Brush with Your Left to Give Your Willpower Some Heft

Self-control is boring. Sometimes that sweet, sweet swipe of my credit card captures me.  That laptop?  Oh, I’d be SO much more productive!  Those happy hour beers?  Dude, they’re on sale!  My brain gives me a chemical response when I shop, saying to me at a primal level that I’m awesome for getting more stuff (i.e. upping my chances to eat and procreate).  So, what to do if you’re tiring of your brain’s wiring?

Willpower’s like a muscle–the more you use it, the stronger it gets and the less it hurts when you exert it.  But research shows that willpower’s also like energy–your body only has so much of it to go around.  There’s a fascinating NY Times article on this if you want to read more.

How’s this for something trippy? – People who brushed their teeth with their non-dominant hand for two weeks showed a marked increase in willpower. Likewise, following an exercise program (which means really following it) for two months helped others resist alcohol, cigarettes, and impulse buys. Want to really dig into this?  – Check out psychologist Dr. Roy Baumeister.

The point to remember is that exercising willpower does more than just help you avoid a purchase right now.  It makes you better able to avoid an unnecessary purchase in the future too.  The more you exercise willpower, the stronger your capacity for discipline.  Incorporating unrelated exercises can help boost your willpower.  For instance, if you want to curb that irksome fast food habit, try doing twenty push-ups a day thinking about not eating fast food.  Do something good while resolving to forego something bad and you will intensify your willpower.

Savings Tip

Our founder, Bill, often tells members to write down purchases they want to make on a piece of paper, and then wait 24 hours to actually purchase it. You can do all the fun stuff – shop at the store, browse the internet site (but don’t put it in your cart), and try on clothes. Then, 24 hours later, if you still want, go and get it. Members have had a lot of success with this simple method for curbing spending.