People are willing to pay as much as 17% more for a handmade item over its machine-made counterpart, studies show, be it a ceramic mug, a bar of scented soap or a carved rocking chair. Turns out, people find handmade products to be more attractive, an effect especially noticeable when it comes to buying a gift for a loved one. The reason? “Handmade” really suggests “made with love.”
I wish you all the best,
Dr. Samantha Boardman
Father, New York University Instructor and Author of U Thrive: How to Succeed in College (and Life) on being the best, naps and that particular Chernow biography that’s been staring at him from the nightstand.
I teased a friend for buying NikeiD custom sneakers. “What’s the point?” I asked. Why pay extra to personalize a pair of running shoes? “Customized shoes won’t make you run any faster.”
Actually, they could. According to this study, when you put your personal stamp on something—be it a pen or a putter—you can significantly improve performance. Students did better on tests, and athletes performed better when they used items they had personalized to portray aspects of themselves.
It is not about superstition or a belief that the product is lucky. When you make something your own, it becomes an extension of your identity and strengthens motivation. Make your mark on your equipment. Make it feel uniquely “you.”
I finally have an excuse to customize the bed linens I have always dreamed of from D. Porthault. No doubt I will sleep better.
I wish you all the best,
Dr. Samantha Boardman
Listen to your mother! Eating fruits and vegetables isn’t just good for your physical health, it’s good for your mental health, too. There is growing evidence that a diet high in “FV” — as researchers call “fruits and vegetables” — is linked to greater happiness and higher life satisfaction.
And better than an info-mercial, the results are almost instantaneous. A new study found that eating just a few more servings of FV a day can lift your mood and boost your psychological wellbeing in just two weeks. Yes, just two weeks. Participants reported an increase in motivation, vitality and flourishing. It’s the gift that keeps on giving — even after the study was over, people wanted to continue eating their FV because they felt so good.
Of note, being a nag and just reminding people to eat their fruits and vegetables because it will prevent heart disease is not enough. Make fruits and vegetables available and highlight how much better they will feel immediately.
I wish you all the best,
Dr. Samantha Boardman
Mother, celebrator and illustrator. Perspective, 50-pound scrapbooks and joy — see what else makes the author and believer in Celebrate Everything! tick.
Who cares what other people think? We are bombarded with advice telling us to make our own choices and not be swayed by other people’s opinions. Be the master of your own destiny, they say. It’s your life. Do it your way. The assumption is that we know better, and if we look within ourselves, we will find all the answers and make the right choices.
While I agree with the basic premise that it is important to make decisions that reflect our personal values, I also believe it is important to get out of our own head.
Seek advice from people you admire and to get honest feedback from people you trust. When it comes to making decisions—about things big and small—you may not be the expert you think you are. Emotions, past experiences, misperceptions and assumptions tend to cloud judgment. Suboptimal decisions are the result. Sometimes other people really do know best.
This is especially true when it comes to choosing profile pictures for dating, Facebook and LinkedIn. One might assume that we would choose the best photos of ourselves but it turns out we are downright useless. Other people are more adept at picking the most flattering pictures. This phenomenon has practical implications. As the researchers conclude, “should people wish to “put their best face forward,” they should ask someone else to choose it…
Indeed, self-expertise may be a myth, at least when it comes to choosing the most appealing photo of yourself. Surely, the limits of self-perception are not limited to the selection of profile pictures. Instead of looking inside of yourself for all the answers, look up from your phone, look out into the world and tap into the wisdom of others. We don’t always have to go it alone.
I wish you all the best,
Dr. Samantha Boardman
