Paying attention, making decisions, sticking to resolutions and a few hundred other brain activities all require willpower.
Research on the brain shows that we only have so much willpower per day. Imagine that each day you start with a full cup of willpower. Just getting out of bed uses up some, answering email more, driving and listening to the radio or talking on your cell phone even more. Your cup is constantly draining and despite how much coffee you drink or exercise you do (which requires willpower) you cannot replenish it.
So, what can you do:
1. Make important decisions in the morning, not late in the day.
2. Eat and drink well during the day. If you wait to eat at night, you will not have enough willpower to avoid overeating.
3. Remember, if you multi-task, you are draining extra willpower. Try doing one thing at a time.
4. Avoid difficult conversation late in the day or at night. Your lack of willpower makes it harder to control your emotions.
5. Associate with people who provide positive energy. Dealing with negative people drains your willpower, as you try to hold back from reacting to them negatively.
I’m interested in hearing your suggestions for managing willpower. Please join the conversation here or on my Facebook page.
Coach Rob
For more information on Coach Rob, please visit robertpasick.com.
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