Mustering willpower is a struggle for almost everyone — and it’s getting harder. Today, more distractions make it difficult to focus on your goals. To keep yourself on track, try the following:
- Practice small. By reminding yourself to sit up straight, you train the same mental muscle needed to quit smoking or lose weight. Practice small exercises in self-control, and your overall willpower will benefit.
- Take on one task at a time. If you try to accomplish everything, you’ll likely give up on all of it. Instead, choose one thing to tackle. Once successful, move on to the next.
- Monitor, monitor, monitor. The more you track your progress on something (and ask others to help you track it) the more likely you are to stay on task.
Adapted from “Faced with Distraction, We Need Willpower” by John Coleman.
