A simple way to break a bad habit | Judson Brewer

Can we break bad habits by being more curious about them? Psychiatrist Judson Brewer studies the relationship between mindfulness and addiction — from smoking to overeating to all those other things we do even though we know they're bad for us. Learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to smoke, snack or check a text while driving.

Inside the mind of a master procrastinator | Tim Urban

Tim Urban knows that procrastination doesn't make sense, but he's never been able to shake his habit of waiting until the last minute to get things done. In this hilarious and insightful talk, Urban takes us on a journey through YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes and bouts of staring out the window -- and encourages us to think harder about what we're really procrastinating on, before we run out of time.

For more from Tim Urban, visit Wait But Why: http://www.waitbutwhy.com/

What causes Addiction

What really causes addiction — to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.

THE TEENAGE BRAIN IS PRIMED FOR ADDICTION

We tend to think of addiction as an adult problem, but drug abuse starts, overwhelmingly, in adolescence. Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Amir Levine talks about how a teenager’s brain is primed to soak up new experiences—the good and the bad—in this clip from “Craving Brain: The Neuroscience of Uncontrollable Urges,” a program at the 2014 World Science Festival.

By understanding the brain, structures and hormones, and by adapting our thoughts, too many great things can happen! Increasing compassion can lead to wonderful things. Renowned medical researcher Dr. Rudolph Tanzi takes you on a tour of the brain, and explains why positive thinking might be the best gift you can give your genes.