{"id":6040,"date":"2016-08-01T16:58:26","date_gmt":"2016-08-01T23:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/fitness\/?p=6040"},"modified":"2016-08-01T16:58:26","modified_gmt":"2016-08-01T23:58:26","slug":"harness-will-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/health-and-fitness\/nutrition\/harness-will-power\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Harness Your Will Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty, Fit Mom Diet www.FitMomDiet.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"IMG_0356\"<\/p>\n

Willpower is an excellent character trait!\u00a0 It provides us the ability to make positive choices and allows us to become better at controlling our behavior and decisions.\u00a0 A great deal of research points to these abilities as key facets in creating a happy, healthy life.\u00a0 If we can increase our will power even just a little, imagine all that might accomplish.<\/p>\n

The good news is, we can!\u00a0 There are several strategies that help improve your will power and your life.\u00a0 Implement these three tips and see how they impact you.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Deplete Your Willpower Too Quickly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Willpower is strengthened as you use it.\u00a0 Much like building muscle, you need to actively exercise it to see results.\u00a0 However, there is time and place for rest.\u00a0 If you went to the gym one day and lifted heavy, your muscles might need a break.\u00a0 The same goes for willpower.\u00a0 If you are constantly putting yourself in situations where you have to tap into your willpower you will fatigue easily.\u00a0 Be mindful to create strategies to give yourself a rest.\u00a0 For example, if you are using will power try and stay on a healthy diet, surround yourself with clean, fresh food.\u00a0 Be selective about where you go out to eat and the foods you are around.\u00a0 You can only sit with friends at fast food restaurants so many days in a row and eventually you will be more likely to cave in.\u00a0 Keep it out of sight, out of mind the majority of the time and you will achieve greater success in your efforts.<\/p>\n

Breathe Deeply<\/strong><\/p>\n

Award winning Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. shares her latest scientific research and insights on self-control in her book, The Willpower Instinct<\/em>.\u00a0 This book discusses how we can harness willpower to gain control of our habits.\u00a0 McGonigal encourages individuals to shift into pause-and-plan mode when they feel stressed and the natural fight or flight impulses kick in.\u00a0 One effective strategy for shifting into this mode is doing deep breathing exercises.\u00a0 \u201cSlow your breath down to four to six breaths per minute,\u201d said McGonigal.\u00a0 Doing this helps move the body from stress mode to self-control.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0294\"<\/p>\n

Create Healthy Habits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Willpower is tremendously affected by stress, so creating habits that work to reduce stress on a daily basis helps immensely.\u00a0 Healthy habits include things such as getting an average of eight hours of sleep a night, staying hydrated, limiting exposure to technology and media one hour before bed, cultivating positive relationships, giving back to the community in some way, engaging in events and activities that create joy within oneself, staying in touch with nature, meditating and practicing mindfulness.\u00a0 All of these things help reduce stress making it more likely that willpower will strengthen as well.<\/p>\n

Want additional ideas on how you can stay mentally healthy?\u00a0 Check out Fit Mom Diet\u2019s latest book, Mental Fitness 101: Transform Your Body through the Power of Your Mind<\/strong><\/a>, available now on Amazon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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