It’s a well-known fact that many people make New Year’s resolutions but only a few of them can stick to their goals. In fact, a 2007 study revealed that, out of 3,000 respondents, only 12 percent of them were able to successfully achieve their resolutions.

What happened to the 88 percent? Well, there are lots of reasons why these people don’t reach their goals, but one of the most common is that they don’t have enough willpower to see their plans through. This might sound depressing but, if you’ve always been a part of the 88 percent, don’t worry since willpower is something that you can develop. By taking the right steps, you can enhance your strength of will and of mind and gain the self-control and self-discipline to make your New Year’s resolutions come true.

Techniques to Improve Your Willpower

The amount of willpower you’re born with doesn’t have a set limit. You can raise it to higher levels if you make the right changes to your attitude and lifestyle, and you can also deplete it by letting laziness and procrastination take over your life. To improve your willpower, you can:

Develop good habits

Experts have found out that willpower is a finite resource. It’s like a gas tank: the more you use in the morning, the less you’ll have later in the day. Because of this, you have to look for ways to cultivate good habits. Habits are ingrained into your personality, and they let you “automate” how you think and act instead of having to muster up enough willpower to do something. If you want to have healthier teeth, for instance, make it a habit to brush your teeth after every meal and soon it will become second nature that requires no willpower.

Reduce the number of choices you must make

This is one of the best ways to avoid using up your willpower levels. By minimizing your decision-making tasks, you’ll have more willpower for more important things (like finishing a project before its deadline or coming up with brilliant ideas for your clients).

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg follows this principle by filling his closet with gray T-shirts and hoodies. Since he doesn’t have to choose what outfit to wear in the morning (after all, his clothes look the same), he has more willpower to spend on doing his tasks and improving his company.

Be more mindful

Many studies have shown that mindfulness can greatly help in boosting willpower. By taking the time to meditate and be more mindful, you become more aware of how your brain thinks and how your body acts, and you can control your urges and cravings and have better concentration.

Boosting Willpower in the Workplace

The techniques listed above are applicable for any situation, but what if you need specific tips to have more willpower at work and improve your job performance? Well, you can take these steps:

• Take regular breaks. It might seem counter-intuitive, but resting your brain and body can actually make you more productive than if you’d barrel through the entire day without taking a breather.
• Determine what kinds of clothes make you look professional and attractive and fill your wardrobe with them. Doing these lets you look great at work without using up your willpower reserves on daily outfit choices.
• Make exercise a part of your schedule. Working out can help you manage stress in a better way and develop better mental discipline. It also boosts your energy levels, keeping you away from the dreaded afternoon slumps and making it easier for you to focus on your work.

Take these steps now and let them help you develop better willpower!