Many people look forward to celebrating New Year’s Eve, but sometimes it doesn’t turn out to be as exciting as expected. Let’s explore some reasons why this might happen and learn a bit more about how our brains work.
Have you ever felt let down after a big event? You’re not alone. A study found that 83% of people felt disappointed on New Year’s Eve, not because of what they did, but because it wasn’t as fun as they imagined. Our brains, especially the prefrontal cortex, are great at imagining the future. This ability helped our ancestors survive by planning ahead, like thinking about bringing home food. However, it can also lead to high expectations that are hard to meet.
Sometimes, trying too hard to have fun can backfire. In a study, people who were told to just listen to music without trying to feel happy actually enjoyed it more than those who were told to feel as happy as possible. So, if you’re trying too hard to have an amazing New Year’s Eve, it might actually make it less enjoyable.
Our brains have something called optimism bias, which means we often think positive outcomes are more likely than negative ones. For example, many newlyweds believe they won’t get divorced, even though many marriages do end that way. This bias can make us imagine a super fun New Year’s Eve, leading to disappointment if it doesn’t happen.
As people approach milestone ages like 29, 39, or 49, they often reflect on their lives. Research shows that more people start running marathons or even seek new relationships during these times. This reflection can cause stress and make New Year’s Eve feel more intense.
Alcohol can affect your brain in ways that might not make New Year’s Eve as fun as you hoped. It crosses into the brain and affects areas responsible for emotions and thoughts, leading to mood swings and sometimes sadness.
Going out on New Year’s Eve can be expensive. Restaurants and bars often raise their prices. Interestingly, it’s not just the amount spent that bothers people, but the perception of price increases. Whole numbers can annoy people more, affecting how they feel about spending money.
If you have someone special to kiss at midnight, that’s great! But kissing a stranger might not be worth it due to the exchange of bacteria that happens even in a brief kiss.
Remember, New Year’s Eve is just one night and doesn’t define your whole year. Try to do something you enjoy and keep your expectations realistic. It might turn out better than you think!
If you’re interested in learning new skills, check out the book “Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise.” It offers insights on mastering skills like languages, sports, or musical instruments. It’s available on Audible, which has a huge selection of audiobooks perfect for listening on the go.
Enjoy your New Year’s Eve, and remember to subscribe for more interesting science content!
Reflect on a past event where your expectations were high but the reality was different. Write a journal entry about what you expected and what actually happened. Consider how your expectations might have influenced your experience. Share your thoughts with the class to understand how common this feeling is.
Conduct a simple experiment by listening to a piece of music twice. The first time, just listen without any specific goal. The second time, try to feel as happy as possible. Note any differences in your enjoyment and discuss why trying too hard might affect your experience.
Participate in a debate about optimism bias. One side will argue that optimism bias is beneficial, while the other will argue that it can lead to disappointment. Use examples from everyday life to support your arguments and learn how this bias affects decision-making.
Create a timeline of your life and mark significant events. Reflect on these events and think about what you might want to achieve in the future. Discuss with classmates how reflection can be both motivating and stressful, especially around milestone ages.
Research the cost of a typical New Year’s Eve outing in your area. Compare prices from different venues and discuss how price perception might affect your decision to go out. Consider alternative ways to celebrate that might be more enjoyable and cost-effective.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Many people look forward to New Year’s Eve, but many end up feeling disappointed. There are some interesting reasons why this happens.
**1. Expectations:** In a study, 83% of people reported feeling let down not because of their actual plans, but because they had less fun than they expected. High expectations can lead to unhappiness. Our highly developed prefrontal cortex allows us to imagine the future, which has helped with survival. For instance, envisioning bringing home delicious food for the family may have motivated our ancestors to strive harder.
**2. Trying Too Hard:** In a study where participants were instructed to listen to music and feel as happy as possible, those who were simply told to listen without any emotional directives actually felt happier. When you try too hard to have an amazing night on New Year’s Eve, it may reduce your ability to enjoy it.
**3. Optimism Bias:** Our brains tend to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes compared to negative ones. For example, many newlyweds believe they will not divorce, despite knowing that nearly half of marriages end in separation. We often envision a fun-filled New Year’s Eve, which can lead to disappointment.
**4. Reflection:** Approaching a new decade in age, such as 29, 39, or 49, can lead to increased reflection. Research shows an uptick in first-time marathon runners at these ages, as well as a higher prevalence of individuals seeking extramarital affairs. This reflection can trigger existential crises and increase stress.
**5. Alcohol:** Alcohol affects the brain by permeating the blood-brain barrier and settling in the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for sensory emotions and thoughts. As consumption continues, the limbic system is affected, leading to mood swings and potentially amplified feelings of sadness.
**6. Cost of New Year’s Eve:** Restaurants and bars often raise their prices significantly. Interestingly, the actual amount spent may not matter as much as the perception of the price increase. Research shows that people are more annoyed by whole numbers, which can influence their spending behavior.
**7. The Midnight Kiss:** If you have someone special to kiss at midnight, it may not be so bad. However, kissing a stranger might not be worth the exchange of bacteria that occurs in a brief kiss.
Remember, New Year’s Eve is just a small fraction of your year and does not define your entire life. Do something you enjoy on December 31st and try to lower your expectations. It might not be as bad as you think!
Special thanks to Audible for supporting this episode. To give you a free 30-day trial, visit audible.com/asap. This week, we recommend the book “Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise,” which offers valuable insights on mastering any skill, from languages to sports to musical instruments. Audible has a massive selection and is great for when you’re on the go. Thank you for your support, and subscribe for more weekly science videos!
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This version maintains the core ideas while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Expectations – Beliefs about what will happen in the future or how someone should behave. – The teacher had high expectations for her students, believing they could all excel in critical thinking.
Optimism – A hopeful attitude about the future or the success of something. – Despite the challenges, his optimism about improving his grades in psychology kept him motivated.
Reflection – Careful thought or consideration about one’s own thoughts and feelings. – After the group discussion, she spent some time in reflection to better understand her emotions.
Alcohol – A substance that can alter mood and behavior, often discussed in psychology for its effects on the brain. – In health class, they learned about how alcohol can impair judgment and affect emotions.
Emotions – Feelings that are often complex and can influence thoughts and behavior. – Understanding how to manage emotions is an important part of developing critical thinking skills.
Disappointment – A feeling of sadness or displeasure when expectations are not met. – She felt disappointment when her project didn’t win, but she used it as a learning experience.
Fun – Enjoyment or amusement, often considered important for mental health and well-being. – The psychology teacher incorporated fun activities to help students engage with the material.
Bias – A tendency to favor one thing over another, often in a way that is unfair. – Recognizing personal bias is crucial for developing fair and balanced critical thinking skills.
Stress – A state of mental or emotional strain resulting from demanding circumstances. – Learning techniques to manage stress can improve both mental health and academic performance.
Experience – Knowledge or skill gained through involvement in or exposure to something. – Her experience volunteering at the counseling center gave her insights into human behavior.
