4 surprising ways to increase your willpower 

TL:DW version 1. Your willpower is limited. Focus on one goal at a time. 2. Self-acceptance is better than guilt. Don't be so hard on yourself the next time you fail. 3. Will power is contagious. Find a friend with the same goal. 4. Don't imagine yourself achieving a goal. It makes you feel rewarded when you shouldn't.

about the 4th one- dont imagine being victorious BUT imagine yourself struggling for the victory! For example if you want to lose weight- imagine yourself doing exercises.

Are you procrastinating right now ? I'm watching this youtube video at work instead of working on a very important project...

The most genuine video about achieving something..! The point 4 makes sense now..!

There are two thing I would say about this video. First is about point number one that you mentioned. Willpower is limited but that limit is so freaking high that basically no one is operating in that range, so acting like you have infinite willpower is definitely the better way to go! The way to best conceptualize it is that you willpower is stored in lots of different tanks and they get progressively harder to open. People have poor skills at dealing with the gaps between opening a new tank and thus get an illusion that their willpower is much more limited than they believe. Secondly you're 4th reason is correct in a sense but not explained correctly. Visualization is extremely powerful and effective... The problem is that most people are super lazy and just want the reward and not to do the work. So they only visualize having achieved a goal. Like checking a task off a list you're done so you don't have to do anything more on that to make it happen. This is the problem, when people visualize hedonic based goal completion. When this happens you just visual yourself as done and so you don't visualize yourself crushing challenges, working hard and loving the hard work you need to do to accomplish the goals. A fat person just visualizes the 6 pack. They don't visualize loving the process of exercising, strengthening their abs, pushing barriers and limits on their abilities and making it into a life style. No they just see abs and probably hot chicks liking those abs. You have to visualize yourself loving the whole experience, because the entirety of a journey is not just the destination, it's all the steps and challenges along the way (more so than the end point).

PLEASE WATCH MY LATEST VIDEO WITH REGARDS TO EGO DEPLETION ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gnSBnQo9-UM.html I'd cautiously say that the first advice I gave is wrong...

35k subs... well i want you guys to know that you are one of the very few youtube channels who made me actually write stuff down that i saw on the video and didnt make me feel bad for sitting on the computer for hours because I ACTUALLY LEARNED SOMETHING!!! THANK YOU!

4th part just struck into my mind. This means I should stop watching porn and my number of real sex is gonna increase.

Its situation based. Quitting the smokes and exercising daily goes hand in hand. Because both has to do with a healthier and better future. When you are exercising you feel better and healthier, therefore its more likely you possess the will power to quit smoking at the same time.

fantastic video! thank you for it. can I make a small improvement suggestion? when making these lists, why not summarize all points at the end of the video? :)

Interesting stuff. This really shoots holes in the strategies we keep hearing from self-help gurus. Thank you!

thank you for saying this about guilt! what the world needs to understand about why depression is so doubly difficult. so true, it never helps.

4th Point is HUGE HUGE HUGE !!! I am guilty of this. Never paint a perfect picture in your mind that your brain thinks it's already achieved.

The more important take-away for limited willpower is to try to steer clear of temptations - situations where you need to expend willpower. So instead of using willpower to refrain from eating the pringles/choc cake on the kitchen counter, just don't bring junk foods into your house in the first place.

Try telling the fourth tip to someone who is a fan of The Secret.

how do I stop fantasizing?

NICE VIDEO........BUT ONE TIP FOR YOU.......PLZ RECAP ALL MAIN POINTS AT LAST QUICKLY

This is my new favorite channel. Keep up the videos, you have a possible major channel on your hands.

keep em coming...science backed stuff is always good. would love to see sources to info in the descriptions too.

Completely agree with everything said here except the last one.

Omg the cake at 4:10 looks amazing!!!!!

Best video, this summarizes my issues lately

THIS CHANNEL WILL BE HUGGEEEEE!!!!

This is probably the best video i have watched on your channel, great job buddy

Strangely, and this might only work for a nut like me with few material positions, but a $275 a month 12x14 efficiency living space with a shared bathroom is key for working out and being social. Simply put, your gym, restaurants, and libraries become your home, and you'd rather be out and social than in your own home which is now just your place to sleep. I sold all my books and have all them in my kindle, tons of space saved. Movies burned on external hard drive plus Netflix saves more space. I've lost a ton of weight and feel like, "My House" is the gym and library. Feels like a mansion. I can save a ton for loan pay offs and vacation. The women tend to feel more comfortable at their place anyways.

I'm sorry I cheated on you, my darling, I'm on a diet!

These videos are great! Keep up the good work!

Hey, The Skeptic's Guide To The Universe brought me here. Just wanted to encourage you because I find your videos awesome, keep up the good work buddy.

My new favorite channel.

