01/18/2022
HELP ME BUILD WILLPOWER!!!
It’s the self-control to say “no” to too much eating, spending, video gaming, alcohol consumption and other indulgences that keep us from goals we’ve set. It’s something we all wish we had more of: willpower.
Willpower is the drive to resist short-term temptations to meet your long-term goals. Some describe it as a battle between logic and emotions. Maybe it’s turning down dessert to help you look better in the new dress you bought. It could be studying for the test you need to ace rather than watching several episodes of a favorite Netflix series.
1. Don’t take on too much at once. Try setting small, achievable goals and focus your willpower on accomplishing those.
2. Plan ahead. Give your willpower a break by making decisions in advance: Schedule your menu for the entire week and even do some advance meal preparation. This will help you avoid impulsive stops at fast food restaurants on the way home from work. Before you go to a party or restaurant, decide whether you will drink alcohol and how much you will drink. Don’t try to squeeze exercise into what’s left at the end of the day. Instead, schedule it on your calendar at the beginning of each week or plan to go with a friend so you’ll be more likely to keep that commitment.
3. Avoid temptation. Don’t buy foods you know you can’t resist. If you’re trying to stop drinking, stay away from events where drinking is the primary activity. If your willpower is being tested, try to put off the thing you desire until later or distract yourself with something else that won’t keep you from your goals.
4. Strengthen your willpower. Mindfulness meditations may improve your self-control and help you act from intention rather than habit or craving. Physical and mental fatigue can lessen your willpower. Get enough sleep to keep your energy levels up.
5. Try a food-tracking app for better eating. Dr. Hartsock notes this can help you avoid the pitfall of poor snacking. As she comments on her personal effort, “When I saw how many horrible, empty calories I was eating a day, it really triggered the guilt for me and it has helped me get control.” She has changed her favorite snack food to berries and given up processed snack foods.
6. Reward yourself. If you reach a milestone, celebrate with something that won’t set you back. Take a walk in the park after taking a hard exam. Buy a new outfit after losing 20 pounds. Get a pedicure after running a 5K race.
7. Get support from others. Join a running group. Find a walking buddy. Do meal planning with your spouse. Ask people you trust to help you achieve your goals.
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