Bright Side Thinking
This outlook helps people interpret setbacks as temporary and solvable rather than permanent and insurmountable.
What is optimism?
This tool helps people write down daily tasks and appointments to keep track of their responsibilities.
What is a planner?
Before generating solutions, effective problem solvers must first do this to understand the issue clearly.
What is defining the problem?
People with this orientation believe their actions directly influence outcomes in life.
What is an internal locus of control?
A systematic plan that tracks income, expenses, and discretionary spending helps managing finances using this concept.
What is a budget?
Optimists tend to approach challenges this way, focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems.
What is proactive problem-solving?
Listing tasks in order of importance and checking them off one by one is an example of using this strategy.
What is a to-do list?
This step in problem solving involves producing multiple options without judging them immediately.
What is brainstorming?
This orientation attributes outcomes larger to luck, fate, or other powers.
What is an external locus of control?
Distinguishing between essentials for survival and discretionary spending helps manage finances using this concept.
What is needs vs. wants?
Research shows that people with this mindset recover faster from stress and having stronger immune responses.
What is an optimistic mindset?
Setting aside specific parts of the day for certain activities, such as "studying from 2-4 PM" is called this.
What is time blocking?
Weighing pros and cons, risks, and potential outcomes of each option is called this.
What is evaluating alternatives?
Someone with this type of locus of control would say "I failed the exam because I didn't study enough," showing personal accountability.
What is internal locus of control?
This budgeting method requires you to give every dollar a specific job--this could be for spending, saving, or paying off debt--until your income minus your expenses equals zero.
What is the zero-based budget method?
When facing a major career setback, this type of thinking reframes "failure" as a learning opportunity.
What is optimistic reframing?
Using these built-in phone features can help remind you of appointments or when to start a task.
What are reminders or alarms?
After taking action, reflecting on what worked and what didn't is part of this final step in problem solving.
What is evaluating or reviewing the results?
Believing that your social environment, policy changes, or economic conditions mostly determine your success reflects this.
What is external locus of control?
Allocating 50% of income to essentials, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to saving or debt repayment is known as this rule.
What is the 50/30/20 rule?
This practice involves listing challenges and identifying at least one positive outcome or lesson from each.
What is gratitude or positive reflection?
Combining a written plan with digital tools such as phone reminders increases this skill, which helps to avoid procrastination and missed deadlines.
What is accountability or follow-through?
Combining creativity and logical analysis to solve complex or unfamiliar problems requires this type of thinking.
What is critical thinking?
Balanced locus of control helps adults navigate life because it combines personal responsibility with realistic awareness of uncontrollable factors, enhancing this key skill.
What is resilience?
Having this type of fund protects against unexpected financial shocks, such as medical emergencies or sudden job loss.
What is an emergency fund?