If procrastination is the robber of time, then willpower is the magic fix. In fact, much of what is understood about strength of will, or self-control, suggests some intriguing data:

1. It is one of the two major predictors of success (along with intelligence).
2. It is possibly a limited resource, meaning it can be depleted, although not entirely finite.
3. It can perhaps be strengthened through training, much like a muscle,
4. And lastly, lack of it is the fuel for procrastination, one of our society’s primary weaknesses.

Texts on the topic line bookstore shelves. Researchers follow subjects for decades to analyze how we use it. Blogs and articles are created daily around the concept. An entire holiday kicks-off each year that relies on its’ very essence. Willpower…we seem to hang on its every word.

An antibody for procrastination, willpower is also a major predictor of success. Considering it is much easier to improve upon than intelligence and as it can likely be enhanced and managed, it is certainly a subject worth exploring.

Today, we will look at the concept of willpower overall. In future posts, we will suggest specific ways we can conserve and strengthen willpower, as well as the related concepts of procrastination, loss aversion and sunk costs.

The most famous studies on willpower, which spanned over the lifetime of numerous subjects, often use food as a reward. One oft cited study from the 60s and 70s by Walter Mischel at Stanford University tempted young testers with marshmallows while measuring the child’s ability to choose either immediate satisfaction or to delay gratification.

To summarize, results typically demonstrate that those able to hold off for the long-term reward later in school score better on standardized tests and as adults achieve greater success. Those who cave to enticement and chose an immediate reward later have more behavioral and attention deficits issues and are found to be less successful overall. In the interest of time and space, the study can be researched more online simply by doing a search on willpower, procrastination and self control.

Researchers determined that delay gratification skills observed in the successful children include the ability to distract oneself from giving in to temptation. Some children seemed to have an innate realization that because the ‘want’ of the immediate reward never goes away, you need to ‘trick’ yourself.

Rather than stare at bait, and in order to endure the agony of waiting for a longer term but more satisfying ‘treat,’ you need to invent ways to outwit your own shortcomings. Basically, the kids with better willpower inherently knew what was best for them overall, and how to get there by having better control of their own mind. Some theorists describe this as the image of being the person controlling the pinball machine, rather than being the pinball.

Because scientists know that our brain is not hard-wired, but rather constantly adapting and recreating itself (neuroplasticity), we are able to take steps to overcome impulses. Whether you need to control your binge eating habits or desire to stop putting off getting important matters handled, you can develop ways to stop rewarding the quick fix and instead instill productive habits.

Rather than making the same promises to yourself that you are repeatedly do not keep (I will give up sweets tomorrow, I will start running next Monday), and relying on endless technological resources that serve as productivity tools, realize that we all have an inborn preference for instant gratification; for the quick fix; for the fleeting feeling of acquiring the latest and greatest RIGHT NOW.

Once you grasp the concept, you realize that the answer to dealing with our primal instincts involves being honest with ourselves about our weaknesses, instilling structure, consider where your thoughts are coming from and replacing undesired thoughts and habits with newly formed thoughts and habit.

Also, for the short term, it may be wise to make it difficult to fail by implementing fail-proof systems. Set up timers to remind yourself to stay on track if you tend to glaze over when working and end up surfing Facebook for hours on end when your best interest would have you completing a project that would enhance your career. Also, physically do your best to avoid placing yourself among the negative temptation you seek to get a handle on (overeating/restaurants; smoking/with smokers; gambling/casinos) until your new habits of better self control have formed.

If willpower works as scientists and theorists suggest, then it is the key to success and a subject worthy of your attention. It is learning the ability to deny the quick fix in the pursuit of the long term goal and having the capacity and drive to learn new habits to help you sustain this new thinking.

“Rule your mind, or it will rule you.” Horace
Ancient Roman Poet, 65 BC – 8 BC