New Year. New Resolutions. New Research Unit.

By Sarah Okey, Ph.D., Research Manager

The brand new research unit at LCB is a non-partisan and transparent resource focused on public safety and health outcomes related to the products, policy, and regulation of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and vapor products. Some of the things the research unit is tasked with include:

• Conducting comprehensive literature reviews to drive informed, effective, and evidence-based decision making and empirical studies.
• Developing innovative research studies to track policy outcomes and advance the scientific understanding of relevant concepts.
• Providing science-backed information (e.g., presentations and peer-reviewed publications) for a wide audience including regulators, researchers, and community members.
• Supporting streamlined data collection processes to gather valuable insights and increase transparency.
• Collaboration and public outreach to understand emerging concerns in communities and research initiatives.

New LCB Research Manager Dr. Sarah Okey

Did you know almost half of Americans set annual New Year’s resolutions, but only a very small number actually stick to them? These resolutions often fail because they were not set up for success in the first place. As such, here are five science-backed things you can do to successfully keep your goals in 2024.

1. Be specific and know what to measure. We are often too vague in describing what it is we actually want. “I want my team to succeed” or “I want to have a better work/life balance” are great sentiments but what does that actually mean? Figure out what to observe so you can track your progress. Write these specific goals down and schedule a time in your calendar to review them regularly.
2. Stay realistic. Make sure you can achieve your goal in a timely manner. It is great to have a long-term vision but setting goals you can accomplish in the near term will increase the likelihood of reaching them.
3. Think of carrots, not sticks. Reach for what you want (e.g., “Enhance relationships with customers by doing X, Y, Z”) rather than what you don’t want (e.g., “Avoid customer complaints”). Research shows that rephrasing goals using this approach mindset increases achievement rates and overall well-being.
4. Know your ‘why.’ Motivation changes, that’s natural. Make sure you know why you are working toward the goal. Get in touch with your values on a weekly basis so you can better navigate your life when challenges inevitably come your way.
5. Plan for setbacks. Progress in not linear. Work on developing small habits rather than all-or-nothing sweeping changes. Stay flexible with what each days brings. Slow and steady wins the race, even if you take a few left turns every now and again.

So what does this have to do with LCB’s new research unit?

Well, this will be the first full year of having a research unit at the agency. And with new beginnings, we have set many goals for 2024. To set ourselves up for success, we are using the above tips to create specific, attainable, and flexible goals driven by our values of curiosity, fairness, and inclusivity. Our mission is to enhance public safety and health by conducting, analyzing, and reporting research that is non-biased. We are committed to sharing science-backed information (like what you just read above) and are focused on the products, policy, and regulation of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and vapor.

To secure our vision for the future, we are building a team of experienced researchers, learning about LCB and the greater community, as well as developing collaborations in Washington.

Our next goal to check off the list is launching a webpage on LCB’s website! Stay tuned!

Citations available upon request.