
7 Tips To Increase Your Willpower
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A good day is made up of good decisions and at every point in our life, we get to choose the option that will serve us best. Now anyone who has been in a state of dilemma when it comes to decision making knows that the option that will do you no good will always be the easiest whereas the option that will reap maximum benefits is always the hardest. That being said, choosing the better and more beneficial option always requires willpower and willpower requires hard work, patience and most importantly, self-regulation.
Multiple studies and experiments have shown a strong correlation between willpower and self-regulation. According to Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. and author of The Willpower Instinct, “Willpower is a response that comes from both the brain and the body.” He also added that the ability to delay gratification constituted “a protective buffer against the development of all kinds of vulnerabilities later in life.”
Willpower is just like any muscle; the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. That being said, here are 7 ways using which you can experience a greater sense of willpower on a regular basis:
Start small: Every big move is constituted of multiple small moves. Regulate yourself starting with small activities like having your meals on time, not biting your nails, jogging for 10 minutes daily and before you know it, your willpower will be doing big wonders for you.
Imagine what you want to achieve: Willpower is highly dependent on imagination. What you imagine holds a great deal of power in the process of achieving it. For instance, while at the gym, constantly imagining the kind of body you want to achieve will give the drive and willpower to actually make it happen.
Use your willpower very wisely: Just like any muscle, if you overexert your willpower or use it in the wrong places, it will get exhausted. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to prioritize right and use your willpower for the task that that is the most important to you.
Give yourself achievable goals and calculated deadlines: A small and reasonable goal coupled with a well-calculated deadline is the best way to push the limits of your willpower and self-regulation. The more goals you achieve, the more confident you’ll feel in your abilities.
Get adequate rest: A tired body and mind is the greatest barrier when it comes to increasing one’s willpower. Ensure that you get at least 7 hours of sound sleep at night so that your body and mind work at optimum levels which will in turn level up your will to do tasks and achieve your goals.
Indulge in physical exercise: Indulging in physical exercise is one of the sure shot ways of increasing your willpower; that is because every time you push yourself a little more at the gym with an extra rep or an extra mile, you are adding to your bank of willpower. In addition to that, regular physical exercise makes you more active throughout the day.
Surround yourself with like-minded people: If you’re constantly surrounded by people whose thoughts, ideologies and goals are in alignment with yours, you naturally tend to push your will to achieve your goals and come to par with those people. Like-minded people will constantly lift you up giving you a greater sense of self-esteem and self-confidence.
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