Will power is a muscle that can wear out but also grow stronger
At Entrix Corporation, sales reps were bogged down by endless decisions—pricing tweaks, client calls, strategy shifts. By 3 P.M., impulse to surf the web or grab donuts took over, and productivity tanked. HR and management were baffled until they learned about ego depletion: will power wears out with overuse.
They piloted a mindshare program: every rep established two precommitment tactics—calendar lockdown for emails and a “no‐snack” rule. Those who felt decision fatigue could press a “refresh” button on their desk lamp, triggering a scheduled ten-minute stretch break and a healthy snack. Additionally, each rep created five “if-then” plans—“If I start craving sugar, then I’ll sip water.”
After six weeks, productivity soared 12 percent. Reps reported far fewer afternoon slumps, and sales calls kept up their quality and follow-through even under heavy quotas. The simple precommitments and breaks refilled will-power reserves just as a timely espresso would but without the crash. The company then scaled the program across departments.
This business case shows that will power is like a workforce: overwork it, and its performance collapses; invest in strategic breaks and structured planning, and it delivers stronger, more consistent results. Treating self-discipline as a skill to be managed and trained can reshape individual and organizational performance.
When your will power flags, don’t try to muscle through. Instead, lean on your precommitment plan—say, a locked app that pauses social media for two hours—or hit your scheduled refresh break. Picture each break as adding a new brick to your self-discipline foundation. Over weeks, these small pauses and safeguards will strengthen your mental stamina so decisions stay clear and productivity stays high. Try it in tomorrow’s meeting.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll maintain stronger self-control throughout the day, reducing impulsive errors and consistent productivity gains, while building lasting mental stamina.
Strengthen your self-discipline system
Identify your will-power drains
List two tasks where you feel exhausted by afternoon—decision overload, resisting snacks, emotional control. Spoting drains helps you plan around them.
Create precommitment safeguards
Set up barriers to temptation—stall vantage purchases using a week-long wait, lock distracting apps, or assign your credit card to a friend for time-outs.
Schedule power recharge breaks
Block two ten-minute pauses daily to stretch, walk, or call a friend. These short breaks refill your will-power reservoir so you can tackle tough decisions later.
Practice “if-then” plans
Formulate conditional plans—“If I crave chips, then I’ll have an apple,” or “If I start to gossip, then I’ll change the subject.” Use 3–5 of these to automate self-control.
Reflection Questions
- What are your two biggest will-power drains by afternoon?
- Which precommitment barrier feels hardest but most effective?
- When will you schedule your pivotal mind-refresh break?
- What’s an “if-then” rule that could save you from an afternoon slump?
- How will you track your daily will-power victories?
Personalization Tips
- Before resisting email after work, plan “If I’m drained at 6, then I’ll close my inbox and go for a walk.”
- Link a healthy snack to a calendar reminder—“If 3 P.M. arrives, chew sugar-free gum.”
- Commit to working out by prepaying a coach who sends weekly check-ins.
- Hand over control of impulse shopping to an accountability partner who oversees your purchases.
Rewire: Change Your Brain to Break Bad Habits, Overcome Addictions, Conquer Self-Destructive Behavior
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