A study in 2011 reported that the respondents of Stress in America survey reported lack of willpower as the greatest obstacle to change. For some reason we think that we can at times of low mental energy have these stores of will power to overcome these bad habits. We think that all that is required to exercise, save money, stop drinking, quit smoking, and to accomplish our goals is to use our will power.
PsychologistKelly McGonigal calls this the “I won’t power.” McGonigal is a frequent lecturer at Stanford University and the author of “The Willpower Instinct.”
according to McGonigal willpower is comprised of three things:
I won’t power;
I will power;
I want power (remembering what you really want).
- Examine and know yourself: If you understand the root sources of your behaviors it will be ever so much easier to change them. Look into yourself, find out what is going through your head, what are you feeling and what is it that you actually want, and write those things down, look at them often. Self awareness is key to wellness and flourishing.
- Mediate: This helps with so many things. Attention, focus stress management, impulse control.
- Move: Exercise is one of the best tools to build and strengthen willpower. If you want to start with one day a week start with that. Consistently moving is important to your mind and body.
- Eat right. Set yourself up for success. I tell people all the time “I only eat the foods that I buy. If I don’t buy doughnuts I don't eat them.” You spend moments in the store compared to hours at home. Use your willpower at those few moments at the store before that sweet tooth call, make sure you don’t go to the store hungry, set you up for success by not buying the ice cream, beer, cigarettes, or anything else. If you have to leave your home to go get the sweets or beer run it is unlikely that it will have as great a pull on you as it would if it is there in your house.
- Build in time to relax: put it on the calendar and make it part of your daily routine.
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