Willpower
The authors review the latest research to report key findings on willpower and offer practical advice for increasing it.
Stats for nerds
10recommend
24mentions
20people
2011–2022years
50% recommend46% neutral4% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- "You just need discipline" is a common phrase, which usually masks the root problem. Why does something need continuous effort? Is it the best place to put our energies? Are there any other ways of solving the problem?
See "Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength" (https://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Huma...) on willpower as a resource that can be drained, often pointlessly. Having a constant temptation is one of the core cases (e.g. candies on your sight).
Instead of helping us, a flawed tool forces us to work against the current. For the Sauron's ring, this constant test of the hobbit's strength of will was unavoidable. For Slack... it is much easier to throw it into a volcano.
- The youtube video mentions BDNF. The hilarious 'Exercise boosts brain power' video https://player.vimeo.com/video/16335377 of http://brainrules.net/brain-rules-video says "BDNF are created when you exercise".
Highly recommended book BTW, IMHO a must for anyone who learns as it explains scientific brain research in layman's terms. It explains how we humans are ruled by our brains. When you understand your brains better, you can make better use of them. In conjunction with Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister, a golden couple.
- The most accurate answer in the thread, though too brief and thus will be easily dismissed. In the interest of fleshing out this answer in such a way as to make it useful:
For those interested in why this is the most accurate answer, go read "Willpower" by Baumeister.
http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human...
I am always surprised, though shouldn't be I suppose, that the first answer for so many people is some completely externalized solution (e.g. blockers, network disconnection, etc.).
There are tools that can help you to create habits, but you must be aware of the role that self-regulation plays in ongoing maintenance of these habits, otherwise the moment the tools or support infrastructures you've put in place are gone, your habits will revert.
Don't make your self control reliant on app updates.
- There is research that confirms your intuition, but mostly because it taxes cognitive energy reserves. Even if you can do it quickly or time-box it, it leaves you less able to do hard things. Look for papers by Roy Baumeister, or the book he co-wrote, "Willpower".
You want to start by building cognitive reserves and then use them on something that requires it.
For me, that means working out at 6-7am. But, I think you need to figure it out for yourself.
- One of the researchers mentioned in the article, Roy Baumeister, wrote a book that I enjoyed (entitled "Willpower"). He gave a talk about willpower and glucose levels which you can see some of here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vefDeoXCBbk
It's not a completely pop-science book, more a translation of his research into an approachable lay-person format. I recommend it.
(edit - link to book: http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human... )
- I really liked Succeed by Halvorson, as well as Willpower by Baumeister and Tierney. The former covers research on setting goals, the latter covers research on being more disciplined. Both book are a great blend of interesting studies and practical advice.
Amazon links: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0452297710 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/0143122231
Thorough book notes: http://www.quora.com/Leo-Polovets/Exceptionally-long-book-no... and http://www.quora.com/Leo-Polovets/Exceptionally-long-book-no...
