of success has changed over the years and answer the question: would your 12 year old self think you are successful now? T examines the ever-changing ways to measure success and K offers a comparison of how women vs men view success. In case you need to hear it today, you are a successful person already! Remember, you can't experience success if you're always chasing it.  T’s article: Jayson Demers, “Define Success: A Professional's Guide to Finding Purpose and Motivation”, Inc.com, (21 Jan 2015) online: www.inc.com/jayson-demers/define-success-a-professional-s-guide-to-finding-purpose-and-motivation.html K’s article: Lorraine S. Dyke & Steven A. Murphy, “How We Define Success: A Qualitative Study of What Matters Most to Women and Men”, Springer Science, (2006).  Allan Watts, “What if money was no object?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khOaAHK7efc