Simple Psychology Tricks You Can Use to Instantly Upgrade Your Life

PSA: You are in complete control of your mindset.

But it doesn’t always feel that way, does it? Whether you're dealing with anxiety, struggling with motivation, or finding it hard to connect with others, taking control can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. 

Luckily, the power of positive psychology is the answer.

As Dr. Sham Singh, a psychiatrist with a holistic approach to mental health at WINIT Clinic, puts it: “Employing some of the 'tricks' used in psychology can make any and all aspects of life improve through enhanced self-regulation, relationships and wellness in general.”

Before we get started, a quick disclaimer: we’re not talking about insidious tricks used to manipulate those around you or do harm. Far from it. Instead, we’ll be focusing on positive psychology which is all about creating a better mindset. It’s simply about learning how your brain functions.

“Imagine having an owner's manual for the mind. That’s essentially what learning psychology gives you,” Dr. Dillon Harper, a psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety and depression in working professionals tells us. “It’s understanding the ‘why’ behind your feelings and actions, which is incredibly empowering.”

Often, these ‘tricks’ mean reframing the way that you view things to the benefit of your well-being. Simply put, there are ways you can train your mind over time to default to a more optimistic and healthier perspective, leading to a happier life.

“For example, by recognizing common cognitive distortions—like thinking the worst will always happen—you can start to challenge and change those patterns which ultimately ends up improving your mood and behaviors,” explains Harper.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and take a look at some of the simplest science-backed psychology tricks and how to use each of them.

Trick #1: Listen Actively to Become More Likable

Looking for a way to instantly connect with new people and have them like you? Whether you’re on a date or networking with like-minded business people, you want to make the right first impression on them. Fortunately, it could be easier than you think. You just need to remember one truth: everyone craves being heard and deeply understood by those around them.

 “The simple thing I always recommend for getting others to like you is this: active listening,” says Singh. “People generally like those who make them feel understood.”

Active listening is all about focus. When someone else is speaking, avoid allowing your mind to wander and give them all of your attention. It’s not just about hearing the words, you need to ensure that you understand what they are saying. If you have any doubts, don’t be afraid to ask questions to get a better understanding. When the person has finished talking, respond to them in a way that shows you heard them and have taken in everything that they said.

“By genuinely listening and responding to what others say, one shows empathy and respect, which naturally would make one more likable,” he explains. “It's about showing genuine interest in the conversation, maintaining eye contact, and responding with comments that show you've been paying attention.”

Trick #2: Restructure Your Thoughts to Stop Overthinking

Overthinking is a common problem that can ruin our productivity and make you doubt yourself. Spoiler: ruminating on things takes a whole lot of brain power that could be better used on other things.

However, many of us have no idea how to combat this issue and fall into the same traps time and time again.

“Overthinking can feel like being stuck on a mental hamster wheel, exhausting but getting nowhere,” explains Harper. “A powerful tool is cognitive restructuring, a technique used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It’s about challenging those negative thoughts that fuel overthinking.”

The next time you catch a negative thought, it’s time to take action. “Ask yourself: ‘Is this thought a fact or just a fear?’” Harper says.  “By actively questioning and reframing your thoughts, you can shift from a place of worry to one of clarity and control. Remember, not every thought deserves your attention and we suffer more often in our imagination than reality.”

Trick #3: Make People Believe You With Repetition

Repetition bias is often used by marketers, attorneys and politicians to make people believe what they are saying. The psychological theory is pretty simple: the more frequently a statement is repeated, the more likely people are to believe that it is a fact. 

The result of this is something called an ‘illusory truth effect,’ meaning that people are less likely to question the statement. The remarkable thing about the illusory truth effect is that it works regardless of whether there’s any real evidence to back up what you say. People don’t need to do any research themselves to start believing you. 

While this psychological trick can doubtless be used for evil—think politicians peddling lies to the masses—you can also use it for good. For example, if you’re trying to persuade your colleagues to understand your point of view at work, you simply repeat it over and over again until, eventually, they accept your words as truth.

Trick #4: Ground Yourself When You’re Anxious

Around 4% of the global population experience a diagnosed anxiety disorder, with many more having anxious feelings at times. When you’re in the grip of anxiety, it can be hard to separate  your mind from the situation and focus on what’s important. 

However, there’s a trick you can try that may help you calm down: the 5-4-3-2-1 approach.

“When anxiety kicks in, identify five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste,” says Harper. “It’s a simple way to snap back to the present and find a moment of calm in the chaos and become tethered to the present instead of getting lost in the future.”

Trick #5: Use ‘Chunking’ to Master the Biggest and Most Intimidating Tasks

Facing a massive task at work? Don’t panic.

 “Large projects often overwhelm our senses and therefore make us procrastinate a great deal,” says Singh. “Being more productive is as simple as breaking tasks into smaller, manageable pieces, setting small goals and then rewarding yourself for each one accomplished helps to keep people moving and productive.”

Rather than trying to tackle the task in one go, break it down. That could mean working on smaller parts of the job toward a greater goal, delegating parts of it to others, or performing the work in smaller time chunks—turning your attention to other projects when your motivation for the larger project starts to wane.

Don’t forget to reward yourself as you reach each tiny milestone. It helps keep your motivation levels high.

 “Task analysis involves the breakdown of a task into smaller units. This strategy is based on cognitive psychology; that is, it employs the use of ‘chunking’ to reduce cognitive load, hence minimizing the risible values of tasks into less intimidating and smaller bits,” Singh explains.

Trick #6: Realize People Don’t Care To Quit Worrying About What They Think

Do you spend sleepless nights worrying about what your friends and family think of you? Going over and over what you did or said that might have upset them? This is your (pardon the pun) wake-up call to stop. 

And all it takes is the realization that people don’t think about you nearly as much as you imagine.

“Not caring what others think can be challenging, but a helpful trick is to remember that people are often more focused on themselves than they are on you,” says Singh. “To realize that others may not even critique every one of your moves is truly liberating.”

Instead of focusing on what others think, turn your attention to your own thoughts and emotions, Singh says. “It helps by placing one's values and what makes you happy as the central concern, rather than searching after the opinions of other people. This can be one means of building inner peace and self-assurance.”

Trick #7:Use Affirmations To Give Yourself a Confidence Boost

Think that self-assured people are born that way? Think again. Confidence is a habit you can learn and develop over time. Anyone can be more confident, it just takes practice.

One of the best possible tools for this is affirmation, which is the act of  telling yourself positive things over and over again in order to foster a positive self-image. “Studies within the area of positive psychology show that repeated self-affirmations can lead to a surge in resilience, improvement in performance, and ultimately enhancing the well-being of an individual,” Singh says.

Want to give it a whirl? “Techniques which include keeping an accomplishment diary, creating realistic yet attainable and challenging goals, and imaging success in one's mind, play an important role,” explains Singh. Pick one or two of these to help you get started.

Takeaway

The mind is a powerful thing. Simply changing the way you think about something has the potential to create significant improvements in every aspect of your life—with no physical changes required. All of these tips are proven to work, and they are all very easy to incorporate into your daily routine.Why not try them out now and experience the impact they can have for yourself?