Do you often catch yourself binging on a snack after promising not to? Or religiously postponing your workout routine? Do you make resolutions based on emotions, and then are unable to back them up with willpower and determination? Whether you want to lose weight or get that promotion or be successful in life, we all have goals that we thrive for. When we fall short in our efforts to achieve something, we feel defeated. Willpower is the only thing that keeps you going through times like these!

Health Shots reached out to mental health expert and founder of The Mindful Foundation Geetika Arora Bhojak to understand how to increase your willpower to achieve your dreams.

Strong willpower brings you closer to your goals!

Willpower is the ability to resist short-term temptations to meet long-term goals and is believed to be one of the key determinants of both personal and professional success. Willpower is what helps us create lasting positive changes in our lives, and inner strength helps us move toward our goals despite challenges that inevitably happen on the way, asserts the expert.

Willpower is both a superpower and a muscle. If acquired, it can make most challenges seem surmountable, but it must be ‘exercised’ regularly to be mastered. Making emotional resolutions is one of the most common mistakes people make in the spur of the moment. The emotion that triggered the resolution might disappear a short while later, and there will be no desire left to carry on the resolution since subconscious habits are stronger than any resolution, she adds.

Also Read: Boost your confidence with these 5 simple tips

How to increase your willpower?

Here are a few ways suggested by the mental health expert to increase your willpower to achieve your dreams:

1. Setting realistic goals

Realistic goals help us create a mental timeline and keep our spirits high as we try to achieve them. Setting them too high can make you lose hope and give up on your dreams. Breaking down the timeline and delegating tasks every day makes it appear achievable, and the feeling of making progress will boost your self-esteem, and drive up your self-esteem and vigour to meet your goals.

2. Rewarding yourself

Taking the time to celebrate your achievements helps you stay motivated and longer on your road to self-improvement. Rewarding yourself boosts endorphins within your bodies, which is crucial to stay motivated and happy. Building willpower is not a short-term exercise. Keeping your mind fit is imperative to exert willpower over your temptations.

3. Getting enough sleep

Often due to hectic work schedules and juggling too many tasks along with managing family, adults end up compromising on their sleep. Not only does that have a long-term detrimental impact on your health, but it also makes you lose focus and clarity. It also affects your thought process.

4. Practising meditation to avoid anxiety

Yoga and meditation help keep self-critical thoughts at bay and makes you more focused on your goals. Calmer minds invite rational thinking and positivity, while anxiety and stress often cause you to make rash decisions and fall into despair. Taking time out to exercise or talk to loved ones can help you see the bigger picture. Telling people about your goals also helps build motivation to achieve them.

5. Maintaining a balanced diet

Feeding your mind the right ‘brain food’ can help activate decision-making centres. As tempting as it may be to reach for chocolate or coffee during stressful deadlines, you must resist the impulse to do so and ensure that you get all the necessary micronutrients daily. Eating a balanced diet of carbs, healthy fats and a substantial amount of protein is essential. Studies suggest that you tend make more emotional decisions if you eat a poor diet.