What Is Self-Regulation?

Self-regulation is the ability to manage one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in order to achieve one's goals. It is a complex process that involves multiple cognitive and emotional skills, including:

* Attention control: The ability to focus and sustain attention on a task, even when there are distractions.

* Emotion regulation: The ability to manage emotions in a healthy way, such as by expressing them appropriately or finding ways to cope with them.

* Impulse control: The ability to resist temptation and impulsive behavior.

* Goal-directed behavior: The ability to set goals and take steps to achieve them.

* Self-monitoring: The ability to observe and evaluate one's own behavior.

Self-regulation is an important skill for overall psychological well-being. People with good self-regulation are more likely to be successful in school and at work, and they are less likely to experience mental health problems.

There are a number of things that can help people develop self-regulation skills, including:

* Modeling: Children who see their parents and other adults regulating their own emotions and behaviors are more likely to develop self-regulation skills themselves.

* Practice: Self-regulation skills can be developed through practice. For example, children can be given opportunities to practice focusing their attention, managing their emotions, and resisting temptation.

* Feedback: Children need feedback on their self-regulation skills in order to learn and grow. Parents and teachers can provide feedback by praising children when they display self-regulation skills and by offering constructive criticism when they do not.

Self-regulation is a lifelong process. People can continue to develop and improve their self-regulation skills throughout their lives.