Maximum Willpower

To have more self-control, you first need to develop more self-awareness. A good first step is to notice when you are making choices related to your willpower challenge.

there is one way to immediately boost willpower: slow your breathing down to four to six breaths per minute. That’s ten to fifteen seconds per breath –

run into difficulty. Self-knowledge – especially of how we find ourselves in willpower trouble – is the foundation of self-control.

giving participants a sugar boost turns them back into the best versions of themselves: more persistent and less impulsive; more thoughtful and less selfish.

“Fatigue should no longer be considered a physical event but rather a sensation or emotion.”

How can you control yourself if you aren’t even aware that there is something to control?

To trigger this relaxation response, lie down on your back, and slightly elevate your legs with a pillow under the knees (or come into whatever is the most comfortable position for you to rest in). Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing your belly to rise and fall. If you feel any tension in your body, you can intentionally squeeze o

feeling good about our virtue is the fastest path to vice.

When you’re trying to make a big change or transform an old habit, look for a small way to practise self-control that strengthens your willpower, but doesn’t overwhelm it completely.