Final answer:
The most successful approach based on self-control research for achieving goals like losing weight and stopping smoking is to tackle one goal at a time. Jeremy should either try to lose weight first or stop smoking first before moving on to the next goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the research on self-control, the approach that is likely to be most successful for Jeremy, who wants to lose weight and stop smoking, is to focus on one behavior change at a time. Attempting to change multiple habits simultaneously can be overwhelming and may lead to reduced willpower and a higher chance of failure.
This means that Jeremy should either try to lose weight first or stop smoking first, whichever he feels is more urgent or achievable, and then work on the other goal after establishing the first behavior change. Research indicates that self-control is a finite resource, and spreading it too thin by trying to change multiple behaviors all at once can limit the effectiveness of the effort.
However, it's important to note that self-acceptance is also a crucial component of emotional health. While accepting oneself is important, it does not directly contribute to behavior change necessary for Jeremy to reach his goals of weight loss and smoking cessation. On the other hand, starting after the New Year can be beneficial in terms of timing, but delaying behavior change indefinitely can also be a form of procrastination, which isn't helpful.