Willpower, inherent in each of us, is a resource that we spend daily on completing tasks. For example, you could scroll through Facebook, but instead, you choose to finish your work. You could eat a juicy hamburger, but you opt for a vegetable salad. And when your boss says something annoying, you want to respond sharply, but you maintain your composure.
Meanwhile, studies show that this constant battle with temptation is not easy; some experts even compare willpower to a muscle that can weaken over time.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota highlight that various studies demonstrate that the level of self-control has remained the same over the years. It’s just that nowadays there are so many temptations that neither we nor our psyche are fully prepared to deal with them.
Thus, handling everyday decisions becomes harder for our subconscious. After all, a huge number of decisions drain our mental resources — like “where to have lunch today,” “what to wear tomorrow,” or “everything has gotten more expensive again.”
Now, let’s look at how Mark Zuckerberg and other famous people manage this struggle.
Minimalism and Simplicity
Over the past decade, the intellectual elite has come to believe that many aspects of life can be automated or decided once and for all, which helps save time and energy. A prime example is Steve Jobs with his signature black turtleneck. This was not about saving money on clothing — it was a habit of minimalism that became part of his lifestyle.
Tim Ferriss explains it this way: Most people strive for minimalism in everyday life, and here are two reasons to support it:
1. Making a choice among many options requires a lot of attention and time — resources that could be used for something more meaningful.
2. Attention is needed both for work and for evaluating decisions.
Therefore, having too many choices negatively affects:
— Productivity;
— Resources available for decision-making;
— Overall state (feeling of fatigue).
Thus, when we have to choose from too many options, our subconscious mind becomes overstrained.
What should you do?
1. First, take a close look at your daily life and track every event where you have to make a choice.
2. Then, ask yourself: “Does this decision/choice really matter?” In most cases, you’ll realize that many decisions aren’t that important at all.
3. Apply the Pareto analysis by asking: “Which 20% of the decisions I make consume 80% of my time?” Focus on those first.
And finally, it’s time for change! But don’t wait for a “Monday” to start a new life. It’s important to move gradually.
Start simple: establish a new morning routine, such as a jog or meditation, and stick to it every day.
For example:
— Wake up at 6 AM.
— Put on clothes prepared the night before.
— Have breakfast.
— Go for a workout.
— Come back home and have a snack.
— Get ready for the day.
It might seem easy, but the main thing is not to break your chosen routine. Remember, decision-making also consumes mental energy. Don’t try to change everything at once — do it step by step. Over time, this morning routine will become a habit and will no longer drain your strength. Only after that should you move on to the next step.
And very soon, you’ll be able to focus on making more important decisions with greater clarity.