How to Improve Your Self-Control (And Why It Matters)

Research has found that people with high levels of self-control tend to feel happier, have better relationships with others, and may be better off financially. In terms of physical health, there's a correlation between high levels of self-control during childhood and good cardiovascular, respiratory, and dental health.

Let's take five minutes to see this week in a new light. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind Here's How to Improve Your Self-Control (And Why It Matters)    Willpower isn't usually something that's simply handed to us. We must work diligently to cultivate it within ourselves and understand which triggers often lead us to be impulsive versus deliberate in our actions.   Improving our self-control is an important skill set not just as we contemplate new year's resolutions, but as we move through life.   Self-control is an important skill that allows us to regulate behavior in order to achieve our long-term goals."  — KENDRA CHERRY, MS   What is Self-Control? Also referred to as willpower, grit, and discipline, self-control is the ability to have power over our impulses. Exercising self-control looks like resisting unwanted urges, not giving in to "instant gratification," and prioritizing our future happiness versus "in the moment" happiness. Self-control can get better with practice. The Hidden Benefits of Self-Control Having discipline doesn't just help us achieve our short and long-term goals. Research has found that people with high levels of self-control tend to feel happier, have better relationships with others, and may be better off financially. In terms of physical health, there's a correlation between high levels of self-control during childhood and good cardiovascular, respiratory, and dental health. Ways to Improve Self Control The more you practice self-control, the stronger that "muscle" will become. You can also set yourself up for success by ensuring the following three critical components are present: A Clearly Outlined Goal: You're more likely to achieve a goal when it's clearly defined versus overly general. Use dates and numbers. Track & Celebrate Your Progress: Monitoring your day-to-day progress and behavior will help you keep focused. Also, celebrating mini milestones can help you stay on track. Create a Temptation Game Plan: Our self-control ebbs and flows. Having a game plan for how you'll respond in moments of weakness (or in cases where you do give in) can help you jump back on ship.     On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body  This week, set aside 15 minutes to outline a goal you'd like to achieve in the coming weeks or months. Be specific in the goal and write down why it's important to you. Identify some potential setbacks you might face along the way to achieve your goal and create a game plan for how you'll react in the moment. Finally, write down how you'll feel when you accomplish this goal. Understanding why we do what we do can help us harness willpower. Written by habit formation expert James Clear, "Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones" helps you learn how to make time for new habits, overcome lack of motivation, and design an environment that fosters success. Keeping organized can help us visualize our goals as we work toward accomplishing them. For a digital approach, try the New Years Resolutions Tracker 12+ app. It helps keep you accountable by tracking your daily, weekly, and monthly progress. If you feel a lack of motivation, the good news is that there are a number of tricks you can try to get yourself back on track. These seven motivational books are filled with helpful suggestions.   This Week on The Verywell Mind Podcast   On tomorrow's episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, I talk with Erica Spiegelman, an addiction specialist who uses a holistic approach to help people overcome their struggles with addictions and dependency.     Tune in to hear her advice on how to rewire your brain for recovery.    Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Read These Next How Ego Depletion Can Drain Your Willpower  READ NOW How to Develop an Internal Locus of Control READ NOW How to Set Goals When You Are Struggling With Your Mental Health READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2022 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy