Skip to content

Chris Loper

Chris Loper has been writing about self-improvement and helping busy adults with habit formation since 2017. He also writes an education blog for parents and students for Northwest Educational Services. Along with Greg Smith, Chris is the cocreator of Parenting for Academic Success, a series of transformative classes that create empowered parents, confident students, and harmonious families. His most recent endeavor combines his academic and habit-formation expertise to help students thrive in college. Visit SmartCollegeHabits.com to learn more. In 2021, Chris published a humorous memoir titled Wood Floats and Other Brilliant Observations, a book that blends crazy stories with practical life lessons. He lives in Issaquah, WA where he is the owner of South Cove Tutoring.

Therapy Isn’t Enough

Therapy is great. Cognitive therapy is a powerful intervention that has helped millions of people overcome depression, anxiety, and other psychological challenges. There are many types of cognitive therapy, but most focus on helping “people learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on behavior and emotions.” Therapists show clients how their “automatic negative thoughts … contribute to and worsen emotional difficulties,… Read More »Therapy Isn’t Enough

5 Ways To Spend Money That’ll Actually Make You Happier

The old adage that money doesn’t buy happiness is generally true. Beyond the level of income required to live comfortably, making extra money doesn’t increase people’s happiness.1 And spending money on stuff, like a new car or a bigger TV, won’t make you any happier in the long run. You’ll get a short burst of pleasure from the purchase, but you’ll quickly get used to having the upgraded version of… Read More »5 Ways To Spend Money That’ll Actually Make You Happier

Being a Health Nut Isn’t Crazy

When I was a kid back in the early ’90s, there was a woman in our neighborhood whom we would often see jogging or riding her bike. She was incredibly fit. And I distinctly remember my mom commenting that she was “such a health nut.” People who chose salads over cheeseburgers and people who said no to dessert also earned the “health nut” designation. At the time, I didn’t question… Read More »Being a Health Nut Isn’t Crazy

Marriage Advice for Myself

There’s nothing magical about marriage. A loving, lifelong partnership isn’t something that just happens; it’s something you create. It takes continuous effort and the right mindset. So, to help with that creation, I’ve written the following marriage advice for myself. Perhaps you’ll find it helpful too. Marriage isn’t a tit-for-tat relationship. You don’t do half of the work and then wait for her to do the other half. You give… Read More »Marriage Advice for Myself

New here?

For over a decade, I’ve been focused on one question: How do we actually become better, in ways that last?

This blog shares the lessons, tools, and ideas I’ve found most useful—grounded in research and experience.

Subscribe to get new insights delivered to your inbox.