Prioritise
Decide what your most important goal is and invest fully in that. Willpower is a limited resource so if you take on too much at once, such as starting a diet and looking for a new job at the same time, you risk failure in both. This does not mean abandoning the secondary goal, but ensures that your priorities determine the sequence.
Train your willpower
Practise small acts of self-control such as maintaining a good posture or resisting the urge to check your phone constantly. This has been shown to lead to increased success with more demanding willpower challenges such as quitting smoking. This can also boost your confidence in your willpower, which can help you go the extra mile.
Meditate
Willpower relies on the capacity to stay focused on long-term goals in the face of distractions, temptations and fatigue. That is why meditation, the art of controlling your attention, boosts willpower.
Don’t worry!
Worrying wastes willpower. Aim to convert your worries into problems that can be addressed rather than having repetitive negative thoughts. A worry is “I don’t feel well, I might have a serious illness”; a problem is “I’ve been feeling very tired lately, I need to see my doctor for a check-up”.
Look after your brain
Willpower relies on brain power. At any age, your brain benefits from learning new things such as skills, hobbies or languages. It’s important to nourish your brain properly too. Foods rich in Omega 3 like salmon or walnuts are good for you. Foods that release glucose slowly, like lentils or wholemeal bread are also associated with enhanced will power, as you are less likely to be distracted by hunger pangs. You need a steady energy supply for the organ that enables your willpower.