Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this thing called cognitive psychology. Let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride!
I started by just wanting to know how our brains work, you know? Like, what makes us tick? I mean, we use our minds every single day, but how often do we really think about how they do what they do?
So, I dove into some books and articles. The first thing that really got me was just how much stuff our brains are doing all the time, without us even realizing it. Reading through some basic stuff, I found out that cognitive psychologists are all about figuring out how we learn, remember, think, and feel.
I decided I needed to get my hands dirty. I picked a few things to focus on, like how we learn new stuff and how we make decisions. There are a whole bunch of ways they study this, but I kept it simple for myself. I tried to change one of my habits using these principles.
Choosing to work on memory, I started testing myself, not just re-reading. I mean I tried to use my memory better. It’s not just about memorizing stuff, but how we organize it in our heads. For example, I used to always forget where I put my keys. So, I started this thing where I’d say out loud, “I’m putting my keys on the table,” every time I put them down. Sounds silly, but it worked! I started remembering better because I was paying more attention and using different parts of my brain.
Then there’s the whole decision-making thing. Man, that’s a can of worms! I tried to be more aware of how I was making choices, especially the small, everyday ones. I realized I make a lot of decisions on autopilot, without really thinking them through. So, I started to slow down, like when I’m at the grocery store. Instead of just grabbing whatever, I started to actually think about what I needed, what was a good deal, and what was healthy.
- I also experimented with language learning. I used a language learning app that is built upon cognitive science and I was able to learn some basic French phrases.
- I even tried to understand how emotions mess with our thinking. Like, how being angry or sad can totally change how you see a situation.
It’s a work in progress, and I’m no expert. But doing all this has definitely made me more aware of my own mind. It’s like I’ve been given a peek behind the curtain, and it’s fascinating. And it is not just about understanding, but also about making real changes. It’s about using what I’ve learned to actually improve my life, even in small ways.
My Tips
If you are looking to get into this, here’s what I would say. Start small. Pick one area that interests you and try to apply it to your own life. And don’t get bogged down in the technical stuff. It’s more about the practical application, at least that’s how I see it.
It’s been a fun and eye-opening experience, and I’m definitely going to keep at it. Who knows what else I’ll uncover about this amazing thing we call the mind!
