How is your motivation looking for 2023 – Interesting Facts about WILLPOWER to remember!

Hello!

How are you? 

I am tired – Why are you tired? I hear you saying? It's the start of the New year – a year full of fantastic possibilities and opportunities.

I say YAY in a very half-hearted – non-cheery way!!!!

You say – Oh no – what has happened???

I say – Well, I am focused on my Health and Wellness this year. I am tidying up some habits that got loose over the Christmas and New Year break. I am taking alcohol, chips and chocolate out of the mix of my life for 30 days to help my body find its balance.

You say – GREAT WORK! Because you are one of the beautiful, supportive people I have in my life who support me no matter what.

I say - YAY in a very half-hearted – non-cheery way!!!!

This leads to you looking at me oddly and asking the next excellent question: Well, if you are focused on being Healthy and Well and getting your good habits back on track, then why are you so flat and tired?

I genuinely love you, my great friend, as you have reminded me about the energy and understanding needed when we use WILLPOWER at a maximum level of 10 for our change.

FUN FACTS about WILLPOWER

• Willpower is a lot like stress
• When we are stressed, we are in a threatened state of being, and this affects our ability to make good decisions
• When I am trying to change my habits, I need to have my brain and body in the best of health to help me stay on track to make the best decisions for me
• It takes a lot of energy and self-control to keep this all in balance
• Any act of self-control leaves people with less willpower for unrelated challenges, e.g. work, life, family etc…
• Willpower decreases over the day as your energy gets "spent" on stress and self-control
• Willpower is a limited resource if we don't know how it works in our mind/body.

Great to Remember this! I am asking my body to be OK with not eating chips or chocolate for 30 days. Additionally, I will not drink alcohol for 90 days!

The threat is real to my brain and body, and I must ACT NOW for my success!

How can I build my Willpower muscles, so I don't feel so tired and run the risk of giving up?

• Commit to becoming a Willpower Triathlete – Mind, Body and Heart!
• Meditate - Meditation training improves a wide range of willpower skills, including attention, focus, stress management, impulse control and self-awareness. It changes both the function and structure of the brain to support self-control. Regular meditators have more grey matter in the prefrontal cortex. And it doesn't take a lifetime of practice -- brain changes have been observed after eight weeks of brief daily meditation training.
• Move more - Physical exercise also leads to similar changes in the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex; however, it's unclear why. Regular exercise – intense cardiovascular training and mindful movement like yoga- also makes the body and brain more resilient to stress, significantly boosting willpower.
• Be kind to yourself – Self Compassion – did you make the goalposts too high? Is it realistic what you are putting on yourself if you think about all the parts of your life you must be present for? Check-in with your TRUSTED support crew (whoever they are) and see if you need to lower the goal post for you to feel like you have more energy to be the best version of yourself NOW so you can be the best version of yourself in the next 30 days when you meet your goal.

After writing this Blog today, I need to spend some more time being mindful and meditate for my energy.

• Also, I will not plan hard things for the next seven days at the end of my day so that I don't increase the risk of poor decisions/choices for my tired brain and will.
• I will get more sleep for my body to find its balance.
• I will plan better to avoid temptations and lean on my support crew to get me through the hard days –

To read more about willpower, check out these great sources below:-

The Science of Willpower – accessed at https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-science-willpower

The Science of Willpower – accessed at https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2011/12/29/a-conversation-about-the-science-of-willpower/

Kelly McGonigal on why it's so dang hard to stick to a resolution – accessed at https://blog.ted.com/the-science-of-willpower-kelly-mcgonigal-on-why-its-so-dang-hard-to-stick-to-a-resolution/

Seven Tips To Increase Your Willpower – accessed at https://www.premierhealth.com/your-health/articles/women-wisdom-wellness-/seven-tips-to-increase-your-willpower

Have a great year and if you need coaching support to get you on track to meet your 2023 goals, then get in touch.

Let's Talk! https://www.coachedbysue.com.au/

Be the 'The Master of your Destiny'!

We only get this life now – make it the best one for you 😊

      Sue

Health and Wellness Coach I Life Coach I Communication Educator I Lead Mentor 
Director – Coached by Sue