The Willpower Trap

By Wayne Andersen, DO, MD

Optavia

. http://www.drwayneandersen.com

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The Willpower Trap

Many people assume that with the right affirmation or the right inspirational moment they can unlock some deep hidden reserve of willpower, allowing them to achieve all of their health goals through grit alone.

The reality, however, is that willpower is a finite resource, and for most people, it will eventually yield to the automatic behaviors we have built up over years of choices.

A few new studies delved into the role of willpower in our health. Researchers presented subjects with two choices, healthy and unhealthy, on a computer screen, and then they observed how they moved toward one or the other via a mouse cursor.

What they found was that willpower came into play immediately, from the very first decision. As they added external pressures and temptations, the willpower battle became more intense.

This is important because if you frame health as a battle or fight you reach an inevitable conclusion No one can fight forever. Relying solely on willpower is simply not sustainable, and when your willpower gives out, the fall can feel dishearteningly hard. After all, you just gave it your best, and now you feel like you failed.

The habits of health approach intentionally avoids taxing your willpower. Yes, you do have to make daily choices about your health, but with the right tools and support systems at your disposal those choices should feel much less like epic battles with your inner desires.

Here are some of the approaches to take

Meal replacements. Changing your eating habits can be a challenge, and that challenge is even greater if you have to do all of the shopping and meal preparation yourself. Meal replacements simplify the journey by putting everything you need right in front of you in a ready-to-eat form.

Micro habits of health. Break down a habit of health into a form that is so small that failing is almost impossible. Going to the gym five days a week for a grueling workout is willpower-intensive, but doing one push-up a day is not. You can break any habit of health down into micro habits of health with this approach, making gradual change more accessible.

Health coaches. When you make choices alone, you can quickly grow tired of the “fight,” but if you have someone guiding you and holding you accountable, the way you think about your choices starts to shift. Mountains of research has shown that behavioral support is the key to lasting change, and a big part of that success is how much of an impact a positive influence can have on our thinking.

All of these tools are available to you today. You can start to move away from feats of willpower and adopt an approach that actually works.