The pleasure of self-control

How did you go denying yourself that piece of blueberry cheesecake last night? Did you manage to force yourself to the gym this morning? How many times have you allowed yourself hot chips in the last week? Life is full of choices and it takes a degree of self-control to make good ones but psychologists tell us that self-control is a limited resource and that as you use it up your self-control lessens until your reserves are restored again. The question then is how to restore self-control levels and new research has offered some suggestions.

In essence self-control is a capacity to override thoughts and emotions so that you can change your behaviour. These researchers noted that self-control can diminish when people are tired but also when they have to do something over and over again. This is because when people fatigue they experience a change in priorities and a change in motivation. When tired or fatigued from repetition people become more willing to do things they like and less likely to do things they feel obliged to do.

According to the researchers they key to maintaining self-control when you are tired is to change “have to” into “want to”. So for instance, if you want to eat healthier food instead of setting a healthy eating goal as something you “should” do because someone else says so, think of the enjoyment and results you will get from eating scrumptious, nutritious, healing food. In the same way you can see going for a walk or a run as a chance to take a break, think, and clear your brain rather than something you “have” to do.

By making your tasks into things you want to do you will find your self-control levels boosted and you will be more likely to do them.

It’s not rocket science but it is about reframing your thoughts and it is about choice. If you rebel against something your capacity to do it will be short-lived. If you embrace something doing it will be like falling off a log. You can have infinite self-control…if you choose to.