Ever tried to quit a bad habit, or even create a new one? Of course, we all have and this is a constant factor of life. Change. I recently read a great article in the Psychology Today magazine that made a lot of since about how the mind really works when tying to tame your temptations.
The article suggests that the key to strengthening self control is not to quit "cold turkey," whatever your are struggling with or even trying to implement in your life, but rather to set modest goals. The truth is, and anyone that has tried to keep a New Year's resolution can say, that our willpower can wilt. We break our resolutions, whenever they may be, for various reasons, including pushing our willpower beyond its limits. Using willpower puts strain on the brain, depleting our glucose reserves and sapping our energy. This then leads to a weakened resistance, eventually a handful of cookies in your mouth or 2 packs of cigarettes in one day. Resisting two temptations simultaneously taxes our will even more. To avoid willpower fatigue one should set manageable resolutions and tackle only one at a time. For example, if your trying to quit smoking don't try to quit drinking coffee in the same week!
Another suggestion that they recommended was to set up barriers between yourself and the temptation. Like not having a particular food in the pantry to even tempt you to indulge or avoiding certain types of people during that time that may trigger you to give in.
What is the most powerful control weapon? Simply having a humble view of your capabilities. Taking a realistic approach to quitting a bad habit or starting a new one is ultimately the best approach.
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