Reading a great book is not just an indulgence. Increasing evidence highlights the mental benefits of getting lost in a book. Harry Potter deserves a special mention. Research suggests that tales of the young wizard engender empathy. Children who read Harry Potter seem to be less prejudiced towards minority groups and to have more open minds:

Literature with complex, developed themes and characters appears to let readers occupy or adopt perspectives they might otherwise not consider; and it seems that Rowling might get at the beautiful, sobering mess of life in a way that could have a meaningful impact on our children’s collective character.

Harry Potter is an excellent role model and research shows that thinking about fictional characters you love can help you make better decisions. Psychology writer Eric Barker suggests asking, “What would Harry Potter do?” when confronted with a moral dilemma.

In addition to inspiring ethical decision-making, there is reason to believe that reading books like Harry Potter boost creativity. In Originals, Adam Grant points out that highly creative people often cite works of fiction as sources of inspiration and fuel for originality:

Growing up, many originals find their first role models in their most beloved novels, where protagonists exercise their creativity in pursuit of unique accomplishments. Elon Musk and Peter Thiel each chose Lord of the Rings, the epic tale of a hobbit’s adventures to destroy a dangerous ring of power. Sheryl Sandberg and Jeff Bezos both favored A Wrinkle in Time, in which a young girl learns to bend the laws of physics and travel through time. Mark Zuckerberg was partial to Ender’s Game, where it’s up to a group of kids to save the planet from an alien attack.

The great thing about fictional stories is how they stretch the imagination. They make the impossible possible. They inspire dreams of possibility. They enable us to see past, the here and now and to dream of a better world.

Curling up with a great book may seem the ultimate luxury. It is high time to think of it as a necessity.

You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.

-Dr. Seuss

Everyone knows the benefits of exercise so why is it that so few people bother? One study found that 75% of people barely exercise at all. We also know that a healthy diet is important but more than a third of adults are overweight. Why is there a mismatch between what we know and what we actually do?

Translating information into action is only part of the challenge. Even if we make a change, how do we maintain motivation?

Rethinking how we set goals offers a key insight into effective behavior change. According to researchers at Harvard:

Setting goals can help you think more clearly and stay motivated, yet for many people, this approach does not work. A recent study provided an explanation for why this may be. Beyond your conscious goals, there are many unconscious goals also competing for attention. For example, while weight loss may be your conscious goal, stress relief may be your unconscious goal. While healthy eating may be your conscious goal, this may take a back seat to resolving relationship difficulties. All around, goals are selfish. It’s every goal for itself in the human brain. If your health-related goal doesn’t have a special preference, it may fail you.

So what can you do? According to the researchers at Harvard, the solution is to clarify priorities:

It helps to attach a “priority tag” to the goals that are most important to you. To do this, you need to delve a little more deeply — that is, ask yourself why your goal matters to you.

In other words, think long and hard about what you really want and put that goal front and center.

To make changes for the better, your health-related goals should be the goals above all other goals. When you elevate their importance by thinking of them in ways like these, they will beat out other goals in your brain.

I love the idea of attaching a “priority tag” to the goals that are most important to you. It will remind you to make choices that are consistent with what you say you want to achieve.

As Mahatma Gandhi said:

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Instead of focusing on oneself, oftentimes the best place to find inspiration is in the work of others. This is especially true during challenging times when the temptation is to become more self-focused. It is precisely at these moments that we need to look beyond ourselves to find the strength we need.

A scene from the movie Invictus captures the power of finding inspiration outside of oneself. President Mandela (Morgan Freeman) tells Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), captain of the national rugby team, how during the darkest times in his life, he found courage in an unexpected place:

On Robin’s Island when things got very bad I found inspiration in a poem, a Victorian poem. They are just words but they helped me to stand when all I wanted to do was lie down.

The poem is, of course, Invictus. May it inspire you to greatness:

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

Being a good interviewee is both an art and a science. A recent study highlights the single reason why a good candidate sometimes doesn’t get the job: anxiety. The problem isn’t the obvious manifestations of anxiety like shaky hands or nervous tics. The reason the anxious candidates are judged harshly is because they seem to lack assertiveness and warmth. As summed up by Christian Jarrett:

Anxious interviewees needn’t worry too much about any little nervous tics they might have, and should focus instead on the larger impression they make – by learning to come over as assertive and friendly, it is likely they will conceal their anxiety and receive a fairer appraisal from the interviewers.

The good news is there are a number of strategies to help you make a good impression.

1. Visualize victory

Job seekers who practice mental imagery were less stressed and received better evaluations than those who didn’t. Take 10 minutes picturing yourself feeling confident throughout the interview and envision it ending with a job offer.

2. Power pose

Before the interview, take a moment in the bathroom or stairwell to make a power pose (think Warrior in yoga). During the interview, uncross your arms and sit up straight. Convey warmth with a friendly smile and eye contact.

3. Tell them about your potential

The interviewer has read your resume. Tell her what you are capable of doing in the future. Highlight your strengths.

4. Do your homework

Read up and ask questions that reflect your curiosity and genuine interest in the company and the people who work there.

5. Everyone counts

Be sure to greet the doorman, the receptionist and everyone you meet with respect. A friend told me he always asks his assistant how the applicant treated him. If the answer is not good, no matter how qualified, the candidate is nixed.

6. Rehearse without looking rehearsed

Ask a friend to give you a mock interview. Think through what you want to say or convey and please don’t memorize anything. You will sound like a robot.

7. Be curious

Ask questions that reflect your knowledge but that don’t make you look like a show off.

8. Wear something that makes you feel good about yourself

Navy, black and gray are good choices. Studies show orange is a terrible idea. Polished shoes, manicured finger nails, and tidy hair send a professional message.

9. Say thank you

Send a note—email or handwritten—saying how much you enjoyed the interview. Be specific about what you learned and about how you think you can contribute.