New Year, New You!

To help you on your way to the new you in the new year, the Dana Centre hosted an evening probing the psychology of resolution keeping. Psychologist Richard Wiseman quizzed five motivational mentors in the hot seat before disclosing new research findings. Small group discussion with the experts followed, and the evening closed with a last word from Comedy Store player Neil Mullarkey as lifestyle guru L Vaughan Spencer.

Videos

Host Richard Wiseman canvassed the audience on their own resolutions, before discussing results from his New Year Science study, tracking 4000 people’s resolutions over six months. Romance and the environment didn’t do well...

Richard went on to interview five specialists on various areas of resolution-making.

First up was Robert West, from the Health Behaviour Research Unit at UCL. Robert spoke about finding better ways to encourage people to stop smoking, and how would-be quitters might quadruple their chances of success.

Fitness expert Sam Murphy talked about her mission to encourage people to fall in love with exercise. Sam, who is in training for her 14th London Marathon this year, recommended a softly-softly, realistic approach to exercise and highlighted the need to regain awareness of our bodies.

Which fat is best for the heart? Nutritionist Sarah Berry had the answer. Sarah spoke about re-educating people on the facts behind fat, and about her research into fat, lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease.

Applied sports psychologist James Beale talked about the psychological benefits of exercise and the need for sustainable optimism to keep exercise resolutions. It’s worth it for the endorphin rush; exercise can lift your mood...

Finally, registered dietician Sian Porter appealed to the audience to read food labels to help achieve diet-related resolutions. Other top tips included being realistic in goal-setting and viewing food programmes on TV with caution...

After the small group discussion sessions had concluded, lifestyle guru L Vaughn Spencer embarked on a motivational mission to wrap up the evening.

We caught up with audience member Mark on his way out. Describing the event as entertaining, informative and free, he was going away to absorb the knowledge he’d recorded...

Another audience member - Sid - rated the event as an excellent eye-opener, dealing with topical issues in a fresh and renewing way.

Amanda enjoyed the interactive style of the event, and was going away feeling informed and happy in the knowledge that red wine does indeed have components that are good for you!

Speakers

Sarah Berry, Registered Nutritionist and Lecturer, King's College London
James Beale, Director of Total Performance Consulting and Senior Lecturer in sports and exercise psychology, University of East London
Neil Mullarkey, Comedy Store player, London
Sam Murphy, fitness expert, journalist and author
Sian Porter, Registered Dietician, The Fat Panel, London
Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology, University College London

Facilitator:
Richard Wiseman, psychologist, University of Hertfordshire

Event organised by:
The Science Museum