5 Ways to Increase Your Willpower

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You know the saying "eat a apple a day"? Does anyone ever stick to it? Only the die-hards, right. Actually, I love apples and eat them often. I use them in my Very Berry Smoothie or Kale Mint Smoothie recipe to satisfy my apple requirement. It's not too hard because I actually like apples. I buy a 5-lb bag of them every 10 days or so.

Whether you are eating apples each day or sticking to some other healthy eating routine, the willpower to avoid deviating from your plan and stay consistent is essential.  For me, willpower is the hardest. I just don't have much of it. I am a comfort eater and thus I "feel" like eating whatever and whenever I "feel" like it. Unfortunately, that doesn't work well for maintaining my weight. As I get older, I've realized that I need to have a set of strategies to deal with my lack of willpower.

In this post, I wanted to share with you how I increase my willpower.

5 Ways to Increase Your Willpower
 

Love yourself
 

I just learned this one! It is really powerful. Sitting with yourself in love will get you out of many unhealthy urges. Loving yourself will keep you from hurting yourself with unhealthy habits. For instance, when I'm tempted to overeat or not exercise, I remind myself of this love, say a prayer and then do something that will bring me closer to optimal health.

Welcome health
 

Welcoming health involves embracing your personal level of optimal health. For me, optimal health is avoiding weight gain eating Paleo, exercising, keeping stress to a minimal and enjoying life. This thought of going towards my optimal health increases your willpower to stay on the right track. It provides some stability and consistency as you steadily go on your own journey towards healthy and doing those things you need to.

Remember the bad
 

This is the one that REALLY works to increase my willpower! While I know that deviating from my health plan is okay on some days, 95% of the time I follow a Paleo routine that helps me achieve a level of optimal health. When I feel the urge to deviate from my routine, I just remember the "bad". For me, the "bad" are memories of the pain from overeating or doing other things that are detrimental to my health. Specifically, I remember nights on the toilet with my stomach in knots; being constipated or feeling like I was going to throw up.  This "jolts" me back into reality very quickly. Instead of romanticizing on what overeating will do, I instead remember the bad which keeps me in the reality of the situation.

Keep it simple
 

Once you figure out what you need to achieve your own optimal healthy, KEEP THINGS SIMPLE. For instance, I focus on keeping things really easy and simple relating to my eating and exercise. If I don't, I know that I will not keep up with my health. No complicated diet schemes, weighing food, counting steps during exercises, etc.  With simple plans for keeping healthy habits, you can focus on my favorite activities like relaxing, meditating and creating art.

Use reminders
 

I use reminders everyday. Mainly because I'd forget my head if it weren't attached to my body! I don't like to have many reminders around.  The main ones that I have are some AM reminders on an index card and then those on my refrigerator like my Paleo food plan.