Are you serious about beating procrastination? I've been struggling with mine for the last 10 years and read countless books and self help methods. Here is what I'm having best results with. First of all, procrastination bulldozer method has worked wonders for me. I highly recommend you apply it. Secondly, whenever you have a task that takes less than 5 minutes to do, do it right away. No delays. I'm really starting to take control of my life now.....

Having watched quite a bit of your videos. I am so glad you are not into the fantasy and positive thinking trend that so often appears in psychology books seeking to make a quick buck or two. Thank you!

This channel is amazing, don't stop making these videos!

For hares the second point is very helpful. Tortoises may plod on and get there first, but hares can accept their temporary breaks, from the road, without guilt and with self- forgiveness and laughter. The road is still there. Rather than winning the race the story talked about, personal achievement is what counts in the end, I had some problem with the fourth point as I always understood that visualization strengthened the goal you were trying to achieve. The examples given where it has failed, could, I suspect, be counterbalanced with examples of it succeeding. The examples were ones of easy fantasy. Fantasy is passive and comes and goes as easily,as coming and going to MacDonald's. Imagination, on the other hand is an active process and takes work. It, thus, is more likely to motivate. Nevertheless, without action, imagination. affirmations and what have you, are just self-delusions. In cases of long term projects it sometimes helps to break them down into manageable chunks. Take one bite at a time, as the advice says, when eating an elephant.

Very interesting video. Thanks for the advice!

The first two problems he described is exactly what I'm going through right now.

"Hey! How to increase your willpower!" "Allright, nice, go ahead." "Your willpower is limited! Fullstop." -.-

That was a very good video and it got me thinking, thanks for the help

Hey, I remember that you made a video refuting your first point.. How those studies about limited willpower are flawed

The last one blew me over! Doesn't it contradict what The Secret and all other such books have to say? Anyway, I'm going to believe this channel!

I thoroughly enjoy this music

I would argue on topic, that quitting habit and picking up physical training drains your willpower, based on fact, that gymtime is very addictive too... It`s more like swapping habits and in this case from negative to positive??? Anyways, keep up the good work BSP!

thank you for these videos some of the advises in the internet ruined our lives you hel us to get back to our beautifull nature

Hi I just found your channel and really like it. Great advice and interesting stuff from which everyone could learn from without any bullshit blabla. Keep it up man :)

The most underrated video on planet Earth

Imagining that you already achieved a goal is good ONLY when you want to get rid off a bad habit. If you suffer from addiction, identifying yourself as someone who is not an addict is certainly going to help. This kind of approach should not be used for initiating. However, it's great for PREVENTING action.

Great advice , thanks

This is a very astonishing video honestly in my opinion I’ve literally watched this video so many times I just have one issue I don’t think “not fantasizing” is such a good idea or at least not fantasizing just alway remember what you’re fighting for and if that means thinking about the future in positive aspects then be that as t may. Love the video though

watching every video again and again

As a recent subscriber I found your videos to be very helpful!

Your videos are awesome. Keep it up :)

To me, the last one sounds more like the ones with higher goals (like lower ideal weight) just found their goals impossible and gave up, while the ones with more achievable goals continued to try and reach them.

You sound like not ignorant version of GradeA

This reminds me of Kelly Mcgonigal's book :)

Add a summary at the end so it's easy to recap. Make it look nice, as if someone would screenshot it.

I'm loving these videos so much!

I lost over 100lb on a diet where my goal was only to achieve mental clarity by healthy eating. So when people ask why I was successful with the diet what's the best answer? I still struggle keeping out all foods which fog my head up

Very Informative!!

Very useful. Thankyou

this man knows something

I often have food cravings, such as chocolate or cheese, and they last for a long time. I try to just eat a fruit instead, but it doesn't go away, and eventually I just give in and eat whatever I'm craving, thinking I won't have the craving anymore after. But actually it just gets worse. Idk what to do

I watch David Goggins and my will power shoot to the roof and its not just a pump up like sugar rush. Its real and raw.

This seems very useful.

this is so trueeeeeee thanks !

Thank great in site

That last one doe.

Sorry but I just got such a kick out of imagining scientists feeding candy and doughnuts to women on diets, and then saying "don't worry, everybody makes mistakes!..... Now here's some more candy!"

now this makes me wonder on the last example. is it alright to imagine a fictional fantasy world?

Bite Size Psych What about mind muscle connection for the last one?

thanks you helped me sooo much

very good video but I have a question about #3, do I always have to find a similar goal person or is enough to find a person with a goal so we both try to achieve it it doesn't matter if it's a different one

Thanks :)

Anyone who doubts how pervasive fantasy can be; simply imagine what you would do if you won the lottery. It's so pleasing you might just call off work afterwards. A video could be made on the importance of cutting out fantasy, alone.

