Some studies have found willpower to be a limited resource. It is often likened to a muscle, because using it depletes its power in the immediate-term, but regu

Some studies have found willpower to be a limited resource. It is often likened to a muscle, because using it depletes its power in the immediate-term, but regular exercise increases its strength in the long-term. Wikipedia article on this phenomenon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego_depletion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego_depletion The Wikipedia article is quite dry, however, and I suggest this readable NYTimes article instead: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/opinion/02aamodt.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/opinion/02aamodt.html Or this one: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/how-to-boost-your-willpower/ http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/how-to-boost-your-w... That second NYTimes link mentions that the mechanism of willpower depletion might be glucose depletion. Drinking a sugary drink restores willpower. (This effect has also been shown to be true of the self-control of dogs: http://www.miller-mccune.com/health/dogs-offer-clues-to-self-control-10928/ http://www.miller-mccune.com/health/dogs-offer-clues-to-self...) Regulating your emotions also depletes willpower (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/mu-rda092409.php http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/mu-rda092409.... but it doesn't go into detail on the regulating emotions part). I have observed that tolerating irritating people harms my productivity. I warn that at least one study has failed to replicate the willpower depletion result: http://lesswrong.com/lw/1fe/antiakrasia_technique_structured_procrastination/196o?c=1 http://lesswrong.com/lw/1fe/antiakrasia_technique_structured...