No Limits: The Art and Science of High Performance

by Mukesh Bansal

Now that we’ve understood the basics of willpower, how do we strengthen this ‘muscle’? We have already discovered the wonder drug that is exercise. Unsurprisingly then, exercise also plays a key role in increasing willpower reserves. Megan Oaten and Ken Cheng, scientists at Macquarie University in Sydney, recruited participants who were given a free two-month membership at a gym to follow a regular routine of physical exercise.63 Being regular in itself required a certain amount of willpower, and those who stuck with the programme reported a whole lot of changes, including an improved ability to pay attention and ignore distractions, less smoking and drinking, eating healthier, being more punctual and spending less money on impulse purchases. The effects of exercise on willpower are almost immediate. Even fifteen minutes on a treadmill can be beneficial. We have previously talked about exercise being the magical pill. Now, we can add its profound impact on willpower as another magical advantage, in addition to other health benefits.