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> Willpower is like muscle power: the more exercise, the stronger they are; the more will power we have, the more self-control and courage we have. IIRC: studi

> Willpower is like muscle power: the more exercise, the stronger they are; the more will power we have, the more self-control and courage we have. IIRC: studies have not validated this

itisit 7y ago
Yes, a dated analogy: https://hbr.org/2016/11/have-we-been-thinking-about-willpower-the-wrong-way-for-30-years https://hbr.org/2016/11/have-we-been-thinking-about-willpowe...
- phkahler 7y ago
  Ego depletion would kinda be the opposite anyway.
  - ReactiveJelly 7y ago
    Anecdotally, exercising my executive function and 'saving' it both don't work. I've always been mostly lazy except for my interest in computers, and it's dumb luck that I got a job where I get paid for the only thing I'm not lazy about. I think it's ADHD, but I'm not diagnosed. Whatever it is, it makes me believe that nobody understands willpower and it might not exist. If I could choose to be better, why haven't I already done it?
dorkwood 7y ago
In my experience willpower is less like a muscle and more like a habit. Right now I'm in the habit of working on side projects every day, so it's easy. Since habits come naturally, what once required willpower now requires no willpower at all. Surely there are studies that confirm habitual tasks are easier to perform than non-habitual ones?
- andai 7y ago
  I've spent the last few years working on my willpower. No improvement. Recently I've been creating social pressure to keep habits (agree to do something every day) and the willpower required is 0 and the results are amazing. When I have someone expecting me to do something I just naturally put in a lot more effort.
ximeng 7y ago
Recent comment on this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22920237 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22920237 "The effect likely isn't too big, or it would be harder to design experiments where it doesn't show up at all."
artificialLimbs 7y ago
I don't suspect that willpower will be something people can measure with any degree of usefulness. You can personally verify that it is like a muscle by attempting to enhance your own willpower. I'm not trying to sell you on anything, this is just what I've observed in myself.

> Willpower is like muscle power: the more exercise, the stronger they are; the more will power we have, the more self-control and courage we have. IIRC: studies have not validated this

itisit 7y ago

Yes, a dated analogy: https://hbr.org/2016/11/have-we-been-thinking-about-willpower-the-wrong-way-for-30-years https://hbr.org/2016/11/have-we-been-thinking-about-willpowe...

phkahler 7y ago
Ego depletion would kinda be the opposite anyway.
- ReactiveJelly 7y ago
  Anecdotally, exercising my executive function and 'saving' it both don't work. I've always been mostly lazy except for my interest in computers, and it's dumb luck that I got a job where I get paid for the only thing I'm not lazy about. I think it's ADHD, but I'm not diagnosed. Whatever it is, it makes me believe that nobody understands willpower and it might not exist. If I could choose to be better, why haven't I already done it?

dorkwood 7y ago

In my experience willpower is less like a muscle and more like a habit. Right now I'm in the habit of working on side projects every day, so it's easy. Since habits come naturally, what once required willpower now requires no willpower at all. Surely there are studies that confirm habitual tasks are easier to perform than non-habitual ones?

andai 7y ago
I've spent the last few years working on my willpower. No improvement. Recently I've been creating social pressure to keep habits (agree to do something every day) and the willpower required is 0 and the results are amazing. When I have someone expecting me to do something I just naturally put in a lot more effort.

ximeng 7y ago

Recent comment on this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22920237 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22920237 "The effect likely isn't too big, or it would be harder to design experiments where it doesn't show up at all."

artificialLimbs 7y ago

I don't suspect that willpower will be something people can measure with any degree of usefulness. You can personally verify that it is like a muscle by attempting to enhance your own willpower. I'm not trying to sell you on anything, this is just what I've observed in myself.