If you’re like most folks, there’s a psychological principal that has guided your actions often; even though it something that is not in your best interest. The research supports the fact that you are not alone when you use it. It has probably put pounds on your belly and kept you from working out. You may have used it to rationalize that second glass of wine or a splurge for that new pair of shoes (that you really didn’t need). You may have found that it’s a great way to put off that work report or delay your prospecting calls. You may have even used it on your long run, when you decided to walk that last hill.
It’s powerful, easy to rationalize and used millions of times a day by people just like us. It’s called the “What The Heck” Effect. Many times, we will use it when our willpower is weak. Here is how it works:
- We have a lapse in willpower
- We succumb to our weakness
- Then we have another lapse in willpower that we rationalize
In other words, once we’ve blown it, we say, “Well, I already blew my diet today at lunch, I might as well have desert at dinner and I’ll start fresh tomorrow.” In other words, “What the heck…” I’ll get back on track later. The problem is that the research indicates that our willpower usually doesn’t get stronger at some future date. In other words, by putting off something until tomorrow, we are no more likely to possess the willpower that we lacked today.
So the next time you are stressed at the end of your work day because you have been bombarded with interruptions and distractions all day and wishing you had been more productive, here are a few strategies to get you back on course.
1. Be aware of your willpower muscle. If you find yourself giving-in to activities that are not a productive use of your time, be present. Ask yourself, “What is important for me to focus on right now?” And then remind yourself “why” the activities that you are putting off are really critical and important to you. Typically, the most important tasks have no sense of urgency but require your time and effort for your long-term happiness and success.
2. Another strategy once you’ve raised your level of self-awareness is to ask yourself, “What would I do if my boss was watching me right now?” Luckily, most of us aren’t being micro-managed to that level. So it’s easy to jump onto the web, send personal emails or chat with a co-worker when there are more important tasks to do. But consider how you would spend your day differently or how you would spend the next moment differently if your actions were being closely monitored.
3. Don’t beat yourself up. If you fall off the willpower wagon and find yourself doing things that you shouldn’t, you need to avoid the cycle of guilt and shame. According to the research, beating yourself up only makes things worse. In other words, you are more likely to fail again by being hard on yourself. So stifle that inner voice of criticism. Instead, offer yourself forgiveness for your digressions and move forward.
