besthealthmag.ca5. Not exercising your willpower
While exerting willpower throughout the day depletes it, exercising willpower just a little on a daily basis can develop it over the long term. In other words, willpower is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. The trick here is not exhausting it outright, especially on those days when you need it the most. Studies have shown that something as small as using your non-dominant hand to brush your teeth can actually build up your willpower. Studies also show that the effects of such exercises can spill over into all areas of life—people report watching less TV and doing more housework along with drinking less, quitting smoking and not eating as much junk food.
Translation: Choose a nightly practice that a) requires a small amount of willpower, b) has nothing to do with your goal and c) can be done at the end of your day so it doesn’t interfere with your actual daily objectives. Perhaps a few words in a daily journal, reading five pages of a novel before bed or making your lunch for the following day.
