What Is Self-Control?

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Temptation becomes easier to manage when you name what each side of the conflict is offering.

A 10-minute pause can turn an impulse from an instruction into a decision.

Self-discipline helps you win the battle, but good systems eliminate the need for a battle in the first place.

We usually know what the right decision is. What we should do.

The problem is that self-discipline is not tested when we are calm and rational.

It is tested when we are hungry, tired, angry, lonely, bored, or stressed—when temptation is more persuasive and long-term goals feel distant.

So, how do we give ourselves a fighting chance in the heat of the moment?

Identify both sides of the conflict: Eating a slice of cake or watching another episode of Netflix is tempting because it offers you some sort of benefit. Acknowledging that benefit allows you to compare it with what you gain by resisting. By seeing clearly how you are being pulled in two directions, you can understand the tension—and choose which direction will serve you better.

Give yourself a 10-minute buffer: Author Daniel Walter explains that one of the most detrimental habits to self-discipline is acting on your impulses without........

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