I have found that increasing optimism increases
willpower. It’s important to learn how to manage stress. Being
under high levels of stress means that our body’s energy is used up in acting
instinctively and making decisions based on short-term outcomes. Stopping to
take a few deep breaths when we feel overwhelmed or tempted can be a great
start in managing our stress levels and improving our willpower. It’s also important
to encourage yourself to stick to your plan. A good example I have learned over
the years is the difference between “I can’t” and “I don’t”. When you tell
yourself you can’t do something, you’re creating a feedback loop that is a
reminder of your limitations. So try telling yourself that you don’t do that bad habit, rather than
punishing yourself by saying “I can’t.” Also, getting a lot of sleep helps
manage energy better. Sleep
deprivation (even just getting less than six hours a night) is a kind of
chronic stress that impairs how the body and brain use energy. I feel happier
and more productive when I get a good nights sleep. Meditation has also been linked to increasing the reserve of willpower we have available, as
well as improving attention, focus, stress management and self-awareness. Better
exercise and nutrition is the most ignored route to higher willpower. Regular
physical exercise is a great way to train the brain, that is often easily
ignored or undervalued, yet can make you a lot more resilient to stress, and boost willpower. Both relaxing, mindful exercises like yoga and intense
physical training can provide these benefits. Not only will exercise and good
nutrition improve your willpower, but they’ll make you feel better as well. Exercise in particular is known for making us happy by releasing endorphins. I liked how the famous experiment using marshmallows to
test kids’ willpower was featured in the slides. What happens is a child is
left alone in a room with one marshmallow for an undefined period of time. If
they can resist eating the marshmallow, they’re rewarded with a second
marshmallow at the end of the experiment. If they eat the marshmallow before
time is up, they only get that one.
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Ashley, your post was very interesting and gave a lot of good pointers to increase will power. I agree with the sleep habits, I always feel cranky and groggy when I do not get enough sleep and it also puts a lot of stress on our body. I have been trying to exercise more as well, and after I have a good workout I feel so much more energized, and rejuvenated.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post today. I had a bad workout this morning and felt really down for not pushing myself. I knew that I could keep going and do better but I let the pain overwhelm me and stopped, so reading this post kind of put my mind straight which will definitely make me give 100% tomorrow. Great post!
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