Jul/Aug 2025 Costco Connection Jul/Aug 2025 | Page 35

SPECIAL SECTION: NUTRITION & WELLBEING
WHY WILLPOWER FAILS YOU

1

It’ s exhaustible. Just like the battery in your phone, your willpower drains throughout the day. The more you use it, the weaker it gets. It relies on motivation.

2 Motivation fluctuates. Some days, you wake up ready to take on the world. Other days, you just want to stay in bed. Willpower can’ t carry you through those low-motivation moments. It doesn’ t address the

3 environment. If a delicious, glazed donut is sitting on your desk, it’ s much harder to resist than if it’ s not in your orbit at all. It creates decision fatigue.

4 Making too many willpower-based decisions tires your brain. The more you have to actively resist temptations, the more likely you are to cave.

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What works instead
If willpower isn’ t the answer, what is? The key lies in designing your life to make good choices easy and not-so-good choices hard. Here’ s how...
Change your environment

1 Rather than relying on self-control, make your environment work for you. Want to eat healthier? Keep nutritious snacks within reach and the not-sonutritious stuff out of sight. Struggling to exercise? Lay out your workout clothes the night before. Your environment shapes your actions more than you realise.

2

Build tiny habits
Big goals are overwhelming. Instead of aiming to run five days a week, start with a habit so small, you feel like you can’ t say no to doing it – like putting on your running shoes each morning. Once putting on your running shoes becomes automatic, build on that habit until you reach your ultimate goal. Tiny habits, when consistently repeated, lead to big, lasting change.

3

Create routines, not decisions Willpower is needed when you have to make decisions. But if something
is part of your routine, there’ s no decision to make.( Like putting on your seatbelt when you sit in a car, it’ s automatic!) Automate as much as possible: set a daily reminder to meditate, plan meals in advance or establish a consistent bedtime routine. When habits are ingrained, you don’ t need willpower to follow through with them.

4

Use habit triggers Your brain loves patterns. Pairing a new habit with something you already do makes it easier to stick. Want to floss? Do it right after brushing your teeth.
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18 | JUL / AUG 2025 COSTCO CONNECTION