Often, the reason we struggle to break bad habits is because we lack willpower and self-control. You need to really want something in order to force yourself to get it.
Unfortunately, not everyone is born with a high level of self-control and willpower. However, the good news is that there are ways to develop it. If you are looking to strengthen yours, below you’ll discover how you can find your willpower and self-control.
Start Small
One of the best pieces of advice you can follow to find your willpower, is to start small. Whatever your goal is, it’s crucial to split it down into small tasks.
Losing weight is one of the best examples here. Say you want to lose 56 pounds. Reaching this goal is going to take a lot of time and dedication. If you’re simply working towards losing 56 pounds, you’re going to find your willpower is severely tested.
However, if you split the goal down into smaller tasks, you’ll find it much easier to stay motivated. To get to that 56-pound weight loss, you’d need to eat healthier and exercise more. So, focus on one small task at a time, such as exercising for 10 minutes right after finishing work.
As you accomplish the smaller goals, you’ll develop more willpower to continue. And as you start to see results, you’ll also find your self-control strengthens, as you won’t want to derail your progress.
Fuel the Body with Healthy Foods
You’re going to find it much easier to maintain your willpower and self-control if you fuel your body with healthy foods. Adopting a healthy diet helps to keep the mind focused and clear. You’ll also suffer fewer mood swings and feel generally healthier.
When your mind and body are clear and focused, it’s so much easier to develop self-control.
Get Your Stress Levels under Control
Another useful tip is to lower your stress levels. When you’re stressed out, it’s easy to fall back into unhealthy bad habits. You may tell yourself, “I’ve had a rubbish day so I’m going to eat this piece of chocolate cake and start again tomorrow.”
If your stress levels were reduced, however, you’d be in a much better position mentally to make better choices. So, focus on adding relaxing activities into your daily routine to reduce stress levels and benefit your willpower.
Don’t Forget to Reward Yourself
One thing that can break your willpower is if you don’t experience any benefits from the habits you’re adopting. It’s hard to continually focus on your goals and maintain good habits. So, rewarding yourself along the way for sticking to it is going to really help. If you don’t feel like you’re being deprived of something, you’ll have a lot more willpower and self-control to carry on.
Finding your willpower and self-control can be quite difficult. A lack of both is the major reason why most people give up on their goals and fall back into unhealthy patterns. By following the tips above, you’ll be able to maintain high levels of willpower and self-control, helping you to meet your goals.