This is my fav video, please do more scientific self help!

4:10 Geeez that looks delicious.

I'm totally in love with your videos :) I kinda had a question although I'm not sure you could answer it. Since visualizing tends to have a reverse effect on things, what would happen if someone visualized the foods they're not supposed to eat or something like that and just let their thoughts about it run rampant for a bit. Would that help them get over their urge to eat that thing they just fantasized about? Just a thought! Anyway I hope you continue with you're awesome videos I'm pretty sure I've already watched them all :)

Would fantasizing be almost like visualizing? Visualizing is great in my opinion....

I have to focus on my study as well as my fitness. What should I do ?

What if you fantasize about doing something you don't want to do, will you then feel as if you've gotten the reward, and henceforth it will not drain your willpower ?

I want to focus all my energy on the girls does someone here the same goal maybe we can motivate ourselves and collect bigger numbers

so true ...super like

But visualizing is powerful. its only that often make it a chore

is it ok to fantasize about the negative outcome? (or would this play into tip #2?)

This is awesome. It's not traditional wisdom, but traditional wisdom mostly needs to be thrown out on it's ass.

this is genius!!!!

will power the youtube channel is why i came here

Except.......that if you believe that visualization actually brings things into tangible form; then you SHOULD visualize. I visualize working out. I see it, and my nerves and muscles actually get benefit; and because I see myself already doing it; my THRESHOLD for starting the actual activity is a lot lower. Another thing, Willpower can be developed over time. Those who rely upon a new year's resolution to FINALLY accomplish something; haven't learned the art of gradual change. I taught myself how to adopt small changes, stick with them; and use those to build other changes. But when I need a MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WILLPOWER; I stop for a moment and imagine the future. I imagine what will happen if I continue doing whatever it is that isn't giving me the result that I want; and then I visualize what doing the IDEAL thing, will result in. The science is cool; but I don't agree with everything he said. I'm not a paid scientist; but I've spent my life, addressing these exact issues in my own life; and I've used my creativity in order to over come a lot of the so-called 'science'. I watch this stuff in order to get a different perspective; but in the end, I call the shots in my own life; and I've learned to trust my own judgment. I think the worst thing you can do, is to teach a person that they can't trust their own judgement.

Nice video, but i'm going to watch it tomorrow

Omg number 4!!! I've been doing it wrong this whole time

Before I found this video I was watching some stuff on this "law of attraction". I don't actually believe in the law but I think the exercises could've increased willpower. This is in contrast with your 4th step, anyone have any insight? For people who didn't know its kind of like you imagine yourself achieving your goal.

I disagree with number 4. Visualization must be coupled with like action..

Oh hey! If you are really having problems with procrastination and lack of willpower I have a cure for you. First of all apply procrastination bulldozer method. Secondly, start doing tasks that take less than 15 minutes right away. These two things alone completely cured my procrastination after 12 years of trying everything I could.

How am I supposed to stop fantasize about things ? I do this all the time and really can't help it.

this video made me subscribe you, nice study

so truee

Alright this channel is big, I mean really big they think differently yet correctly and giving perfect examples like it's made for me. I always thought daydreaming is not a great thing after all if you are a lazy ass. finally I've been dieting and lost 20 kg's and trying to be off marijuana for longer periods each time but now I still go off and come back to tobacco to compensate stress from dieting + college and hopefully ill quit it shortly before it becomes a greater issue. while few months back then when i was totally off cigs for several months, i was using marijuana more often to be off cigs(Ironic but I believe THC is much better than Nicotine) and my friends thought it was cool. but patiently I won't settle for less harm when i can be totally clean eventually. With practice and baby steps someone will hopefully achieve all what they want! Great video(s).

I love the video, but i can't get my head around point 4. I have read quite a few books on Self Help and Achieving your goals, and they all tell you to spend around 15-20 mins a day visualising yourself having reached your goal. So my question is, should i stop the visualisation? And why is there contradiction between point 4 and seld help books?

When are you gonna make new videos?

You said that many people are wrong about the facts on willpower...how can I trust you.

Will power is limited... Every asocial person in the world is painfully aware of this. Being asocial is NOT the same as anti-social or being shy. Asociality means that a person will burn a lot of mental energy much after when interacting with other people. This means that after a social event, an asocial person is left feeling drained, and tired. You just don't have the energy to keep dealing with people anymore, even if it's at a fun event. Socializing will mentally drain asocial people, and hence, will want to retreat away from people for a good while in order to re-charge their mental batteries. Solitude is soothing to asocial people, feeling lonely is extremely rare for those of us who are asocial because being alone is both soothing and regenerative.

How do you stop the 4th thing? It 's been bugging me for quite some time now.. I live my life through my head, or even more precisely "in my head"