Self control is usually touted as a virtue, helping people perform better in education and work. A grasp of delayed gratification means accepting that if we work hard now it might just pay off later. But research shows that those from underprivileged backgrounds may suffer due to this trait.

Behavioural sciences can help us to improve organisations from the ground up, starting by looking at our own behaviours at work. Canvas8 spoke with economist Caroline Webb, author ofHow to Have a Good Day, about how behavioural sciences can help us to work smarter.

50 pushups in a go by September; quit smoking by June; limit take-out coffees to $10 a week – these are some of the goals Beeminder helps people achieve. By having people put their own money behind their ability to meet a goal, it discourages procrastination with a tangible consequence.

The digital era has made keeping tabs on children’s behavior more difficult for parents, who often fret about the various dangers of constant connectedness – from smartphone addiction to age-inappropriate content to the threat of cyberbullying. So, how can tech be made more kid-friendly?