Willpower

Where to start... effort + time = success? Well sometimes, probably even most times. If you put enough effort into something and enough time you will have some level of success. For example if you love golf but suck at it, you will generally improve if you practice. Practicing incorrectly will not make you better so maybe it is effort + coaching +  time = success.

So to solve for success we need coaching (I'm trying to help with that), you need time - we all get 24 hours in a day, you alone decide what to do with those (if you are married it may not feel like you making this decision by yourself, you don't if you are happily married ;)). So that leaves effort are you trying? Probably - but effort unlike time is variable.

You want to make a personal change in your life like a better diet or exercise. You have every intention of working out after the kids are in bed or early in the morning maybe, but it doesn't happen. Over and over again you mess your workout and you feel more and more guilty about it. This issue really isn't an effort problem, it may simply be you are trying to do the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Here is where I take a 180 on you - effort isn't really your problem. Not at the beginning of a change, most of us are excited and are willing to put in the effort. Time and coaching aren't really your problem either, not for most - you can make time, even if it is 15 minutes a day. Coaching is a simple google search away or maybe phoning a friend. Effort is important and if it is an area you need work in you know it.

So what's the problem? Willpower.

You go into the day wanting to put in the effort, but you fall short because of willpower. Had that chocolate cake after dinner, willpower issue. Skipped your workout because you wanted to sit on the sofa and relax instead, willpower again. You see willpower is like a muscle( http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/willpower-limited-resource.pdf), you use that muscle all day long, ladies research suggests you use it more than men (sorry!). Some researchers believe that as you use willpower that it reduces your "willpower stores". The article I linked above and some books I've read suggest you can increase or refuel your willpower, but I prefer the alternative approach.

Willpower is reduced each time you make a decision, which most of us do all day long. We start our day by figuring out what to wear or what to pack for lunch, which email do I answer first, what should I work on completing right now?  The bad news is we all have to make choices each day, the good news is we can make less of them and save our willpower for that cake!

So how does one go about making less choices? To start you can simply move when you make a choice. Trying to eat healthier - prep your lunch on Sunday for the week or at least the first 3 days of the week. Don't try to decide halfway through the day what healthy option you will have for lunch. Can't prep your lunch? Ok use a mobile app to plan out what you'll have from your favorite fast food place. Before I even step into a Wendy's and smell those yummy fries or that oh so tasty frosty I know what I'm going to order - I use less willpower because I made the choice before I had to fight all the good smells.

Having an issue working out during the week? Well fake it until you make it - if you can't get up and workout (most days I don't have it in me), then workout at night. I hear ya... sure that sounds easy, NOT. You're right, you have used your willpower all day and trying to talk yourself into working out is another choice you have to make. So lets make less choices, decide today that you will always put your workout clothes on when you get home, that is one less choice you will have to make that prevents you from working out, not only that but it will put your mind in the right place working out.

The next step is to look at your day or better yet your week and make decisions for the upcoming week before it even starts. Set calendar reminders or appointments. If you really want to give your willpower a super boost read more on habits! Spoiler: Habits require little to no willpower and can change you into a completely different person!!