New Year, New

Know It All 2 6 WAYS TO GET ANYONE TO LIKE You—INSTANTLY! 2 5 WAYS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX 3 Healthy Dose 5 HOW TO SLEEP SOUNDLY 5 Get-Fit Tricks 7 SEXY AND STRONG IN 6 WEEKS! 7 SET YOUR INTENTION 10 Scale Down 11 5 SNEAKY SABOTEURS 11 4 GREAT BREAKFAST SOLUTIONS 13 Love Coach 15 10 AwKWARD TALKS You’ve GoTTA HAVE 15 HOW TO REALLY LISTEN TO HIM 17 Eat Smart 18 EAT THIS, CURE THAT! 18 Raise your glass and say goodbye to 2014. Then, look forward to starting 2015 off with a bang. We’ve New Year, given you a slew of quick tips to make this your best year ever, whether your goal is to eat smarter, get fit- ter, drop a few pounds, go further at work, or make it New You work better with your guy. Consider this go-to advice to help you grow into the person you want to be. So pour yourself another glass, and read on. WOMENSHEALTHMAG.COM 1 Back to Contents eyes and theirs can drift away Know It All from each other for a moment,” 6 Ways to Get Anyone she says. “They’ll relax.” to Like You—Instantly! Simple, science-based ways to score a promotion, extra attention from your trainer, or a date with that crazy-cute guy Copy Speech 2Patterns You know how all of your friends refer to a certain thing the same way (e.g., jewelry is bling)? There’s a reason: When you click with someone, you naturally adopt words and phrases from each other. But you can fake this rapport. Listen to, say, a boss or hiring manager’s choice of nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, then echo them back. For example, if she says copy machine instead of copier, you should do the same. “Hearing their own words come out of your mouth makes them feel as if you share their values, attitudes, and interests,” says Lowndes. But stick to key words only— otherwise it just gets weird. Sometimes you click with romantic relationships; they’ll Create Chemistry with Any- people, sometimes you don’t. help you gain a competitive one. Catching a guy’s eye from The chemicals in your brain, edge in a range of situations. across a room can get him to not your actions, often decide approach you, but prolonged this. But you can actually over- eye contact can also help in Mimic Body rule biology by creating chem- nonromantic situations, like 3Language istry with just about anybody. negotiations. Therapists often mirror their “There are small things you can Research shows that making clients’ ways of sitting, crossing do to stimulate the release of eye contact is an important their legs, or gesturing when the feel-good brain chemicals part of establishing a meaning- they want them to feel more dopamine and oxytocin, which ful rapport with others. But be comfortable. This body-lan- are associated with building Make Eye Contact careful that you don’t stare like guage mimicry can also work bonds and trust,” says Larry 1Looking people in the eye has a stalker. Avoid holding some- for you, says Kelly Campbell, Young, PhD, an expert in social benefits beyond just being one’s gaze for longer than PhD, an assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience and polite. “Holding someone’s 30 seconds, says Lowndes. And psychology at California State coauthor of The Chemistry gaze creates a spark in their if they seem uncomfortable, University at San Bernardino. Between Us: Love, Sex, and the brain that makes them think “try alluding to something in If you’re trying to crack your Science of Attraction. These you have chemistry,” says Leil the room, like a painting or a coworker’s all-business facade smart strategies aren’t just for Lowndes, author of How to piece of furniture, so that your or befriend a bartender, it’s WOMENSHEALTHMAG.COM 2 Back to Contents Know It All not complicated: When the yourself into Jennifer bartender leans in, you lean Lawrence, you can up your in, or when your coworker attractiveness by dressing crosses her legs, you cross spot-on for any situation. yours, says Campbell. It’s This doesn’t mean always important to add a little lag being the fanciest-looking time and not repeat every chick around. move they make. For every If a networking event five times they shift posi- calls for business casual, tions, you should mimic don’t wear your sleekest them only two or three skirt suit. The same goes times, says Campbell. for dates. If you show up overdressed, you’ll be less likely to establish that crucial sense of comfort, says Young. Prepare in advance. “Find out what the event will involve and wear what’s right for the occasion,” says Get Just Campbell. “If you’re un- 4Personal Enough sure, or if there are several If you reveal everything parts, bring a change of about yourself right off the shoes or clothes.” bat, it can come off as desper- ate or as inappropriately friendly. But divulging some personal details helps send a message of connection via a shot of oxytocin from the brain. “There should be a one-to-one ratio of personal info being exchanged,” says Reach Out Campbell. 6and Touch If they seem guarded, you Yeah, you touch a guy to can take the lead. Just don’t flirt—you’re no fool—but start with something hugely you probably don’t know private or hugely embarrass- exactly why it works. ing. Stick with something you “Touch is a simple way to might have on your Facebook potentially amp up the re- page, like your hometown or lease of both dopamine and pet’s name. For example, if oxytocin and build instant 5 Ways to Think you’re trying to woo a client trust,” says Young. In a over drinks, make a comment study in the journal PLOS about the background music ONE, people who were Outside the Box and tell her your fave band given oxytocin were more or about the first concert willing to share money you went to. That’s probably with a stranger than were No matter what the dilemma, mess, or plenty embarrassing anyway. those who weren’t given the obstacle, there’s a creative way to solve it hormone. It’s helpful in non- “Think outside the box” may be a cliché, but too often we turn our flirting scenarios, too, like problems over and over in our minds without finding an innovative getting special attention solution for them. That’s because we tend to address all issues the in yoga class (giving your same way, whether that means making a pros-and-cons list or calling teacher a friendly pat on Mom for advice. the back post-namaste can To get out of that rut, you have to be more creative. “That allows be more powerful than you to see problems from different angles,” says Sian Beilock, PhD, a Dress for the bowing in prayer). Avoid psychology professor at the University of Chicago. These tricks will 5Occasion touching anywhere other help you come up with unexpected answers for just about any quan- People like attractive people. than the shoulder or back, dary in your life—whether it’s smoothing things over with your guy or Duh. While you can’t turn and keep it light and brief. conceiving a kick-butt marketing plan that wows the entire office. Back to Contents WOMENSHEALTHMAG.COM 3 Back to Contents Know It All The Trick The Trick The Trick > Pretend the Why it works: > Work when > Move from problem is not We often make assumptions you’d prefer your normal that important without realizing it (that the to have your desk or space. to you. scenic route takes longer brain turned off. Try it: Try it: than the interstate route, for Try it: Be anywhere that’s Mentally distance yourself from instance). Drawing a picture or No matter what the problem is not your usual problem- the issue by imagining you’re diagram helps you address those that you’re trying to solve, tackle solving station. Go sit solving it for someone else (lit- hidden assumptions, says Mark- it at the time of day when you in the coffee shop down erally, it’s not your problem) or man. When you’re only thinking think you’re not at your best. the street for an hour that the deadline is further away through a problem, it’s easier to For example, if you always feel or just find an empty than it actually is. gloss over the details that jump foggy first thing in the morning, conference room and Why it works: out at you when you actually get started on the issue right set up shop for a bit. This helps you take in the bigger illustrate them. when you get up (without coffee, Why it works: picture and opens your mind if you dare). Or if your favorite Think about it like the field to approaches you might have The Trick thing to do at night is veg out trips you took in school— missed if you were thinking too > Take a break from and watch Friends reruns, take the idea was to give you narrowly, says Art Markman, brainstorming. some time then to think about new stimuli and expand PhD, a psychology professor Try it: potential solutions. your horizons while work- at the University of Texas and Stop sitting at your desk, staring Why it works: ing toward the same goal author of Smart Thinking.

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